Paranormal Activity 4: News, Discussion, etc

[inflatabledalek]

Not as good as the third one was, probably about the same level as the second. Some nice scares here and there (though once again one of the better ones from the trailer isn't in the film!) and a great garage sequence.

Considering how smug I was about who the little boy and his "Mother" really were the revelation of which kid was Hunter was a nice twist. Even if, as said, it didn't really make any sense (if she was going to raise an evil adopted child anyway why not keep Hunter? I did wonder if one or both parents were going to turn out to be in on it, but no.

Th main weakness was the ending, she has the option of going to get the police after she (somehow) escapes the demon, but instead runs into the house where she knows all the weird ¤¤¤¤ is happening. How exactly was she planning to save her dad and brother from demonic forces? She could have at least knocked up some of her neighbours for help.

Also, the coven weren't as funny this time as they were hiding in the dark in that closet in the third one. Was that the same house the granny lived in in last film as well?

I still like how every film has offered a slightly different take on what's really happening due to the likely poor research/googling from the characters. I find that more interesting than a definative answer would be (because, lets face it, there's no answer at this stage that wouldn't seem deeply silly if it tried to rationalise everything we've seen).

Oh, and whilst I liked how the Connect product placement was incorporated into the script, I'm fairly sure I shouldn't have come out with such a strange craving for Pepsi.

[the G-man]

I'm fairly sure I shouldn't have come out with such a strange craving for Pepsi.

Product placement. The only true form of possession in Hollywood.

[Captain Craig]

I think this film took a bit longer to get going, at least it felt that way.
The last 15 or so minutes are very good.

One of my big gripes was:

that we went days, DAYS and they were never checking up on what the computers were recording. Stopping just to check out the kitchen knife sequence, either time, should've had them going "something isn't right". I also agree with why was Alex running head on into the crazy neighbors house. What's she going to do? Where did all those women come from? Wouldn't the street be full of cars? They did get me on the twist of Wyatt actually being Hunter which only means that Robbie has his own story I suppose.

I don't have a problem with the kids calling the demon Toby. It is after all how a child is relating to the "imaginary friend". I mean if the child is going,"this is my imaginary friend Bloody Demon" then a parent is going to being having their child tested. Normalcy breaks down faster than "Toby" needs.

Overall I still enjoyed the film though.
I'm thinking B/B- as a grade for now, may change, we'll see.

[Admiral2]

Captain Craig wrote:

---

One of my big gripes was:

that we went days, DAYS and they were never checking up on what the computers were recording. Stopping just to check out the kitchen knife sequence, either time, should've had them going "something isn't right".

White people in a horror movie, my friend, lose all trace of common sense. The great Eddie Murphy explained this in his stand up ages ago. Paraphrasing:

"White person goes into the bathroom, sees blood comin' up outta the toilet, he goes, 'Hmm. That's peculiar." Brother's standin' in the living room says to his wife, 'Aw, this is great, baby! We got the nice big house, with the nice furniture and the chandeliers...this is really great.' Ghost says: GET OUT!!!! 'Too bad we can't stay, baby...'"

[scnj]

Saw it earlier, and enjoyed it enough. A couple of things bugged me, like the weird plot device of Katie having given up Hunter, only to get another child and go get the original one back. Hopefully that gets explained in 5.

I loved the Kinect particles and wish they'd used that more. Very clever way of building tension, somewhat like the oscillating camera in 3. There was some weird stuff like questions as to why people were still filming at points towards the end, but that can be applied to many films in this genre.

Also, what was with that end credits scene? Was that a hint to what we'll be seeing in the fifth movie?

[Admiral_Young]

Fifth movie is on the way...along with a spin-off. I'm done if this doesn't finally give us answers.

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Paran...Way-33697.html

[the G-man]

Captain Craig wrote:

---

I don't have a problem with the kids calling the demon Toby. It is after all how a child is relating to the "imaginary friend". I mean if the child is going,"this is my imaginary friend Bloody Demon" then a parent is going to being having their child tested. Normalcy breaks down faster than "Toby" needs.

In the Exorcist, Regan referred to her "imaginary friend" as "Captain Howdy" for much the same reason. However, the film's characters dropped it pretty quick when the real possession stuff kicked in. And the producers generally didn't refer to the demon by that name in promotional material, etc.

[od0_ital]

Well, I'm all caught up with the series. Rewatched the first one, the unrated director's cut of the second (saw the theatrical cut when it first came out), and both the theatrical & unrated directors' cut of the third over the last few days.

Got a plan to see the fourth with a friend of mine on Wednesday.

Already saw the news about a fifth & the Mexican spin-off, so just expectin' more of the same - dull hour or so, with twenty minutes of awesome at the end.