Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

Good movie but grossly overrated

Boring

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

Why see the 'Paranormal Activity' films in the first place? Despite not being a fan of the found footage/video surveillance style of filming generally, the basic premise to begin with was quite interesting. Also wanted to see whether they lived up to the hype (both positive and negative, have always heard very mixed views and the divisiveness both ways have been quite extreme) and which side I'd fall under.After finally seeing them, after putting off seeing them for a while (mainly due to being behind with film watching and also being wary of the hype both extremes), to sum up in one word what my feelings on the 'Paranormal Activity' films are, it is indifference. Certainly don't have the vehement hatred some have for the films, nor do they strike me as masterpieces of the genre. Didn't care for the first film, but it was more a mixed feelings kind of film with some effective moments.The 'Paranormal Activity' films got worse with each instalment, of which the fourth is the weakest and the laziest. It makes all the same flaws as the third film and doesn't even have the few redeeming qualities that film had. The only enjoyable parts were the 'Rosemary's Baby' and 'Poltergeist' references, and some of the acting was okay for what the actors had to work with.However, 'Paranormal Activity 4' is easily the worst-looking film in the series. No creepy visuals or no eerie or atmospheric lighting, just repetitive and gimmicky camera work and editing that is an insult to the word amateurish that made the film look like a student film project that failed big time.'Paranormal Activity 4's' biggest problems are the pacing and story. The pacing never comes to life, and unlike the previous three films it doesn't even pick up momentum in the latter parts of the film. There is next to nothing scary here, no intensity, no ominous atmosphere, no broodiness or sense of dread. It's just a snail's pace slog rife with implausibility, stupid decision making, predictable and overly calculated "scares" and intelligence insulting ridiculousness, and, even when bringing in Skype and Xbox into the mix, does nothing new with an initially interesting but now gotten well stale premise.A lot of the film feels like padded out filler with the downtime containing cringe-worthy dialogue and characters that have no development and either have bland personalities or made to act dumb. Direction is flat, and while the acting could have been much worse they really don't have much to work with.In conclusion, hardly any activity here in the worst and laziest film of the series. 2/10 Bethany Cox

Well, I think they went to the well to many times with this one. They have bled this series dry. The first Paranormal Activity was fresh and new. The second went to an alternate family. The third was back story so where do they go from there?Part four picks up where part two left off--meaning some years after Hunter was kidnapped. It's just a little stale now. Everywhere this specter goes there are cameras set up and the entity has the same M.O. It slowly introduces itself with some odd but mostly explainable events then gradually steps up his scare game. Just once I want a ghost/spirit/demon to just come with it from the beginning. I know that makes for a quick movie, but just bring the noise right away. If that's murder, if it's possession--whatever it happens to be, just come with it.The movie follows a very predictable pattern until the end, which is also very predictable. If you've seen one you've seen them all and that's too bad.

I really enjoyed the first PA, and have generally enjoyed, though not as much, the next 2 installments. Which brings me to number 4. Despite how good the original was, if you keep doing it over and over, it starts to get watered down. Unfortunately, that's where we are with this series. If you liked the previous ones, like I did, then you'll probably at least enjoy this one, like I did. But, it's starting to lose it's luster.As with the previous PAs, to get any enjoyment out of this one you first have to suspend your belief that most normal families are getting the hell out of there after numerous paranormal activities. After a chandelier comes crashing down, followed by a knife dropping from the ceiling that narrowly misses someone, all the while there are other various noises and weird things happening, etc....this family, for their own convenient reasons, cant seem to put it together that something odd is going on. Keep in mind, all this is being recorded as we're watching the footage after the fact. So, if you can suspend that belief and enjoy the movie for what it is, you'll enjoy it that much more. If you're one of those that harps on petty things like that, not understanding that this is just a movie for entertainment purposes only, then you're just wasting your time watching these.PA4 picks up 5 years after the second one. It follows the same formula as the previous ones, as were watching recordings of what's happening. Isn't it so convenient that these families are able to get such great footage? LOL The scares are generally similar. The acting's decent, and this series does a pretty good job of character development, as we always see the main characters in various activities throughout the house. Even the house cat gets his fair share of air time in this one. And Robbie, the kid that moves in next door and spends time with the family, is really odd and makes some really strange comments that would have made me very uncomfortable to be around.And, unfortunately, like the previous PAs, the ending was anticlimactic to me. Personally, Katie walking around like a zombie and wasting people isn't really that scary to me. There just isn't that much suspense. It's like they spent all this time building up to the finish, and then they just rush through it.While the first one is by far the best of the lot so far, if you've like the PA series, then you'll most likely see enough in this one to like it. However, I just don't know how many more times they can keep running the same movie out there.

Paranormal Activity is actually a terrible film. Paranormal Activity 2 was an extension of the first but mildly diverting. Paranormal Activity 3 was the best yet. Do we need another one? That's a resounding no. In the next instalment in the franchise which was stretched to breaking point ages ago, a new family are getting haunted by objects in their house going bump. Katie and Hunter from the others are now living near them. This extension of a not that great premise offers a few jumpy bumps and has a slightly scary finale but before that you have to get through 90 minutes of things going bump and bland webcam footage. This film is less jumpy than a punctured bouncy castle and another example of modern horror's damaging reliance on OTT jump scares. The only thing which gives this some sort of elevation is the fact that the characters are actually perfectly likable. Since barely anything genuinely frightening happens, there isn't such a huge question of 'Why aren't they turning off the camera?!'.The scares are bland, lifeless and repetitive. There's no build up at all; just loud noises and that's pretty much it. The acting is average to bad, and the plot is flat as well. I don't remember this well as it's just the same stuff getting repeated over and over again. The finale is the only effective part of the movie but since it makes no sense and leaves the door wide open for yet anther sequel, the impact is blunted. In general, it's just not scary or particularly well written. It's just bland and half hearted. You can tell that the only thing the film was made for is money. The makers didn't care about anything resembling quality, they just wanted to make loads of money without spending loads of money. They succeeded, which is why we had Paranormal Activity The Marked Ones this year and now have Paranormal Activity 5 to look forward to next year. I'm dome with Paranormal Activity. I would advise the rest of you to bail on this franchise as well. This is a lame, lazy attempt to make a profit which barely raises a gasp, and doesn't deserve the cash.2/10