With every “Paranormal Activity” release comes the use of a different camera technique. The original film was plenty happy to stick the camera, stationary in the corner as the dreadful events unfolded. We were the passive viewer in the corner.
“Activity 2” featured multiple angles as several surveillance cameras were set up around the house. Every time the point of view shifted, the tension mounted.
Now with “Paranormal Activity 3” we are getting tricky with the camera work. Now we get stationary shots, multiple angles and (drum roll please!!) the panning shot! The sense of heightening is almost unbearable as the camera oscillates across the room, revealing horrific horrors unparalleled. I cannot wait for the inevitable sequels, as they are sure to feature such amazing wonders such as the zoom and the Dutch angle.
I’m kidding, of course, but I do find it interesting that one of the ways this fantastic franchise consistently finds a way to keep itself fresh is by introducing new ways to move the camera around. The results are always solid and “Paranormal Activity 3” offers plenty of jumps and jolts, pivoting cameras and all.
Again, the story here is actually a prequel that is set during the childhood of the doomed sisters from the first two go-rounds. It is 1988 and both young Katie (Chloe Csengery) and even younger Kristi (Jessica Tyler Brown) are frequently visited by the invisible Toby, Kristi’s imaginary friend. As you probably can guess, Toby is actually a malevolent demon that wants to swallow Kristi’s soul and so forth.
Lucky for us, the girls’ mother has a new boyfriend, Dennis (Christopher Nicholas Smith) who makes his living filming weddings. So… he has a grip of cameras that will be used to document the strange phenomena that is constantly occurring around the house. One of the bright spots of “PA 3” is that Dennis is pretty much freaked out and believing the unbelievable right out the gate. It’s convincing everyone else that is the tough job.
The “Paranormal Activity” series of films are able to achieve genuine scares and tension by presenting the material as someone’s home video. While both of the sequels have not been able to completely recapture the feel of the original, they work by themselves. I would much rather have a new chapter of this annually than the thoughtless gore that we have been fed from the “Saw” series the last handful of years.
Producer Oren Peli (director of the first “Paranormal Activity”) has done well by picking to the guys behind the perplexing “Catfish” to helm this install. Much has been made about the authenticity of “Catfish” as a true documentary and it has been revealed that there was more fiction that fact actually going on for that film but what makes it a great argument is that there is any question at all. Both Henry Joost and Ariel Shulman are uncanny at making events captured on film seem real and that touch works perfectly with “PA 3”. Their touch is especially felt with the girls, most notably Tyler Brown as Kristi, who give amazingly natural performances.
While the film has plenty to praise, I found the final few minutes to be wanting of a little more impact. This may just be a result of being too familiar with this material, which eventually is inevitable. And as bits and pieces played a touch tired, the overall effect is chilling. I know I’m late to the party but I thought I’d share.
