News Taffy

Hello friends! After a long week of school and work, seeing a good movie this weekend was just what I needed.

I love ghost hunting shows and scary movies, so of course Paranormal Activity 4 was the perfect choice for this weekend. These movies have plenty of jumpy, scary moments to sustain people’s entertainment, even if they are a bit cheesy and lack a real plot. Every now and then you need a movie like that. But as opposed to the prior movies in the series, Paranormal Activity 4 kind of falls flat.

If you’ve followed any of the prior installments, you know that Katie (Katie Featherston) is a disturbed woman haunted by the cult activities of her ancestors. The series started with her and her fiancé, Micah (Micah Sloat), moving into a new, suburban home, but soon they start to experience demonic activity.

The story continues through in the next installment by telling the same story as the first film from the perspective of Katie’s sister and brother-in-law. Poltergeist activity, strange noises, shadows, you name it – it’s covered in these films. The third movie, which came out last fall, is actually a prequel that explains Katie’s childhood and sheds light on the things that have been taking place. And the story could have easily ended there.

In Paranormal Activity 4, it has been five years since the incidents of the first movie. Alex (Kathryn Newton) and her family have new neighbors who, as in all good horror films of yore, are a little different and as soon as they arrive in the neighborhood strange things start happening. Alex is a typical teenager who plays video games and Skypes with her boyfriend often. She’s a good change of pace from the characters of 1-3 who are never without a camera. All she’s trying to do is explain away the strange things that are happening in her house.

The story doesn’t flow well, but it never really has. But there’s just something about watching a movie like this with a big group of friends. However, at $8 a ticket it’s not really worth it. This, as with the other films, is much more suited for a Halloween party with your closest friends at home. At least for me it is.

My advice? Rent the other three and watch them at home then watch this one when it hits Red Box. I enjoyed the scares, but not the price.

Until next time,
Beth