Paranormal Activityis one of the found footage format’s, and thehorror genre’s, most well-known franchises. Highly influenced byThe Blair Witch Project, another horror and found footage icon,Paranormal Activitygained notoriety for its slow but steadily built atmosphere and ability to strike fear into the hearts of viewers with low-budget scares.
The film’s popularity spawned a number of sequels and prequels, which have been released to mixed reception though theParanormal Activityfranchise remains undoubtedly a highly prominent horror film series. With an eighth installment on the horizon, let’s look back at the five best films in the franchise.
Warning: spoilers ahead!
5Paranormal Activity: Next Of Kin
Paranormal Activity: Next of Kinis the franchise’s seventh and latest installment, and the first official title to not be a direct sequel or prequel to the other entries. However, there is a connection in the form of the franchise’s resident demon, Asmodeus, also often referred to by the nickname “Tobi” in the other films, who haunts the plot ofNext of Kin. Rather than taking place in an unassuming neighborhood, the film is centered within the walls of the community that worships Asmodeus. This allows the demon-obsessed coven aspects ofNext of Kinto meld well with its plot, in contrast to otherParanormal Activitytitles in which those same narrative beats felt campy and tacked on.
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Next of Kin’s visuals are also starkly different from the franchise’s other entries. Although the film maintains the found-footage format, it abandonsParanormal Activity’sdistinct low-resolution, casual style for a cinematic and high-budget documentary aesthetic. This new production direction can be a hit or miss with viewers. Aome find that the filmstrays too farfrom its roots, while others see the changes asthe revitalization the franchise needsif it’s going to continue producing films. Whether the franchise’s eighth film will mirrorNext of Kin’s cinematic style remains to be seen.
4Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones
Paranormal Activity’sfifth installment is not the first mainline entry to shift the focus off of primary protagonist Katie and her sister Kristie, but it is the first to take the franchise out of white suburbia. Featuring a Latino main cast,Paranormal Activity: The Marked Onesprovides some much-appreciated diversity and a vital breath of fresh air to the franchise (and perhaps to the horror genre as a whole).
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The film does suffer from similar issues as its direct predecessor,Paranormal Activity 4.Namely, it leans on the lackluster witch cult plot points and a fixation with more blatant horror scenes. It ignores the subtle scares that made the firstParanormal Activityone of the cornerstones of found-footage horror. However, these faults are balanced out byThe Marked Ones’ endearing characters, the authenticity of their lives and interactions, and a genuine bond between the actors that can be felt through the screen. And the film’s closing shot is undeniably funny.
3Paranormal Activity 2
This prequel fleshes out the motives behind the torment inflicted upon Katie and Micah in the first film. It explains why Tobi initially attaches himself to Katie and Kristie, and why he eventually directs his efforts at possession towards Katie rather than Kristie. This explanation of Tobi’s origin in the sisters’ lives may not have been necessary. After all, part ofParanormal Activity’s allure is in the unknown and unseen. While knowing ademon’s exact rationalefor possessing a specific person can be intriguing, it isn’t always vital to building up an audience’s fear or engagement.
That being said, the backstory inParanormal Activity 2manages to add to the franchise’s lore without tearing open plot holes. It doesn’t convolute the franchise’s narrative (something later entries are guilty of), and it is the lastParanormal Activityfilm not to fall victim to thewitch covenstoryline that would consume the rest of the franchise.
2Paranormal Activity 3
A prequel of a prequel,Paranormal Activity 3finally dives into Katie and Kristie’s childhood with their infamous imaginary friend, Tobi, who would eventually destroy their lives in adulthood.Paranormal Activity 3is truly an origin story film, marking the beginning of the end for the sisters. AlthoughParanormal Activity 2provides the reason as to why Tobi enters the sisters’ lives, it’s thrilling to actually see the sisters interact with him and his true dark nature begin to manifest rather than just listening to characters discuss the events. Not to mention, who doesn’t love indulging in the evil imaginary friend horror trope?
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Paranormal Activity 3does heavily feature the franchise’s coven narrative, which is easily one of its weakest characteristics. Still, the film’s scares keep viewers on the edge of their seats far more efficiently than the following sequels and even its predecessor,Paranormal Activity 2.
1Paranormal Activity
No other film in the franchise can compete with the one that started it all.Paranormal Activityembodies the appeal of found-footage horror, unafraid to embrace the realism and subtlety that gives the film format its fear factor. It’s possible that the franchise wouldn’t even exist ifParanormal Activityhadn’t been at its helm, consideringno other entryhas been as well-received as the first.
But because bad reviews don’t always equate to bad profits, and the franchise certainly is still profitable, it’s likely that horror fans haven’t heard their last announcement for a newParanormal Activityfilm. It’s unlikely, however, that any of those films will come close to being the horror iconParanormal Activityis.
