15 Second Review: Paranormal Activity 4 (2012)

I imagine the Paranormal Activity script template to look something like this:

-Series recap.

-Mundane events. Quiet. Jump cut. Loud noise caused by everyday events.

-Mundane events. Quiet. Loud noise caused by someone playing a joke. Jump cut.

-Door creaks. Jump cut.

-Mundane events. Jump cut. Quiet. Loud noise caused by everyday events.

-Mundane events. Quiet. Loud noise caused by someone playing a joke. Loud noise caused by jump cut.

-Partial ghost sighting.

-Mundane events. Quiet. Loud noise caused by everyday events.

-Mundane events. Quiet. Loud noise caused by someone playing a joke.

-Low extra-diegetic rumble... PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
-Roll out the green screen. Throw people into the air.

 [- - repeat until 90 minutes have elapsed]
-Lamest shot of the whole film. End Abruptly.

The problem is not that this is a regurgitation of the previous films. It doesn't bring anything new to the plate, but that isn't bad per se. If it ain't broke, right? The problem is that the film relies too much on loud 'bangs' to scare, and that is dull. Worse still, some of the CG is really poor.

The latter might be intentional insofar as Paranormal Activity 4 appears to be an anti-technology/pro-environmentalist movie. The characters seem to think that leaving an Xbox Kinect on and laptop cameras running all night is a way of capturing footage of the increasing paranormal activity.

However, consider it the other way around: the activity increases because the characters leave their electrical goods running 24/7. For those who have seen the film, consider the car/garage sequence. That's right, ghosts are angered by waste. Roll on Ecological Activity 5. With that in mind, my line of the film is this: 'F***ing Prius'