Wife and I refer to that one as “Mexican Activity”, and it’s the only one we can stomach. As an aside, why is it that all the white families in the franchise are portrayed as upper middle class and the only Mexican family is living below the poverty line? 🤔
Yeah, but that is before you count in the MILLIONS on advertising. Which is why Blair Witch Project actually beats Paranormal Activity on being the best return on value. While paranormal activity was filmed for 20k less than BWP, there was more than twice the amount spent on advertisements for Paranormal Activity than Blair Witch Project. So yeah. $15k was spent filming the INITIAL movie, it had like 200k in reshoots and EIGHTEEN MILLION in advertising.
Here's what I found The promotional budget for Paranormal Activity was remarkably low, reflecting the film's overall minimalist production style. While the film itself was made for around $15,000, the marketing and promotional expenses were significantly higher, eventually reaching about $350,000 to $400,000 once Paramount acquired the distribution rights. Much of the marketing strategy involved leveraging word-of-mouth and online buzz. Paramount used a campaign asking viewers to "Demand It" in their local theaters through a website. This tactic, along with screenings at film festivals and a limited release, helped build anticipation and create a sense of exclusivity. The viral marketing, paired with a limited initial release to build hype, played a crucial role in the film's eventual widespread success. Ultimately, the movie grossed over $190 million worldwide, making it one of the most profitable films ever relative to its cost. People will say anything 🙄
@grandsaga your rt The promotional budget for Paranormal Activity was remarkably low, reflecting the film's overall minimalist production style. While the film itself was made for around $15,000, the marketing and promotional expenses were significantly higher, eventually reaching about $350,000 to $400,000 once Paramount acquired the distribution rights. Much of the marketing strategy involved leveraging word-of-mouth and online buzz. Paramount used a campaign asking viewers to "Demand It" in their local theaters through a website. This tactic, along with screenings at film festivals and a limited release, helped build anticipation and create a sense of exclusivity. The viral marketing, paired with a limited initial release to build hype, played a crucial role in the film's eventual widespread success. Ultimately, the movie grossed over $190 million worldwide, making it one of the most profitable films ever relative to its cost.
Thank you for praising The Marked Ones. It's such a good movie and my favorite of the franchise, and I loved the Chronicle aspect of Jesse's situation with his abilities. It's such a great film that was able to tie in all the lore of the first few films in way, none of the others after were able to accomplish.
My family is Hispanic and even though I grew up and live in the Midwest, my mom’s family and so my cousins live in New Mexico and the movie really does a good job conveying a glimpse at the culture there and I can’t help but love and root for Jesse and Hector and definitely Arturo
3 and Marked Ones are both easily my favorite movies in this bizarre franchise. The use of the rotating fan was really fun in 3 and then Marked Ones just going crazy with the lore and ideas was such a blast
Yep, I'm dropping a comment 5 hours early, but I've not found many people with a love for this franchise that matches mine. It has an unfair reputation, and whilst there are some weaker entries, it was such a strong player back when it was first released. I'm obsessed with spooky stuff like this. Up until Ghost Dimension, it was all about keeping the entity invisible, which is almost unheard of in Hollywood horror movies; Japanese horror works so well because of what isn't shown on screen. Maybe that's why I like it. One of the creepiest parts for me is Katie standing completely still over Micah, watching him sleep for hours and hours... a simple idea that maybe doesn't pack a punch for everyone, but that just completely chilled me. Anyway, I totally appreciate you keeping the PA spirit alive in 2024. 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Agreed, very if not the most underrated horror franchise. I will admit, around #6 it got a lil cheesy, but (hot take) Next of Skin totally brought me back in. I know it probably would have done better as it's own stand alone (imo) and they just slapped the PA name on it while being the only movie non canon, but it was a breathe of fresh air after GD
I'll never forget going by myself to see the midnight premiere of PA 2 in a sold-out theater, and when the kitchen cabinets fly open in the middle of the day (the best jump scare in the franchise, in my opinion), this big dude sitting next to me jumped so hard that he flung popcorn all over me. A+ jump scare.
I commented the same thing lol it really rocked the theatre I was in too because most of the scares were subtle until the 3rd act and those cabinets just caught everyone off guard
I think they could make a movie kinda like Cloverfield, seeing the attack of the possessed granddaughters from the perspective of the civilians of a big city getting attacked, as the fourth one was setting up 🤔😆🤗.
When I watched the most recent one I got the feeling that the script wasn’t originally meant to be a Paranormal Activity movie and then they decided to put the name on it and work in the references. I don’t know if this is true or not but I agree with you in that I think the name actually hurts the movie. I really enjoyed it, it was much better than I was expecting and genuinely creepy!
Hey, I just came to tell you that there's this kinda unauthorized, loose sequel made in Japan named "Paranormal Activity Tokyo Night". It is a sequel to one of the endings of the first movie (the ending when a car crashes over Katie). And even if they don't delve into what is Toby, or witchcraft and all that (they manage it more as a spirit possession and that's all), it does work as a spin-off.
Low key, I think The Marked Ones is the best one. It has the best pace, the most interesting characters, the coolest scares, and the nuttiest ending. As for continuing/resolving the story, I think it could be done in a video game as opposed to another movie.
While it is actually really goofy, you do have to respect at least the novel idea of using the Kinect as a way to “see” the ghosts and whatnot. It was definitely a unique way to go about it. Idk if for good or bad tho
Nice use of that Alan Wake 2 song at the end there. The first PA film definitely had credits the night it premiered. I was one of the financial backers that got it into major theaters, so my name's in the credits. I remember sitting and waiting to see it at the end.
Can’t believe I have watched at least half of your videos but hadn’t been subscribed yet! I like your style. A good Everyman take that doesn’t get too excited or heated.
In "Next of Kin" the cult was actually trying to keep Asmodeus/Toby trapped, they didn't worship it. While it did get a body back in the 80s (due to time travel), they actually captured it and put it in the girls mom. It then got free AGAIN at the end of that movie.
I’m so glad to see other people enjoyed The Marked Ones as much as I did! It was a total blast, and it actually answered a LOT of questions that 1-3 left us with. The characters were likable and made you interested in their outcome. Seeing the witches get blown to bits by a shotgun was also a cherry on top.
This is my favorite horror franchise ever, I'm sad it's not as popular anymore, my whole channel is a fan channel for it and I'm trying to keep it alive. I'm glad that you also liked the Marked Ones, it's my favorite, and i love that it's something new. Also years ago I came up with a story following Ali as the main character lol. I'm glad I'm not the only one that wants that. Also the ghost dimension's opening is still shot through a camera, one of the witches picks up the camera. Also to explain the 2 Tobi's, I believe that Next of Kin is a new universe, like a remake, new timeline. Not a sequel
I absolutely love the lore this franchise has created. It is very deep, connected, and something fresh with old ideas. Sadly, I enjoy the lore way more than actually watching the films. There is only 3 of them, that I would consider decent or good movies. The rest are too slow or have no substance beyond trying to out do jump scares.
I honestly think the biggest problem of this franchise comes to the end of it (Ghost Dimension), because had that movie focused on saving Hunter before his 18th birthday (The whole 666 thing) or something like that, maybe we'd had a much better conclusion - and conection of the movies. Like, we know the reason why Katie disappered between movies PA1 > PA4 is because she got hit by the main protagonist of the Tokyo Spin Off - Hence why Hunter was taken away from her and why she had to get him back in PA4. So Ghost Dimension could finish on saving Hunter or taking this Demonic Possetion away from him, and also kill some if not most of the witches from the end of PA4 throughout it. They could also bring his cousin back to save him, as you even said it yourself, as if she had some sort of hint of where he was and what was he doing. Then maybe Next Of Kin would be like some sort of 'secondary witch base' or a story about one of them that got away and started her own linage by going back in time or some sort. The two Toby existing would feel more consistent. And all of these could work much better - and just fine - had they focused on Hunter in the end. The Grandma Witch wanted a Grandson, but her daughter wouldn't do that. Her grandkids grew older and one of then had the first boy ever since she joined the cult. So it all circles back to Hunter, conecting all PA movies to him.
Paranormal 3 was my FAVORITE one. 1) I love 70s, 80s, even 90s nostalgia and 2) that scene at the end with the Old Lady Gang of Witches that the guy walked im on and then them creeping up on the house was TERRIFYING, to me😱😱😱
I really enjoyed The Marked one’s. The worst for me is Ghost Dimension. The first trilogy was an amazing theater events. With Marked Ones as a guilty pleasure 😂 also, I understand your disappointment with the 4th one, I still enjoyed it, but not as much as the others
I think the 3rd movie could've been so much better if they ditched the found footage aspect of the series and made it in the style of a cold case documentary
you should watch the japanese ripoff/remake of paranormal activity, paranormal activity, Tokyo Night. It starts of really slow and boring, but gets really good at the end. i was suprised by how good it was. Its in a uncanon spinoff timeline.
Personally, if they do continue this franchise, I think it would be best for it to further the Marked Ones arc. It would be more plausible if different indiduals throughout this universe showed their stories about their experiences with the demon realm, rather than pursuing the sane family trajectory.
don't forget the reason for the 4th movie, why the footage was collected. The pervy neighbour teen boy installed spyware, to see his crush change in front of the camera
"Movies that slipped away from everyone's minds." Except Mine LOL. I am obsessed with this franchise, have been since I was very little. It is very popular within my family and we watch PA every so often as tradition. I own all 7 movies.
Thank you for this video, I was younger when these movies were coming out. I believe 3 was the first and last one I saw in theaters and kind of forgot about them. I was always interested in how they connected though. Also my name is Hunter Wyatt so I was always a little freaked out by the naming and renaming of the boy of the family when I was younger
I don't really like any of these movies, I think they are pretty boring and I hate movies that only rely on jumpscares. But I think I could appreciate them more if they stopped after the third one. It rounds out the story of this family pretty well,we learn how it started, how it went and how it ended with the baby being taken away. Open endings are not a bad thing and I wish people would understand that, but oh well. The only one I liked from the other movies was 'Next of Kin' and that one should absolutely have been a standalone movie instead of being made part of this franchise.
PA 3 was the only one I saw in theaters and in general. So many years later and I still occasionally think about the oscillating fan scenes and the massive amount of dread I felt. That was when I realized how scary just waiting for a scare is.
This is why I’m subbed… fantastic break down, funny nudges to the millennial experience, closing remarks to sum it all up. Thank you sir, continue your art 👍🏼
In college my dorm mates and i went to see paranormal activity three on its last showing at the theater in town. Midnight. Scared us a lot because we were the only people in the theater and we sat far forward so lots of space behind us. Afterwards, they wanted to see the other movies. Id seen the first one years earlier. We went to rent the movies and cuddled up on one girl's mattress. I promptly fell asleep halfway through the first movie and they couldnt believe that i was just sleeping through the spooky stuff.
It would've made more sense if next of kin and the movie before it were happening at the same time and when Toby gets Samuel's body at the end it uses the doorway to then be the same body we see with the mom & little girl from the previous movie. I hope this makes sense... but that would've made for a better time line.
I was in high school arguing with people that PA 1 isn’t real because why would they put that in a theater. Then other kids said that it is real but some producers just tricked the theaters into showing it to make money.
Really good stuff. I was one of the few people that was actually invested in the storyline and to be completely fair, I'd become somewhat jaded by format by Ghost Dimension. As you rightly say, they needed to innovate much earlier in the series. Even Blair Witch knew not to make a second found footage film. A friend went to see The Marked and said it wasn't worth it and so I didn't go. Kinda regret that now. The reason I hadn't watched Next of Kin is because I legit didn't know it existed or how it related to the series. It transpires it basically doesn't. I still think there's a lot they can do with this franchise but they can't keep doing found footage. They recognised that with Next of Kin but not tying in to the greater mythos enough (or even advertising it) hasn't helped. Maybe a reality TV show like Real Housewives gets interrupted by paranormal activity. Or there's a ghost hunting show which encounters weird stuff. Perhaps even a dramatization of the Paranormal Activity series in the style of Netflix's "Dharma" or something could reboot it. Ultimately, the problem with the series is that the earlier films relied on suspense and tension and the later films on jump scares. The latter is the bread and butter of the horror genre these days and just made the later films like every other Blumhouse / A24 movie. If they want to reboot the series, they need to realise why people turned up to see the first few movies in force and then dropped off toward the end...
I watched the first one at home alone before it became the massive success it would o once it was widely released. Very creepy experience! I was on a date at the cinema watching the third film and a girl sat behind me was so scared she started crying!
I was in highschool when I saw the first one and when the guy was like it’s haunting HER and not the location messed me uppp. I was like I didn’t even know that was a possibility 😭
So at the end of Ghost Dimension, they travel back in time and Toby is unleashed in that timeline. However our timeline continues without that Toby resurrected. So fast forward to The Next of Kin and Toby is resurrected in our timeline now.
Yeah lmao this franchise makes zero sense, and it’s clear the studio didn’t give a F if anything actually lined up and connected well in the sequels, they knew these films are just about scaring teens with gimmicks and jump scares, low budgets and huge box office, making the story up as they go with no actual thought put into it beyond the surface. It’s cool though, these movies serve a purpose and are fun to watch in theaters or late at night with friends for some fun scares.
I always thought PA3 was so scary lol. I rlly lile the first 3 and the marked ones also got me scared while watching. I need to watch the newest one u made it sound pretty enjoyable ❤ great vid
Maaaan. These movies are my guilty pleasure. Like I know most of them aren't good, but I do love them quite a bit. They're also the reason I enjoy the Found Footage horror movies.
I remember watching an early release of the first movie. It had a very different ending - something to do with Katie murdering Micah off camera, and then the cops coming to the house the next morning and finding them...
i saw all these movies as a kid. never cared for the first 2 (even if i did see them a ton) but the 3rd one CAPTIVATED 12 year old me, i watched it all the time!! i dont even know why 3 in particular was my favorite, it just grabbed me better than the rest did
The Marked Ones is such an overhated movie and I'm glad that you praised it, it's one of my favorites in the series (it might even be my most favorite). The Ghost Dimension was such a frustrating watch for me. Not only because it was a terrible movie, but it contradicts so much stuff from the previous films (including stuff right in our faces like the way it changes the footage of Paranormal Activity 3's ending before going to new footage). It's a really long story and it's been awhile since I've seen these films so I can't remember most of my problems aside from obvious ones that a casual viewer would notice, but I haven't seen anyone really break down all of the other problems with the movie in the way that I think it truly deserves and also how all of its retcons are contradictory. I almost went braindead trying to comprehend Hunter's missing poster, it sounds silly (and it kind of is, I can't remember the problems), but if you've watched the movies and paid very close attention to them to the degree that a fanboy like me did at the time (think of it as like the equivalent of a FNAF fanboy which I also am), you would understand why. The people working on this movie also clearly never got the memo about this RUclips tie-in miniseries that was posted leading up Paranormal Activity 4's release (I only found out about them a long time ago on IMDB and eventually found them and then a few years ago, I decided to make a playlist), since the extra footage depicting events around the third movie are completely contradicted by The Ghost Dimension and adds a whole new layer of awfulness to this movie and how it never actually answers questions like the marketing claims (though even the trailers for some of the movies in this franchise just make up events that never occur and don't even show up in the Unrated cuts or the deleted scenes on the Blu-ray releases). Some of the CGI visuals looked cool and I liked the look of that special camcorder but that's about all I can remember praising. Also, the lack of caring for any actual VHS visuals in this franchise is a huge pet peeve of mine and becomes even more embarrassing as the years go by thanks to analog horror becoming popular. In Paranormal Activity 3, not only did they not even try, but before the rest of the sequels, 3 was the most high quality and HD the series has ever gotten at that point! Did they just stop caring because they knew that people were beginning to roll their eyes at found footage movies attempting to depict themselves as real (at that point in the series, they stopped doing the whole "we would like to thank the families of X and the police department" and "X is still missing")!? This is the exact same thing that YMS said in his review of The Visit "Why are you spending so much time, effort and money into making the film look less authentic!?" (they even had a camcorder build in mirror shots of 3, WHAT THE HELL WERE THOSE CAMCORDERS AND WHAT WAS IN THEM!? AND WHY DIDN'T YOU USE THE VHS TAPES WE SEE ONSCREEN!?). Even if 3 is one of the best in the series, this still ticks me off. Not only would it be more immersive and show that they actually care about the aesthetics, but it would be far scarier as a VHS recording rather than a 16:9 HD recording (even The Devil Inside, which is arguably worse than Paranormal Activity, actually tried to make the opening look like actual VHS footage). I don't know the actual timing of the production of these movies, but something that makes this all the more pathetic and embarrassing is that that one awesome VHS app that everyone uses was released during a time where I believed it was far too late in production for The Ghost Dimension to reshoot scenes, which is a big "OOF" from me.
I thought Ali was Kristy's *step* daughter/Hunter's *half* sister? I remember feeling worse for her, because "her stepmom got her dad killed." (Also, Next of Kin is my favorite *because* it's not connected, and I agree that it was just an unrelated movie that unfortunately got the title slapped on it.)
I have to say that going into this franchise I never expecte to enjoy it as much as I did. *Especially* the main villain, "Toby". Never before do I think that a supernatural horror movie antagonist has been so terrifying. He's literally undefeated, which is weird to say. We watch six movies where he just wins every single time. We have funny moments with him being "the ultimate babysitter" (An age old demon literally having a tea party with Kristi is hilarious but also terrifying). And his motives still aren't fully fleshed out. Great series, I hope they continue the Toby plotline. Not whatever Next of Kin was doing (which should've been it's own thing, I don't actually think there is anything stated by the director or movie that the demon in NOK is Toby, it's just fan headcanon).
Also, don’t forget the officially authorized Japanese sequel to the first film, which is actually really good. Maybe the best in the franchise. It totally destroys the timeline though because Katie dies offscreen in a car crash in that one, so it mostly gets forgotten, and nobody I talk to even knows the film exists. If you don’t mind subtitles it’s more than worth a watch, though.
Agree - the 1st, 3rd, The Marked Ones are the best with the last one no too bad either. I'd say they need to do a trilogy but actually follow through and tell a complete story with answers.
I definitely feel like most of these were more popular and palpable to a wider audience because of the majority of footage being security cams. Less shakiness and running around made them more watchable to casual viewers. I love The Marked Ones though and think Ghost Dimension doesn't get enough love.
Seen 1 (classic!!) Seen 2 and 3 with a group of people and 4 with two friends. Movies are def impactful even if “trash” .. the transformers of the ghost genre
I watched PA 1-6 when i was young, then rewatched it coz something felt off and discovered there’s an actual story with the Tobi demon being based of the book of tobit (demon book)
Is it weird that I don't like any of these movies except for the last one? I don't know, but the ending of the last one could easily transition into a high budget horror movie. It also had a bunch of intrigue the other movies simply didn't have
I swear you make the videos nobody asked for but everyone wants to watch. Goat
If you like this video, foundflix did something similar, except it was more plot / explanation based :)
💯
The Marked Ones is the most underrated of the franchise. Thank you so much for giving it its flowers
Wife and I refer to that one as “Mexican Activity”, and it’s the only one we can stomach. As an aside, why is it that all the white families in the franchise are portrayed as upper middle class and the only Mexican family is living below the poverty line? 🤔
The first PA being cooked on 15k is INSANE. That kind of success is enough to retire on. And then PA 2 does AGAIN on 3k? WHAT?!
Yeah, but that is before you count in the MILLIONS on advertising. Which is why Blair Witch Project actually beats Paranormal Activity on being the best return on value. While paranormal activity was filmed for 20k less than BWP, there was more than twice the amount spent on advertisements for Paranormal Activity than Blair Witch Project. So yeah. $15k was spent filming the INITIAL movie, it had like 200k in reshoots and EIGHTEEN MILLION in advertising.
No, the 2nd had a 3 million dollar budget not 3 thousand
@@nerdjournalprove this please
Here's what I found
The promotional budget for Paranormal Activity was remarkably low, reflecting the film's overall minimalist production style. While the film itself was made for around $15,000, the marketing and promotional expenses were significantly higher, eventually reaching about $350,000 to $400,000 once Paramount acquired the distribution rights.
Much of the marketing strategy involved leveraging word-of-mouth and online buzz. Paramount used a campaign asking viewers to "Demand It" in their local theaters through a website. This tactic, along with screenings at film festivals and a limited release, helped build anticipation and create a sense of exclusivity. The viral marketing, paired with a limited initial release to build hype, played a crucial role in the film's eventual widespread success. Ultimately, the movie grossed over $190 million worldwide, making it one of the most profitable films ever relative to its cost.
People will say anything 🙄
@grandsaga your rt
The promotional budget for Paranormal Activity was remarkably low, reflecting the film's overall minimalist production style. While the film itself was made for around $15,000, the marketing and promotional expenses were significantly higher, eventually reaching about $350,000 to $400,000 once Paramount acquired the distribution rights.
Much of the marketing strategy involved leveraging word-of-mouth and online buzz. Paramount used a campaign asking viewers to "Demand It" in their local theaters through a website. This tactic, along with screenings at film festivals and a limited release, helped build anticipation and create a sense of exclusivity. The viral marketing, paired with a limited initial release to build hype, played a crucial role in the film's eventual widespread success. Ultimately, the movie grossed over $190 million worldwide, making it one of the most profitable films ever relative to its cost.
Thank you for praising The Marked Ones. It's such a good movie and my favorite of the franchise, and I loved the Chronicle aspect of Jesse's situation with his abilities. It's such a great film that was able to tie in all the lore of the first few films in way, none of the others after were able to accomplish.
The guy with the shotgun was goated too.
My family is Hispanic and even though I grew up and live in the Midwest, my mom’s family and so my cousins live in New Mexico and the movie really does a good job conveying a glimpse at the culture there and I can’t help but love and root for Jesse and Hector and definitely Arturo
@@ericastein3926same here this is my favorite of the franchise
Right, I love the Chronicles conection my dumb ass never thought of it. Cool as hell and the acting 10/10
Same, it's such a fun movie
1:47 “…witches, cults, demons, amish people…” is such a wild line omg
3 and Marked Ones are both easily my favorite movies in this bizarre franchise. The use of the rotating fan was really fun in 3 and then Marked Ones just going crazy with the lore and ideas was such a blast
Some executive is gonna watch this and decide to reboot the franchise
Yep, I'm dropping a comment 5 hours early, but I've not found many people with a love for this franchise that matches mine. It has an unfair reputation, and whilst there are some weaker entries, it was such a strong player back when it was first released. I'm obsessed with spooky stuff like this. Up until Ghost Dimension, it was all about keeping the entity invisible, which is almost unheard of in Hollywood horror movies; Japanese horror works so well because of what isn't shown on screen. Maybe that's why I like it. One of the creepiest parts for me is Katie standing completely still over Micah, watching him sleep for hours and hours... a simple idea that maybe doesn't pack a punch for everyone, but that just completely chilled me. Anyway, I totally appreciate you keeping the PA spirit alive in 2024. 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Agreed, very if not the most underrated horror franchise. I will admit, around #6 it got a lil cheesy, but (hot take) Next of Skin totally brought me back in. I know it probably would have done better as it's own stand alone (imo) and they just slapped the PA name on it while being the only movie non canon, but it was a breathe of fresh air after GD
I'll never forget going by myself to see the midnight premiere of PA 2 in a sold-out theater, and when the kitchen cabinets fly open in the middle of the day (the best jump scare in the franchise, in my opinion), this big dude sitting next to me jumped so hard that he flung popcorn all over me. A+ jump scare.
I commented the same thing lol it really rocked the theatre I was in too because most of the scares were subtle until the 3rd act and those cabinets just caught everyone off guard
Toby getting a body is a crazy cliffhanger we’ll never get a resolution for
I think they could make a movie kinda like Cloverfield, seeing the attack of the possessed granddaughters from the perspective of the civilians of a big city getting attacked, as the fourth one was setting up 🤔😆🤗.
When I watched the most recent one I got the feeling that the script wasn’t originally meant to be a Paranormal Activity movie and then they decided to put the name on it and work in the references. I don’t know if this is true or not but I agree with you in that I think the name actually hurts the movie. I really enjoyed it, it was much better than I was expecting and genuinely creepy!
Hey, I just came to tell you that there's this kinda unauthorized, loose sequel made in Japan named "Paranormal Activity Tokyo Night". It is a sequel to one of the endings of the first movie (the ending when a car crashes over Katie). And even if they don't delve into what is Toby, or witchcraft and all that (they manage it more as a spirit possession and that's all), it does work as a spin-off.
Yeah, when watching I wondered "Wasn't there a Japanese PA too?" and why he ditched that one or if he just isn't aware of it.
It’s not unauthorized, paramount officially licensed out the franchise to them to make it.
VHS would be a good franchise to cover
The first one was the last movie I have been afraid watching, need to watch the new trilogy. Seen 2 and 3
Just watched vhs beyond …holy..
@@otakoman0056 that was gooooood
@@otakoman0056 I want to see that one soon
I think I've only seen VHS 1 & 2 but yes it would be so good to see this guy cover the series
Low key, I think The Marked Ones is the best one. It has the best pace, the most interesting characters, the coolest scares, and the nuttiest ending.
As for continuing/resolving the story, I think it could be done in a video game as opposed to another movie.
This is by far, my favorite movie/tv show essay channel on RUclips! Dude every video is great!
He a goat
Thanks fam for putting in work on this franchise 🙏🏾 I also have a sweet spot for Paranormal Activity
1:10 You absolutely did NOT need to keep exposing yourself like that 😂
I went on dates. I went on a date . I saw one of these movies . It just kept getting worse 🤣
While it is actually really goofy, you do have to respect at least the novel idea of using the Kinect as a way to “see” the ghosts and whatnot. It was definitely a unique way to go about it. Idk if for good or bad tho
Nice use of that Alan Wake 2 song at the end there.
The first PA film definitely had credits the night it premiered. I was one of the financial backers that got it into major theaters, so my name's in the credits. I remember sitting and waiting to see it at the end.
1:10 is when I officially decided to subscribe💀
Can’t believe I have watched at least half of your videos but hadn’t been subscribed yet! I like your style. A good Everyman take that doesn’t get too excited or heated.
In "Next of Kin" the cult was actually trying to keep Asmodeus/Toby trapped, they didn't worship it.
While it did get a body back in the 80s (due to time travel), they actually captured it and put it in the girls mom. It then got free AGAIN at the end of that movie.
In occult/ demonology states a demon can split it essence up
Patiently waiting 😅
I'd love to see you cover The 100 and Dexter!
Man I absolutely hated the dad in the second movie
Dude, you make the best video essays. Thank you for all of the variety and how in depth that you go ❤
I’m so glad to see other people enjoyed The Marked Ones as much as I did! It was a total blast, and it actually answered a LOT of questions that 1-3 left us with. The characters were likable and made you interested in their outcome. Seeing the witches get blown to bits by a shotgun was also a cherry on top.
This is my favorite horror franchise ever, I'm sad it's not as popular anymore, my whole channel is a fan channel for it and I'm trying to keep it alive. I'm glad that you also liked the Marked Ones, it's my favorite, and i love that it's something new. Also years ago I came up with a story following Ali as the main character lol. I'm glad I'm not the only one that wants that. Also the ghost dimension's opening is still shot through a camera, one of the witches picks up the camera. Also to explain the 2 Tobi's, I believe that Next of Kin is a new universe, like a remake, new timeline. Not a sequel
I absolutely love the lore this franchise has created. It is very deep, connected, and something fresh with old ideas. Sadly, I enjoy the lore way more than actually watching the films. There is only 3 of them, that I would consider decent or good movies. The rest are too slow or have no substance beyond trying to out do jump scares.
@@JoeGrizz1yI love the lore too
I honestly think the biggest problem of this franchise comes to the end of it (Ghost Dimension), because had that movie focused on saving Hunter before his 18th birthday (The whole 666 thing) or something like that, maybe we'd had a much better conclusion - and conection of the movies.
Like, we know the reason why Katie disappered between movies PA1 > PA4 is because she got hit by the main protagonist of the Tokyo Spin Off - Hence why Hunter was taken away from her and why she had to get him back in PA4. So Ghost Dimension could finish on saving Hunter or taking this Demonic Possetion away from him, and also kill some if not most of the witches from the end of PA4 throughout it. They could also bring his cousin back to save him, as you even said it yourself, as if she had some sort of hint of where he was and what was he doing.
Then maybe Next Of Kin would be like some sort of 'secondary witch base' or a story about one of them that got away and started her own linage by going back in time or some sort. The two Toby existing would feel more consistent.
And all of these could work much better - and just fine - had they focused on Hunter in the end. The Grandma Witch wanted a Grandson, but her daughter wouldn't do that. Her grandkids grew older and one of then had the first boy ever since she joined the cult. So it all circles back to Hunter, conecting all PA movies to him.
Paranormal 3 was my FAVORITE one. 1) I love 70s, 80s, even 90s nostalgia and 2) that scene at the end with the Old Lady Gang of Witches that the guy walked im on and then them creeping up on the house was TERRIFYING, to me😱😱😱
I really enjoyed The Marked one’s. The worst for me is Ghost Dimension. The first trilogy was an amazing theater events. With Marked Ones as a guilty pleasure 😂 also, I understand your disappointment with the 4th one, I still enjoyed it, but not as much as the others
This series needs a proper finale
So much stuff happened and no real ending to most of it
I think the 3rd movie could've been so much better if they ditched the found footage aspect of the series and made it in the style of a cold case documentary
THIS!!!! I said this exact thing to my friend afterward I’m so glad someone else agrees. It would have really would have freshened the franchise up
I would love a breakdown and timeline explanation like this but for the SAW movies.
you should watch the japanese ripoff/remake of paranormal activity, paranormal activity, Tokyo Night. It starts of really slow and boring, but gets really good at the end. i was suprised by how good it was. Its in a uncanon spinoff timeline.
Great video, great analysis. Would love to see you do a top 10/20 list for your all-time favourite horror movies
Personally, if they do continue this franchise, I think it would be best for it to further the Marked Ones arc. It would be more plausible if different indiduals throughout this universe showed their stories about their experiences with the demon realm, rather than pursuing the sane family trajectory.
My favorite movies!!!! I have watched them all hundreds of times. I can’t wait for this!!!!!
As a kid I didnt know all the films were connected. Rewatching much later, it was a revelation. It's really an interesting story.
don't forget the reason for the 4th movie, why the footage was collected. The pervy neighbour teen boy installed spyware, to see his crush change in front of the camera
Fun fact: If you requested the movie to be played in your town, you got your name put into the end credits of the DVD version - as I did.
So happy to see so much love for The Marked Ones, in the video AND this comment section! Easily my favorite of the series.
The marked ones is underrated!
Glad to know I'm not the only one who thinks Marked Ones is one of the best in the franchise.
It's just so entertaining
As a Latina that movie is just soo good and relatable 😂 we all have that one bruja in our lives
"Movies that slipped away from everyone's minds." Except Mine LOL. I am obsessed with this franchise, have been since I was very little. It is very popular within my family and we watch PA every so often as tradition. I own all 7 movies.
This is the best breakdown/timeline for all of paranormal activity.
Honestly this guy's videos are addicting to watch and rewatch idk why lol
Thank you for this video, I was younger when these movies were coming out. I believe 3 was the first and last one I saw in theaters and kind of forgot about them. I was always interested in how they connected though. Also my name is Hunter Wyatt so I was always a little freaked out by the naming and renaming of the boy of the family when I was younger
Love logging in and seeing a video! Thank you
The mom date joke at the start was really well structured and timed
I don't really like any of these movies, I think they are pretty boring and I hate movies that only rely on jumpscares. But I think I could appreciate them more if they stopped after the third one. It rounds out the story of this family pretty well,we learn how it started, how it went and how it ended with the baby being taken away. Open endings are not a bad thing and I wish people would understand that, but oh well.
The only one I liked from the other movies was 'Next of Kin' and that one should absolutely have been a standalone movie instead of being made part of this franchise.
PA 3 was the only one I saw in theaters and in general. So many years later and I still occasionally think about the oscillating fan scenes and the massive amount of dread I felt. That was when I realized how scary just waiting for a scare is.
I remember seeing PA1 as a child and having nightmares for YEARS
This is why I’m subbed… fantastic break down, funny nudges to the millennial experience, closing remarks to sum it all up. Thank you sir, continue your art 👍🏼
Great video, love hearing your thoughts on this franchise.
And can’t wait for TWD season 9 retrospective.
In college my dorm mates and i went to see paranormal activity three on its last showing at the theater in town. Midnight. Scared us a lot because we were the only people in the theater and we sat far forward so lots of space behind us. Afterwards, they wanted to see the other movies. Id seen the first one years earlier. We went to rent the movies and cuddled up on one girl's mattress. I promptly fell asleep halfway through the first movie and they couldnt believe that i was just sleeping through the spooky stuff.
I always thought that the third one was the best by far. The pacing is excellent it has a bunch of lore. It's just the most fun
It would've made more sense if next of kin and the movie before it were happening at the same time and when Toby gets Samuel's body at the end it uses the doorway to then be the same body we see with the mom & little girl from the previous movie. I hope this makes sense... but that would've made for a better time line.
I was in high school arguing with people that PA 1 isn’t real because why would they put that in a theater. Then other kids said that it is real but some producers just tricked the theaters into showing it to make money.
The date joke in the beginning where you moved past it but just kept going back was 10/10 btw
Please do V/H/S next
Have a good weekend everyone! 😊
Really good stuff. I was one of the few people that was actually invested in the storyline and to be completely fair, I'd become somewhat jaded by format by Ghost Dimension. As you rightly say, they needed to innovate much earlier in the series. Even Blair Witch knew not to make a second found footage film.
A friend went to see The Marked and said it wasn't worth it and so I didn't go. Kinda regret that now.
The reason I hadn't watched Next of Kin is because I legit didn't know it existed or how it related to the series. It transpires it basically doesn't.
I still think there's a lot they can do with this franchise but they can't keep doing found footage. They recognised that with Next of Kin but not tying in to the greater mythos enough (or even advertising it) hasn't helped.
Maybe a reality TV show like Real Housewives gets interrupted by paranormal activity. Or there's a ghost hunting show which encounters weird stuff. Perhaps even a dramatization of the Paranormal Activity series in the style of Netflix's "Dharma" or something could reboot it.
Ultimately, the problem with the series is that the earlier films relied on suspense and tension and the later films on jump scares. The latter is the bread and butter of the horror genre these days and just made the later films like every other Blumhouse / A24 movie.
If they want to reboot the series, they need to realise why people turned up to see the first few movies in force and then dropped off toward the end...
Hahah oh Matt - don’t tell them I took you to the movie!! God I love your channel.
I watched the first one at home alone before it became the massive success it would o once it was widely released. Very creepy experience! I was on a date at the cinema watching the third film and a girl sat behind me was so scared she started crying!
These movies are amazing and genuinely some of the only horror movies that were able to genuinely terrify and put dread in me.
I was in highschool when I saw the first one and when the guy was like it’s haunting HER and not the location messed me uppp. I was like I didn’t even know that was a possibility 😭
Next of Kin has a kinda cool concept from what you explained, I might check it out
Honestly, while some are definitely better than others, I’ve liked them all no cap
That date bit was amazing 😂😂
The marked ones and the third are my favorites with huge difference! The first one, 2nd and 4th make me want to go to sleep 😴
So at the end of Ghost Dimension, they travel back in time and Toby is unleashed in that timeline.
However our timeline continues without that Toby resurrected. So fast forward to The Next of Kin and Toby is resurrected in our timeline now.
Yeah lmao this franchise makes zero sense, and it’s clear the studio didn’t give a F if anything actually lined up and connected well in the sequels, they knew these films are just about scaring teens with gimmicks and jump scares, low budgets and huge box office, making the story up as they go with no actual thought put into it beyond the surface. It’s cool though, these movies serve a purpose and are fun to watch in theaters or late at night with friends for some fun scares.
Funnily enough cuz of your supernatural reference.
The blonde chick in the 4th one actually had a reoccuring role in supernatural lol
I always thought PA3 was so scary lol. I rlly lile the first 3 and the marked ones also got me scared while watching. I need to watch the newest one u made it sound pretty enjoyable ❤ great vid
Maaaan. These movies are my guilty pleasure. Like I know most of them aren't good, but I do love them quite a bit. They're also the reason I enjoy the Found Footage horror movies.
How can anyone call their kid hunter?...
I remember watching an early release of the first movie. It had a very different ending - something to do with Katie murdering Micah off camera, and then the cops coming to the house the next morning and finding them...
Next of kin was cool as hell. I love it as much as the first one, and Im so glad you felt the same way.
What’re they gonna call it? Paranormal activity: emergency contact?
The guy who played the step dad 'Dennis' in 2 has a pretty large body of credits to his name
i saw all these movies as a kid. never cared for the first 2 (even if i did see them a ton) but the 3rd one CAPTIVATED 12 year old me, i watched it all the time!! i dont even know why 3 in particular was my favorite, it just grabbed me better than the rest did
The Marked Ones symbol ripped off the Deathly Hallows
The Marked Ones is such an overhated movie and I'm glad that you praised it, it's one of my favorites in the series (it might even be my most favorite). The Ghost Dimension was such a frustrating watch for me. Not only because it was a terrible movie, but it contradicts so much stuff from the previous films (including stuff right in our faces like the way it changes the footage of Paranormal Activity 3's ending before going to new footage). It's a really long story and it's been awhile since I've seen these films so I can't remember most of my problems aside from obvious ones that a casual viewer would notice, but I haven't seen anyone really break down all of the other problems with the movie in the way that I think it truly deserves and also how all of its retcons are contradictory. I almost went braindead trying to comprehend Hunter's missing poster, it sounds silly (and it kind of is, I can't remember the problems), but if you've watched the movies and paid very close attention to them to the degree that a fanboy like me did at the time (think of it as like the equivalent of a FNAF fanboy which I also am), you would understand why. The people working on this movie also clearly never got the memo about this RUclips tie-in miniseries that was posted leading up Paranormal Activity 4's release (I only found out about them a long time ago on IMDB and eventually found them and then a few years ago, I decided to make a playlist), since the extra footage depicting events around the third movie are completely contradicted by The Ghost Dimension and adds a whole new layer of awfulness to this movie and how it never actually answers questions like the marketing claims (though even the trailers for some of the movies in this franchise just make up events that never occur and don't even show up in the Unrated cuts or the deleted scenes on the Blu-ray releases). Some of the CGI visuals looked cool and I liked the look of that special camcorder but that's about all I can remember praising.
Also, the lack of caring for any actual VHS visuals in this franchise is a huge pet peeve of mine and becomes even more embarrassing as the years go by thanks to analog horror becoming popular. In Paranormal Activity 3, not only did they not even try, but before the rest of the sequels, 3 was the most high quality and HD the series has ever gotten at that point! Did they just stop caring because they knew that people were beginning to roll their eyes at found footage movies attempting to depict themselves as real (at that point in the series, they stopped doing the whole "we would like to thank the families of X and the police department" and "X is still missing")!? This is the exact same thing that YMS said in his review of The Visit "Why are you spending so much time, effort and money into making the film look less authentic!?" (they even had a camcorder build in mirror shots of 3, WHAT THE HELL WERE THOSE CAMCORDERS AND WHAT WAS IN THEM!? AND WHY DIDN'T YOU USE THE VHS TAPES WE SEE ONSCREEN!?). Even if 3 is one of the best in the series, this still ticks me off. Not only would it be more immersive and show that they actually care about the aesthetics, but it would be far scarier as a VHS recording rather than a 16:9 HD recording (even The Devil Inside, which is arguably worse than Paranormal Activity, actually tried to make the opening look like actual VHS footage). I don't know the actual timing of the production of these movies, but something that makes this all the more pathetic and embarrassing is that that one awesome VHS app that everyone uses was released during a time where I believed it was far too late in production for The Ghost Dimension to reshoot scenes, which is a big "OOF" from me.
I thought Ali was Kristy's *step* daughter/Hunter's *half* sister?
I remember feeling worse for her, because "her stepmom got her dad killed."
(Also, Next of Kin is my favorite *because* it's not connected, and I agree that it was just an unrelated movie that unfortunately got the title slapped on it.)
I wish there was someone or something fighting against Toby to make anything matter
I have to say that going into this franchise I never expecte to enjoy it as much as I did. *Especially* the main villain, "Toby". Never before do I think that a supernatural horror movie antagonist has been so terrifying. He's literally undefeated, which is weird to say. We watch six movies where he just wins every single time. We have funny moments with him being "the ultimate babysitter" (An age old demon literally having a tea party with Kristi is hilarious but also terrifying). And his motives still aren't fully fleshed out. Great series, I hope they continue the Toby plotline. Not whatever Next of Kin was doing (which should've been it's own thing, I don't actually think there is anything stated by the director or movie that the demon in NOK is Toby, it's just fan headcanon).
I tapped out after the 3rd one. The first 2 were legit good, the 3rd not bad, but then 4 and on total trash.
Marked ones was good but could’ve been better I think if it had been a spinoff I could’ve worked
Also, don’t forget the officially authorized Japanese sequel to the first film, which is actually really good. Maybe the best in the franchise. It totally destroys the timeline though because Katie dies offscreen in a car crash in that one, so it mostly gets forgotten, and nobody I talk to even knows the film exists. If you don’t mind subtitles it’s more than worth a watch, though.
I had no idea they all told a connected story. That makes them way more intriguing to me now
That was a good vid mate nice to see it
Agree - the 1st, 3rd, The Marked Ones are the best with the last one no too bad either. I'd say they need to do a trilogy but actually follow through and tell a complete story with answers.
I think one of the most interesting things about this franchise is that there are TWO different Paranormal Activity 2’s.
I’d love to see you cover the Rec series or Hell House LLC. Those are two of my favorite found footage horror movies along with Grave Encounters.
I definitely feel like most of these were more popular and palpable to a wider audience because of the majority of footage being security cams. Less shakiness and running around made them more watchable to casual viewers.
I love The Marked Ones though and think Ghost Dimension doesn't get enough love.
You missed Paranormal Activity: Tokyo. Its actually a spin off, which also has something common with the first movie.
Seen 1 (classic!!) Seen 2 and 3 with a group of people and 4 with two friends. Movies are def impactful even if “trash” .. the transformers of the ghost genre
18:45 the other little boy was hunter from the first 2 movies. Katie’s nephew grown up. At least that’s what I always thought
She kidnapped him right? So I think that makes sense for him to be hunter
@ ok so I’m not crazy I could’ve sworn that’s what they were going for
Witches vs Cholos will forever be cool lol
I watched PA 1-6 when i was young, then rewatched it coz something felt off and discovered there’s an actual story with the Tobi demon being based of the book of tobit (demon book)
Is it weird that I don't like any of these movies except for the last one?
I don't know, but the ending of the last one could easily transition into a high budget horror movie. It also had a bunch of intrigue the other movies simply didn't have
Cathrine was alrdy decently big WHEN this movie cameout. Shlock