It’s occurred to me that the reason Parnormal Activity soldiers on as bankable franchise is the lack of better alternatives. This is a time of year when people want to be scared. That the series becomes less effective with every film and offers no reward upon repeat viewing are secondary to the quick-fix it provides every year. My main beef after three films is that the story has gone backwards, though it seems with 4 they’re actually going to embrace storyline advancement! Indeed, Paranormal Activity 4 sees jump-scares going down a full five years after the second film – as creepy Katie and her nephew Hunter move next door to a family that just so happens to have a shit ton of web cams.
At least Katie Featherston, an actress I have something of a schoolgirl crush on, returns to prominence here. Silver linings and what not: