Paranormal Activity 3- review

Don't get used to this scene.  It's not in the film.

“Paranormal Activity 3” starts off with Katie visiting her pregnant sister in 2005 to drop off some old video cassette tapes.  We find out later that when Kristi’s house was burglarized in “Paranormal Activity 2” the tapes were stolen.  Somehow we are watching them.  It’s never really explained. 

The movie takes place in 1988 when Kate and Kristi were little girls with their parents and the beginning of the activity was starting to occur.  They set up tape recorders all over the house and catch much of it on tape.  However, looking into the demonic nature of things and the past of the family could there be something more sinister at work?

Sisters, Sisters, Never were there such devoted sisters...

“Paranormal Activity 3” is pretty good. There are some really creepy scenes.  However, there are also a lot more cheap jump scares that this movie that the other movies didn’t need to use. It seems strange that they felt the need to resort to that. The characters are all interesting and for the most part likeable. The Mom character is written very oddly since I can’t see how someone can not believe something is amiss with all that going on and not even be curious enough to look at the footage which has proof of the phenomenon.

I ain't 'fraid of no ghosts!

The acting is really well done.  I found it all worked really well.  The kids especially sold it that there was an invisible threat.  All in all that aspect makes it worth seeing.  On the other hand there are a few flaws.  For one, if you expect to see any scenes from the previews you are out of luck. They pretty much just showed you scenes from the cutting room floor. 

The other huge flaw is that unless they make another movie that ties this one into the next it does not make a lot of sense.  It ends in a very direct way. So much so that maybe it should have been its own movie not related to the other one. Now there are too many holes that come up and really unless a forth movie comes around and fills out that gap that movie just shot the series in the foot.  

Hurry, "Punky Brewster" is on.

The movie also adds some explanation missing to certain areas.  However, it wasn’t enough when you take away so much story that you leave out elements that you need to tie the movies together.  Still, it’s worth seeing if you are a fan.  I’d recommend a matinee for sure since or a rental if you are not the biggest fan but are at least curious.