Paranormal Activity 3

Normally when films get to the stage where they are called a franchise it means the quality is largely diminished and the film makes money off the pedigree of the first film. For a film series like Paranormal Activity which in itself was a surprise smash hit, you'd think that lighting couldn't strike twice or even thrice, even so and this goes against all conventions...Paranormal Activity 3 is the best of series, a surprisingly strong entry with plenty to like.

A quick plot breakdown -

In 1988, young sisters Katie and Kristi befriend an invisible entity who resides in their home. Only problem is it ain't that friendly.

I won't say more so as not to spoil but there is more of the tried and tested PA formula, where night signifies that activity will begin, day is where they discover certain things, then the activity gradually ramps up night after night.

What I will say is that, the film does a great job in the ingenious way it creates the tension despite the limitations of 1980s cameras, like the rotating camera strapped to the fan, panning back and forth with a wall providing the divider from one shot to the other, making the audiences want to see the whole shot but still not giving anything away, as the great man Alfred Hitchcock once said: There is nothing more frightening than an unopened door. The makers of PA 3 adhere to this for most of the film, before unleashing a bat shit crazy last twenty minutes!

Ghosts - love blondes.

The are some generally worrying moments in the film as there always is when children are in peril, but the sight of a small girl being lifted by her pony tail by an unseen force is one of the most worrying and for a found footage film, it really helps to intensify the dread factor.

Once again though the decisions and general obliviousness of the one or both of the parents doesn't sit particularly well but its a small quibble. 

Paranormal Activity 3 bumps up the action and the scares and whilst it half answers some of the questions you've had since PA 2 it also opens up a MASSIVE can of worms...hopefully they can pull it all together in Paranormal Activity 4.