Paranormal Activity 3: Review By Corey W.

Oct 22nd, 2011 by Corey W.
Without a doubt the best horror-sequel ever made.
  • OVERALL
    4.0
    GREAT
  • Story
  • Acting
  • Directing
  • Visuals
The reason I've waited twenty-four hours to review Paranormal Activity 3 was because I wanted to sleep on it. Not because I wasn't so sure about my exact thoughts on the film, but I wanted to see if the film would affect me in the middle of the night or not. Quite frankly, the first two Paranormal Activity films left me with nothing but laughter after seeing them but my reaction toward this new installment was a different feeling. For the first time in probably my entire life, a film has reached into my brain and has provided me with a sense of images that freaked me out. That's right! Paranormal Activity 3 may not be the scariest thing for some people, but for me, it was the first time a horror film has ever played with my thoughts in the middle of the night. For that, it deserves a lot of credit.

I wasn't planning on giving Paranormal Activity 3 a perfect score, but waking up in the morning after a long night of staring up at the ceiling I discovered that a movie actually had a strange affect on me. What really drives me crazy about the entire experience is that throughout the film (and after the credits) I didn't expect to even remember half the film the next day. Since seeing the movie, I've thought of nothing but! Just about everything the film does to execute its premise is brilliant and it certainly proves itself as the best of the three. After an overrated original and a miserable sequel, Paranormal Activity 3 brings out the true meaning behind what horror should be.

After their success on last year's doc*mentary Catfish, filmmakers Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman have been handed over the key to the Paranormal Activity films with a set-up crafted brilliantly. While the first two films also had the same unique set-up, Joost and Schulman create a vibrant atmosphere that really brings out the intensity of the film. The way some of the scenes are played-out also is probably one of the best features Paranormal Activity provides. Each and every scene builds up to a certain moment that has the audience in fear throughout the entire running-time. While some scenes may build up to nothing, it's the intensity and questions running through your head in that time-frame that really scare you to your highest degree. And with all that, I promise you there are more than one instances in the film where you'll jump out of your seat. For me that doesn't happen quite too often and I can't even remember how many times I shivered in my boots.

Feed 1 (Movie theater):

Here's a funny story. You've all been waiting for it, right? I was the closet person to the screen in the theater only because I wanted to stay as far from people as possible. I hate having to hear reactions from people during horror-films, mostly because every time something shocking happens they'll laugh it off for a good minute to show that they are not pussies. The trailers are rolling and I'm very comfortable in the atmosphere I've created for myself. In come three hot chicks right around my age. It was a "WTF" moment I couldn't control. The movie starts to roll and all I'm thinking is, "Sweet Jesus, if I jump out of my seat at any moment during this movie these girls will think I'm a giant p*ssy." I just couldn't control the fear this movie poisoned me with. While these girls laughed off the fear, I had to bite my nails because I forgot to buy popcorn.

If there is one thing that I do love about this trilogy it's the storyline. These films are crafted quite well and I especially love how each film travels backwards in time. Being able to see how the activity began with Katie and Krista as little girls was very interesting. The first two films created a lot of questions for the audience that led back to what happened when they were children. While the movie does answer a lot of those questions we've been looking for, it crafts much more questions that'll be sure to confuse you until Paranormal Activity 4 comes out. Here's the most important question though: Where will Paranormal Activity 4 stand? Who will it focus on? What year will it take place? Will it go back in time? How far back? Will it feature Katie or Krista at any age in their lives? These questions rolled through my brain like a hurricane and for the first time I cannot wait to see what the next movie has in store for us.

Thanks for the read!

-Written by Corey Wood

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Comments (55)

  1. Corey W.

    @moviegeek I've already whor*d out this review. C'mon, whor* out my Man on a Ledge review now!

    I joke, I joke...but seriously. :P

    I pride myself in being a comment whor*. All day, errrrryday.

    1 year agoby @coreyFlag

  2. moviegeek

    @corey *gags* You're crazy.

    1 year agoby @moviegeekFlag

  3. Corey W.

    @moviegeek This was the best of the three. Shush with your hatred! :P haha

    1 year agoby @coreyFlag

  4. moviegeek

    @corey Oh. My. Word. This movie sucked so bad. And that's coming from the guy who really enjoyed the first two.

    1 year agoby @moviegeekFlag

  5. moviegeek

    4/5 now? rofl

    1 year agoby @moviegeekFlag

  6. Ghostman

    @corey I'll have my PA3 review up tomorrow just in time for Halloween. But I thought it was different, more story based and didn't rely to heavy on the scares as the second one. We as an audience already know what to expect since we've seen these before and it was different. i liked it and I'll try to see it in theaters next time since I watched it online last night.

    2 years agoby @ghostmanFlag

  7. Corey W.

    @ghostman Well, I have the ability has an Offical to re-edit this review all I want. I don't plan on it though. Might drop it down to a 4.5/5 out of five, but I wanna see it again before I make any sudden changes.

    2 years agoby @coreyFlag

  8. Ghostman

    @corey i can see why you want to re-edit this review :P anyways, just finished watching it right now. Thought it was pretty cool not scary at all, but was full of suspense. Only problem i had was that not a lot of the scenes shown in the trailer weren't in the actual movie :/ oh well, we'll have to wait for the director's cut I guess :)

    2 years agoby @ghostmanFlag

  9. skywise

    @corey wow...even tho i am in no position to argue since i havent even seen the first movie i find it extremly difficult to believe that this is a perfect movie. Especially coming from such a brilliant reviewer as yourself but like i said, i need to check these out before i can really speak on the subject. The review was great as always tho.

    2 years agoby @skywiseFlag

  10. Nicholaus XX

    @corey -- Paranormal Activity seems to work in odd ways, after thinking about it after reading these two reviews regarding it, I am slightly looking forward to watching it, it wasn't like I wasn't going to watch it - I try to watch all movies.

    2 years agoby @XxNickTheFilmCriticXxFlag

  11. Corey W.

    @Zak-Lee-Ferguson Glad to know we see eye-to-eye on this one, man. Looking forward to your review!

    @XxNickTheFilmCriticXx Also good to know that you're sold on the film now!

    2 years agoby @coreyFlag

  12. Nicholaus XX

    @stoned -- I am too, thanks for telling me this-I now want to see it.

    2 years agoby @XxNickTheFilmCriticXxFlag

  13. Zak Lee Ferguson

    Feel the same- also my may be short- just because the film is one big give away in itself. 5 stars- truly impacting, and very reminiscent of The Wickerman and the poltergeist and very tense, jarring, and the performances are- a-superb.

    2 years agoby @Zak-Lee-FergusonFlag

  14. TheStonedReviewer

    @XxNickTheFilmCriticXx yanno just little things like danny's character traits and other references i feel are nice little references so i was glad you brought up the shining!

    2 years agoby @stonedFlag

  15. Corey W.

    @moviegeek J. Edgar will be Leo's first Oscar-win too. I have that feeling.

    2 years agoby @coreyFlag

  16. moviegeek

    @corey J.Edgar should kick it off nicely.

    2 years agoby @moviegeekFlag

  17. Nicholaus XX

    @corey -- True that, and while I'm very interested on your outlook(review) on 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo', I'm contemplating whether or not I should read reviews or any sort of feedback for it when its' released before I see it or not. I want to watch it with a clear-mind so I can to the best of my abilities form my opinion on it, and ultimately review it.

    2 years agoby @XxNickTheFilmCriticXxFlag

  18. Nicholaus XX

    @stoned -- Really? If so, that's fairly interesting.

    2 years agoby @XxNickTheFilmCriticXxFlag

  19. TheStonedReviewer

    @XxNickTheFilmCriticXx oh yeah seen the shining, if you go see P3 you will notice there are parts that pay homage to it, well, thats wat i thought :)

    2 years agoby @stonedFlag

  20. Corey W.

    @moviegeek I really want to see that. In the next two weeks or so it might go up OnDemand though. *crossing my fingers*

    I just want Oscar season to start. So much good stuff in November and December to look forward to!

    2 years agoby @coreyFlag

  21. moviegeek

    @corey Anonymous is starting in limited release now >:I I probably won't get a chance to see it now! grr.

    2 years agoby @moviegeekFlag

  22. Corey W.

    @moviegeek True. Last few flicks have given me great oppurtunities. Not sure if In Time will do the same haha

    2 years agoby @coreyFlag

  23. Nicholaus XX

    @corey -- I understand that, but I'm trying to see if you(or any of person) have a valid reason for not liking the movie(or substance). I guess 'Paranormal Activity' just doesn't have the same effect on me as it does on everyone else. Odd.

    2 years agoby @XxNickTheFilmCriticXxFlag

  24. moviegeek

    @corey I would say yes, but I think you should just do it anytime you have a story. meaning, don't try and force a story if it was just a typical experience. that way your A-grade storytelling record doesn't get tarnished.

    2 years agoby @moviegeekFlag

  25. Corey W.

    @moviegeek Glad I could amuse you, man. lol

    I'm trying to start a new style in my reviews. I want to dedicate a paragraph or so to my experience watching the movie and use that to add a humerous touch to my reviews. So far for the past three reviews I've seemed to be completing that quite well.

    2 years agoby @coreyFlag

  26. Corey W.

    @XxNickTheFilmCriticXx You are a very hard person to get to understand that people *do* have their own opinions. I can't go through all the reasons to why I didn't like Insidious and The House of the Devil. Not because I don't want to but because....actually, I don't want to. As for The Shining, movies take a lot to scare me. Its never really happened to me before. PA3 won't make you sh*t yourself, and it isn't that scary to watch the film, but one begins to wonder what is going on inside your home while you sleep. Even if its just a robber sneaking in or the noise of a cat, wondering whats happening in your atmosphere while you sleep is a creepy situation and the PA movies do that perfectly. Thats why I like them...

    2 years agoby @coreyFlag

  27. Nicholaus XX

    @corey -- Not to be on the defensive side, but you're telling me a 'Paranormal Activity' flick is scarier than 'The Shining'? If I saw this movie(The Shining) alone back when I did, I would have probably sh** myself!

    Don't you think that your statement referring to 'Insidious'(which wasn't very good, especially acting wise, but made up for in the end and soundtrack) and especially 'The House Of The Devil' was a little close-minded? Besides some of the lines and character traits, I don't see any flaws worth mentioning. What "sucked ass" in that one?

    2 years agoby @XxNickTheFilmCriticXxFlag

  28. moviegeek

    @corey A rabbit!! XD For some reason I found that unusually hilarious.

    2 years agoby @moviegeekFlag

  29. Corey W.

    @moviegeek I think so. At first I thought it was a rabbit, but that wouldn't make much sense. Especially in my area. It had to be a cat, only because those monsters hate me.

    2 years agoby @coreyFlag

  30. moviegeek

    @corey a black cat? ;)

    2 years agoby @moviegeekFlag