Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones Review
RYAN: This is technically the fifth Paranormal Activity movie but it’s really a spin-off. It’s a completely different kind of chapter that relates to the lore and is actually a step up from the typical ones, but still not good.
CAROLINE: I can’t say I’m surprised. We both saw the first Paranormal Activity together and were completely underwhelmed.
RYAN: I went on to see them all and they just never improved. They’re basically all just movies made for, like, ten dollars but then go on to make $50 million or so. It’s ridiculous. I wish people wouldn’t see them so they’d stop making them. They’re really awful.
CAROLINE: So what makes this one a step up, as you say?
RYAN: The mythology behind this one is better. There’s a little bit more on story, but only barely, some talk of witches, voodoo, demonic possession. It is still largely a great waste of time and boring as this pointless home video captures everything happening to these two friends. The production value isn’t improved; seems again like there’s no costuming or set design or script or even real acting – but the effects are a smidge better.
CAROLINE: Natch. I remember the first one had only, like, cheesy lights flickering and people were freaking out in the theater.
RYAN: Yeah I’ll never understand how those stupid tricks of film manipulation and editing actually scare people. I think those audience members are confusing a jump with a scare. I mean, any film can manipulate you to jump with editing or sound or whatever, but to actually leave the theater with a fear that stays with you takes real art.
CAROLINE: I don’t know if I’d call it art, but effort at least.
RYAN: The main actors have very little acting experience and you can tell. And there are a lot of moments that are so boring, you feel like they’re trying to buy time to make it to 84 minutes.
CAROLINE: Wow to be that short and feel boring is just a travesty.
RYAN: You said it! I do have to give it credit for the ending though. It’s cool. It’s not good, but it’s cool.
CAROLINE: Well that’s something.
RYAN: Sadly, this one is as predicted: a cheap movie in budget, story and scares. Don’t waste your time.
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones January 20, 2014
I am giving this a 10 because there are people who knowingly hate this series, who are giving it a low rating just to be vindictive.
This is a good movie. The acting was good, the setting was different, and it tied in every well with the rest of the series. It answered some questions and opens up options to end the franchise in a neat way.
I don’t know what everyone is complaining about – if you’ve seen one movie, then you know by now what to expect. The PA franchise isn’t Oscar material, but that’s not why people watch them. I’ve also seen complaints that the movies “don’t scare” the viewer, but I watch them because they are fun and entertaining, not because I want to be scared. Think: Evil Dead.
So I don’t want to give anything away – but if you’re a fan, you will like this one. It’s better than PA4 and explains a lot.