The first Paranormal Activity, released back in 2009, was a genuinely scary and creepy slice of horror that really showed what you could do with the found footage genre. Being a horror as unique and successful as it was (it earned $193 million worldwide off a budget of $15,000), it did of course spawn multiple sequels, that, while building a nice mythology, lost the magic of original, slowly getting bogged down in formula. There was only so many strange goings on in opulent homes (the series as a whole is an exercise in getting me angry that my house isn't as nice as the ones in the movie), followed by a 'shock' ending we could sit through before the fatigue set in. A shake up was needed, and it comes in the form of spin-off The Marked Ones.
Taking a break from the ongoing saga of Katie and her pesky demon possession, The Marked Ones instead sheds light on the coven of witches who have had a hand in the events of all the movies. This movie follows teenager Jesse (Andrew Jacobs) and his friend Hector (Jorge Diaz) as they mess around with Jesse's new video camera, filming stunts and spying on Jesse's neighbour, who they discover is practicing witchcraft. When the neighbour dies, the pair investigate her abandoned apartment, with Jesse waking up the next day with a strange bite mark on his arm. Soon he discovers terrifying new powers that threaten the lives of those around him.
Things were getting stale in the Paranormal Activity franchise after the second installment, but this movie breathes life into the series, mainly down to this being a new take on the concepts and world built in the previous four movies. There is a genuine mystery to be solved here, not a rehash of something we've seen four times before, and it offers some new, often bizarre, and downright ballsy wrinkles in the over arching story that I'm interested to see if they expand upon in Paranormal Activity 5, due later this year. Following new characters offers a freshness to proceedings, with Jesse and Hector being an absolute blast to watch. The actors play off each other really well, completely selling their friendship. There is a lot of humour on display here, more so than in any other Paranormal Activity movie, and it eases you in nicely, taking you off guard once real meat of the story begins. Writer/director Christopher B. Landon, stepping up to helm after cutting his teeth writing the second through fourth installments of the franchise, manages to inject a solid air of spookiness, and some pretty decent special effects, into The Marked Ones, with the entire atmosphere of the movie keeping you on edge once Jesse's power manifest themselves. The story never drags, and is ultimately more satisfying than the other installments since all the cards are laid on the table once the credits roll, and we aren't left with nagging questions. The scares aren't on par with the goings on of the original movie, but there are a few that will make you sit up and take notice, before the finale turns the crazy dial all the way up to eleven with an ending that turns everything you thought you knew on its head.
A needed shot in the arm for the franchise, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones is a return to form, a genuinely spooky and original take on the by now well worn found footage genre, that shows a lot of promise for any future installments.
Taking a break from the ongoing saga of Katie and her pesky demon possession, The Marked Ones instead sheds light on the coven of witches who have had a hand in the events of all the movies. This movie follows teenager Jesse (Andrew Jacobs) and his friend Hector (Jorge Diaz) as they mess around with Jesse's new video camera, filming stunts and spying on Jesse's neighbour, who they discover is practicing witchcraft. When the neighbour dies, the pair investigate her abandoned apartment, with Jesse waking up the next day with a strange bite mark on his arm. Soon he discovers terrifying new powers that threaten the lives of those around him.
Things were getting stale in the Paranormal Activity franchise after the second installment, but this movie breathes life into the series, mainly down to this being a new take on the concepts and world built in the previous four movies. There is a genuine mystery to be solved here, not a rehash of something we've seen four times before, and it offers some new, often bizarre, and downright ballsy wrinkles in the over arching story that I'm interested to see if they expand upon in Paranormal Activity 5, due later this year. Following new characters offers a freshness to proceedings, with Jesse and Hector being an absolute blast to watch. The actors play off each other really well, completely selling their friendship. There is a lot of humour on display here, more so than in any other Paranormal Activity movie, and it eases you in nicely, taking you off guard once real meat of the story begins. Writer/director Christopher B. Landon, stepping up to helm after cutting his teeth writing the second through fourth installments of the franchise, manages to inject a solid air of spookiness, and some pretty decent special effects, into The Marked Ones, with the entire atmosphere of the movie keeping you on edge once Jesse's power manifest themselves. The story never drags, and is ultimately more satisfying than the other installments since all the cards are laid on the table once the credits roll, and we aren't left with nagging questions. The scares aren't on par with the goings on of the original movie, but there are a few that will make you sit up and take notice, before the finale turns the crazy dial all the way up to eleven with an ending that turns everything you thought you knew on its head.
A needed shot in the arm for the franchise, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones is a return to form, a genuinely spooky and original take on the by now well worn found footage genre, that shows a lot of promise for any future installments.
