Paranormal Activity 4

(**) out of (****)

Giving "Paranormal Activity 4" a passable score is a bit of a stretch, considering how badly I want to give it a 4, but that wouldn't be honest. What I can tell you is this is probably the weakest "5" I've given a film. Let's cut to the chase: Even if you're a "Paranormal" fan, there are absolutely no scares in this one. Well, there wasn't really in the last one (in my opinion), but this one just re- enforces that belief.

Where did it all go wrong? Humor. Okay, I understand you have to inject some (especially considering a new direction), but they went overboard. At times, I thought they were going to cross Scary Movie territory. Also, too polished in some areas and rough in others. Unlike the first two, (maybe) the third one, this has Hollywood written all over it. For an example, the soccer match in the beginning of the movie is too crisp/smooth for a film like this. It suspends all belief. Yet scenes within the family at night, are a little cheaper than before.

So NO scares? It's everything the series avoided. A plethora of jump scares. All this build up for sometimes a no show. And many GOTCHA! moments, that are not organic in the least. The main lead does a fine job, but her boyfriend makes me raise a finger or two. And don't get me started on the family. And that ending? Golly. This might be worse than The Devil Inside's resolution!

If they make a fifth, go back to the territory the first two explored. After that, the series just took a decline. Typically with films rated a "5", you should at the least rent it, but you really don't need to waste your time with this one.