Paranormal Prison (2021) User Reviews

You might want to not go into the Paranormal Prison after all...

[paul_haakonsen · 3/10 · 15 April 2021]

No wonder that the 2021 horror movie "Paranormal Prison" snuck in under the radar. This movie was pretty bad.

When I sit down to watch a movie, I don't like throwing money, time or effort after a movie with the presentation of something that I could have made myself with my own digital video camera - heck, even with a mobile phone camera. And "Paranormal Prison" is exactly that, one such amateurish-feel movie. I loathe movies that feel like you are supposed to be right there with the cast, given the dubious and shoddy camera that is all over the place.

And of course, any movie with the word "Paranormal" in the title is just bound to be bad. So far I haven't seen a single movie with that word in its title that provided me with proper entertainment. So no, I am not a fan of the dubious "Paranormal Activity" franchise either.

The storyline told in "Paranormal Prison" definitely had some appeal to it and some interesting aspects. But it was just brutally slaughtered by the 'found footage' type of movie that director Brian Jagger opted for. Had it been filmed and presented as a proper movie, then writers Brian Jagger and Randall Reese definitely were on the right track with the storyline here.

The acting in the movie was adequate enough, taking into consideration the rubbish movie that they were in. I wasn't familiar with anyone on the cast list, which is something that I like in movies. But it just hardly mattered in "Paranormal Prison", as the movie was ruined by the camera work. However, I can't really claim that the character gallery in the movie was particularly outstanding or memorable.

"Paranormal Prison" came and went without as much as a shudder, much less leaving a lasting impression. I managed to suffer through it to the end, and believe me, this is not a movie that I will be watching a second time. Nor is it a movie that I would recommend you wasting your time, money or effort on.

My rating of the 2021 horror movie "Paranormal Prison" lands on a generous three out of ten stars.

Only if you're bored

[dennykohl-86723 · 3/10 · 8 August 2021]

It's the typical hand-held camera investigation theme. If they stuck to just the camera recording scenes it might not have been a waste of time. But every so often they had to throw in some heartfelt sob story about their past and the acting was REALLY bad. I mean stage drama, Shatner as Capt. Kirk, overacting, bad.

Pretty terrible

[chrisy555 · 2/10 · 21 February 2021]

Acting wasn't too bad, abit rigid. The story line is horrific which makes the movie terrible.

Pretty lame

[wjgroenewold · 1/10 · 8 March 2021]

Very dull movie, bad story line, acting is even worse. Seen some better found footage style movies.. Better luck next time...

I was bored

[wingxiong · 3/10 · 1 January 2022]

Good idea for a movie. There was nothing scary about this movie. It remind me of when I was a child and played scary games with friends in abandon hospital. Acting was very bad.

meh

[amymay-69916 · 2/10 · 31 October 2023]

Acting was okay, but ultimate storyline was so plot hole filled it was ludicrous. The anagrams and and acronyms were cheesy (ghost/sthog and SKEPTC) and the missing killer lady plot point went nowhere- yeah they figured out how she escaped.....AND?!? What purpose did it serve? It's not like they tracked her down and figured out where she lived after she escaped. THAT would have been helpful. And the guard? "we saw him on your wall". You mean above the plaques that were dated in the last century,but you didn't blink an eye at the resemblance? And for 4 roses to be an overwhelming theme around the character,they only had one section of roses. You would have though rose references would be everywhere,but no,just one bush,that's it. Overall a even less than mediocre movie. It's too late for me,i can't unsee this. But you have been warned. Save yourself!

Really BAD movie.

[jhmoondance · 1/10 · 2 April 2022]

Well......I am a massive fan of found footage/cam corder movies but this was a really terrible attempt at a scary paranormal movie. There was no atmosphere no tension n no suspense whatsoever. It was diabolical.

The acting was atrocious n over the top.

The ending was completely predictable n silly.

I am afraid that I can not recommend this film n ruin my reputation as a movie buff n also waste 71mins of your time.

Very bad POV horror

[hayate-79455 · 1/10 · 25 July 2022]

A group of unsuccessful psychic YouTubers go to a prison to film for the survival of their channel!

A group of YouTubers do something like the TV shows that used to be common to pursue the mysteries of psychic phenomena.

It's terrible that they put in stylish direction even though it's POV. The equipment was too serious for an unsuccessful YouTuber, and I felt uncomfortable.

It was really boring, and the only praise I can give is that the actress was beautiful.

Not a Found Footage Film Nor Horror

[jprice-38253 · 2/10 · 7 November 2023]

How did this garbage even make it to ANY streaming platform?! Let alone it wouldn't even pass as a good enough video to watch on YouTube. Looks like a high school student made it. This is not a Found Footage film nor a Horror film in the slightest.

So apparently the premise is a prison with a lot of history and ghost sightings. We have Matthew, Jacob, Ashley and Sara. They are filmmakers/paranormal investigators that decide to go explore the prison, and capture footage for their YouTube channel. So what entirely happens? Well I'll tell you so that you can save your time and not have to watch this.

They have a permit to film on the prison and the prison guard lets them in. The first 45 minutes is literally the annoying prison guard pretty much babysitting them and touring them around the whole place. All the are lights on! It is not an eerie feel or ominous setting whatsoever. Therefore, the prison doesn't look creepy at all. After 45 minutes, you start seeing the supposed ghosts prisoners, which oh my goodness, how much corny could they have looked?! The jump scares were the worst I've ever seen and the effects looked so unprofessional. We don't get any of the green nighttime filter in this, that we usually see in Found Footage. The recording layout from the camera only shows a battery symbol. That's it! No numbers, no timer, no date or other settings to make it look like it's a live recording camera. Some of these effects I noticed came right from IPhone apps! There was no screaming, nobody was really scared, but the dumbest thing that was missing in this was that NOBODY DIED. Everyone gets a happy ending?! Are you kidding me?! That is NOT a Found Footage Film. In a Found Footage Film, normally EVERYONE dies or were just left with one person. I would've at least thought someone or a couple of others in this would die at some point, but nope!

If I had been the writer or director of this, I would've scratched out the prison guard, made the prison completely abandoned, have no power in there, have the crew go sneak in there, have their green nighttime camera filters on, have no music, have scary ghosts, have slow burn tension and nobody would live. Plus, leave the viewers with a bunch of questions and thinking. THAT would actually make a good Found Footage Film. The person that made this had no idea what they were doing and clearly knows nothing about the Found Footage/Horror genre. This film maybe could've had some potential, but instead was painted with rainbows and unicorns.

And I'm only giving this atrocity a 2, because of Sara. She was the only good actress in this and the only one that was kinda keeping me through it. Paranormal Prison will make you feel like you're in a prison of your own if you were to watch it. Which I highly recommend you don't! Go watch or do something else.

It is good for B horror

[aerylbailey · 5/10 · 17 June 2023]

This is not the type of movie that you can rate like a top notch horror flick with millions of dollars in budget. The story was engaging enough to distract and was good for what it is a low budget horror flick. Unlike most of the ones I see though the acting was not bad at all that was my basis for an extra star. I have a movie rating system of my own and that is if I turn off my Scrabble Go while I'm watching it definitely wasn't terrible 😂 I saw a review on this site a few days ago that really resonated with me and that is that people are so strict and persnickety when they review that people wonder why we don't have any original content anymore and only have rehash trash marvel movies and cash grab sympathy drivel and the answer is that it's because of us. The first person who questioned the "realism" in a fantasy or Sci Fi movie giving it 1 star started a downward spiral and caused people not to watch on the basis of that one star. Frankly studios won't risk anything anymore because they cannot afford to. If this movie had access to a bigger budget it probably could have been great.

Rocked me all night long

[iseultafire · 9/10 · 2 August 2022]

The writing, the cast, the effects! Not everyone comes to a project with a fat budget, but there have been blockbuster flicks with less heart. If you're here for gaudy VFX, I love those as much as the next nerd so no judgement! However, they did what they did not just efficiently, but with style & a good eye behind every scare. The acting is sincere, and any scenery chewed is quickly followed up with swift & self-aware redirection (works every time!)

Just don't hate. These folks knocked it out of the park. 👏

(also I love a good after credit scene, keep an eye out)

Not great, but not as bad as I expected.

[Commander_Sani_Ceto · 6/10 · 16 August 2022]

Most low-budget found-footage movies based on the paranormal investigation theme seem to be horrible. This one is better than many, but it's still not great. The acting isn't bad and the overall story is okay. I do like the concept of a haunted prison.

Disappointing

[steveysanch · 1/10 · 12 August 2022]

Did not enjoy it at all, kind of mad I actually sat through and watched the whole movie. Felt like it was making fun of a horror movie more than being a horror movie.

For a low budget film very well done

[donaldwaynestephens · 10/10 · 17 July 2023]

This film was well done for low budget if MGM, Warner bros, or Lions Gate done this film I would not have gave it such a high rating.

If you are into paranormal investigations and horror films then this would be one that you would like. I say watch it and add you personal views of the film. Don't get me wrong some of the graphics could have used a little work but it was done extremely well for a low budget film.

The actors and actresses done extremely well also. The story was really well put together.

I do not remember when I watched this film but I do know it was a week or so ago maybe a little more then that. But please take the time to watch and let us all know what you think.

Better than average found footage!

[icocleric · 6/10 · 28 February 2022]

I wasn't expecting a lot from this film, but I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. I'm not always found of found footage films, especially when the "footage quality" is kind of bad, and has shaky cam going on, and this film was guilty of some of that. But it also mixed the footage part mixed with more traditional filming, and I liked the mix.

The set up of them trying to make a viral video for YouTube is a good set up for that, and it's a great way to have the characters explain more about the myths/lore behind the prison.

There's a part in the middle that has some pacing issues too. But it has some nice touches as well, and the twist at the end was nice. The twist is one I have seen a few times in horror, but it was a nice one to end with.