Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)

Directors:

Henry Joost
Ariel Schulman

Writers:

Christopher Landon (written by)
Oren Peli (film "Paranormal Activity")

Release Date:

21 October 2011 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

It Runs In The Family

Plot:

In 1988, young sisters Katie and Kristi befriend an invisible entity who resides in their home.

Plot Keywords:

Loose Tooth | Vhs | Fear | Nonlinear Timeline | Boyfriend Girlfriend Relationship

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Lauren Bittner	...	Julie
Christopher Nicholas Smith	...	Dennis (as Chris Smith)
Chloe Csengery	...	Katie
Jessica Tyler Brown	...	Kristi (as Jessica Brown)
Hallie Foote	...	Grandma Lois
Dustin Ingram	...	Randy Rosen
Johanna Braddy	...	Lisa
Katie Featherston	...	Adult Katie
Brian Boland	...	Daniel
Sprague Grayden	...	Adult Kristi
William Juan Prieto	...	Hunter (as William Prieto)
Jackson Xenia Prieto	...	Hunter (as Jackson Prieto)
Paitoon Cheng	...	Ida
Eddie Medrano	...	Party Magician
Rebecca Delgado Smith	...	Crying Bridesmaid
Bailey Michelle Brown	...	Bailey (as Bailey Brown)
Tucker Brown	...	Tucker
Jessica Berger	...	Kid
Hayden Sosa	...	Kid
Asher Rowland	...	Kid
Saige Gernhauser	...	Kid
Meredith Eaton	...	Woman
Bonita Friedericy	...	Dorothy Wolfe
Marilyn Alex	...	Creepy Lady
Jackie Benoit	...	Creepy Lady
Jody Carter	...	Creepy Lady
Maria Olsen	...	Creepy Lady
Karen Teliha	...	Creepy Lady

Directed by
Henry Joost
Ariel Schulman

Writing credits
Christopher Landon		(written by)
Oren Peli		(film "Paranormal Activity")

Produced by
Jason Blum	....	producer
Jeanette Brill	....	co-producer (as Jeanette Volturno-Brill)
Akiva Goldsman	....	executive producer
Christopher Landon	....	co-producer
Oren Peli	....	producer
Gregory Plotkin	....	co-producer
Steven Schneider	....	producer

Cinematography by
Magdalena Górka

Film Editing by
Gregory Plotkin

Casting by
Terri Taylor

Production Design by
Jennifer Spence

Art Direction by
David Batchelor Wilson		(as David Wilson)

Set Decoration by
Kelly Berry

Costume Design by
Leah Butler

Makeup Department
Kymber Blake	....	makeup department head
Paula Jane Hamilton	....	key makeup artist
Rene Vaca	....	department head hair stylist
Robert Hall	....	special makeup designer: Almost Human Inc (uncredited)
Dalton Kutsch	....	special makeup fx technician: Almost Human Inc. (uncredited)

Production Management
Rick Osako	....	unit production manager (as Rick A. Osako)
Ralph Bertelle	....	executive in charge of production (uncredited)
Richard Stirling	....	post-production supervisor (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James Moran	....	first assistant director
Marc Newland	....	second assistant director
Jaysene Overton	....	second second assistant director
Matt Smith	....	second second assistant director
James Moran	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Zachery Alexander	....	property master
Rich Andrade	....	lead person
Alan Barnett	....	art department production assistant
Morgan Blackledge	....	assistant property master
Darren Patnode	....	set dresser
Maxwell Britton	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Niko Hovartos	....	on set dresser (uncredited)
Larry J. White II	....	gangboss (uncredited)
Erica Willis McCormick	....	set decorations buyer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Paul Aulicino	....	assistant supervising sound editor
Peter Brown	....	supervising sound designer
Patrick Cusack	....	field recordist
Robert Deschaine	....	adr mixer
Joe Dzuban	....	sound re-recording mixer
Paul Flinchbaugh	....	digital media assistant
Nerses Gezalyan	....	foley mixer
Glynna Grimala	....	adr supervisor
Greg Hayes	....	mix technician
Gary A. Hecker	....	supervising foley artist (as Gary Hecker)
Michael Hertlein	....	dialogue editor
Daniel S. Irwin	....	dialogue editor
Tim D. Lloyd	....	boom operator (as Tim Lloyd)
Zsolt Magyar	....	sound mixer
Craig Mann	....	sound re-recording mixer
Margit Pfeiffer	....	foley editor
Stephen P. Robinson	....	sound designer
Paul Stevenson	....	foley artist
Tami Treadwell	....	adr recordist
Richard Mercado	....	sound mixer: second unit (uncredited)
Beauxregard Neylon	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Steve Schwartzberg	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Mark Gullesserian	....	special effects foreman
Thomas Mertz	....	special effects coordinator (as Tom Mertz)
Steve Newquist	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Ted Robinson	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Brian Begun	....	compositor: Hammerhead
Rob Blue	....	compositor: Hammerhead
Timothy Michael Cairns	....	compositor: Hammerhead (as Tim Cairns)
Daniel Chuba	....	visual effects executive producer: Hammerhead (as Dan Chuba)
Caitlin Content	....	compositor: Hammerhead
Mark A.Z. Dippé	....	additional visual effects supervisor: Hammerhead (as Mark Dippe)
Jamie Dixon	....	visual effects supervisor: Hammerhead
Michelle Eisenreich	....	visual effects producer: Hammerhead
Brandon Gonzales	....	matte painter: Hammerhead
Deborah Hiner	....	rotoscope artist: Hammerhead
Robert Malina	....	visual effects editor (as Rob Malina)
Daniel Mellitz	....	compositing supervisor: Hammerhead
Candida Nunez	....	tracking supervisor: Hammerhead
Angella Szynkowski	....	i/o: Hammerhead
Tommy Tran	....	compositor: Hammerhead
Derek Zavada	....	system administrator: Hammerhead
Brandon Gonzales	....	concept artist: Hammerhead (uncredited)
Paul Hopkins	....	matchmove/layout (uncredited)
Daniel Loiewski	....	visual effects intern (uncredited)
Linda Tremblay	....	digital compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
James Armstrong	....	stunts
Kelli Barksdale	....	stunts
Emily Brobst	....	stunt double: Katie
Seth Duhame	....	stunt double: Chris Smith
Meegan Godfrey	....	stunts
Nikki Hester	....	stunt double: Lauren Bittner
Craig Jensen	....	stunts
G. Grant Jewett	....	stunt rigger
Michael R. King	....	stunts (as Mike King)
Nicholas King	....	stunts (as Nick King)
Rob King	....	stunt coordinator
Dennis Scott	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Daniel Browning Smith	....	stunts
Steven Stone	....	stunts
Ator Tamras	....	stunt double: Lauren Bittner
Liisa Cohen	....	utility stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Keith Dunkerley	....	camera operator
Keith Dunkerley	....	director of photography: second unit
Paul Farley	....	first company grip (as Paul M. Farley)
Sergio Gutierrez	....	second company grip
Jordan C. Kadovitz	....	video assist (as Jordan Kadovitz)
Damon Liebowitz	....	chief lighting technician (as Damon Leibowitz)
Oliver Mancebo	....	digital imaging technician
Olga Matlin	....	grip
Daniel C. McFadden	....	still photographer (as Daniel McFadden)
Dara Norman	....	dimmer operator
Benjamin Steeples	....	second assistant camera
Phoebe Sudrow	....	first assistant camera
Derek Touvell	....	electrician
Brian Woronec	....	assistant chief lighting technician

Casting Department
Sarah Domeier	....	casting assistant: Los Angeles
Alexa L. Fogel	....	casting: New York (as Alexa Fogel)
Christine Kromer	....	casting: New York
John McAlary	....	casting associate: Los Angeles
Claire Simon	....	casting: Chicago

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rebecca M. Graves	....	costumer (as Rebecca Graves)
Linda Huse	....	costume supervisor
Candle Williams	....	production assistant: costume department
Christina DeMasi	....	set costumer (uncredited)
Linda Huse	....	wardrobe supervisor (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Maria Gonzales	....	first assistant editor
Joel Griffen	....	assistant editor
Mark Griffith	....	digital intermediate colorist
Omar Hassan-Reep	....	first assistant editor
Vince Hughes	....	dailies operator: nextLAB
Katherine Kane	....	project coordinator
George Koran	....	associate digital intermediate colorist
Nicholas Lareau	....	outpost engineer
Wendy Nomiyama	....	assistant editor
Jose Parra	....	digital intermediate producer
Joe Rosenbloom	....	post-production assistant
David Rosenthal	....	i/o supervisor
Bill Schultz	....	digital intermediate executive
Daniel Sessoms	....	baselight operator: nextLAB
Elliott Traeger	....	post-production assistant
Phillip Dawe	....	post-production coordinator (uncredited)
Katie Fellion	....	post production consultant (uncredited)
Aaron Kroger	....	outpost engineer (uncredited)
Harry Muller	....	color timer (uncredited)
Ron South	....	first assistant editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
James G. Brill	....	transportation coordinator
Jason Messersmith	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Laura Altmann	....	production coordinator
Steve Berens	....	animal wrangler
Joseph Bodner	....	assistant: Mr. Blum
Cecilia Cardwell	....	studio teacher
Justin Carville	....	first assistant accountant
Nicki Cortese	....	assistant: Mr. Goldsman
Danny Giles	....	production assistant (as Daniel A. Giles)
Hernan Hernandez	....	craft service
Pablo C. Herrera	....	craft service (as Pablo Herrera)
Saj Jayasinghe	....	account manager: Deluxe
Lynn Johnson	....	medic
Jessica Kivnik	....	production secretary
Diane Leaweiss	....	script supervisor
Megan Lurty	....	production assistant
James Messersmith	....	production assistant
Murray Miller	....	location manager
Allyson Nelson	....	production assistant: writer
Chelsea Peters	....	assistant: Mr. Blum
Margaret L. Schlaifer	....	studio teacher (as Margaret Schlaifer)
Sam Schweikert	....	set production assistant: second unit
Patrick R. Siembieda	....	production accountant (as Patrick Siembieda)
Billy Stimson	....	production assistant
Alexis Tanasoca	....	accounting clerk
David Thornsberry	....	location manager
Erin Vitali	....	production assistant
Mandy Yaeger	....	assistant: Mr. Joost & Mr. Schulman
Laura Caulfield	....	production paralegal (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures (presents)
• Blumhouse Productions (as Blumhouse)
• Solana Films
• Room 101 (as Room 101, Inc.)

Distributors

• Finnkino (2011) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Paramount Japan (2011) (Japan) (theatrical) (as Paramount Pictures Japan)
• Paramount Pictures Entertainment (2011) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Paramount Pictures (2011) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Paramount Pictures (2011) (France) (theatrical)
• Paramount Pictures (2011) (USA) (theatrical)
• Solar Entertainment (2011) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2011) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2011) (Greece) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2011) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2011) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2011) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2012) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2012) (Argentina) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Film1 (2012) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Odeon (2012) (Greece) (DVD) (blu-ray)
• Paramount Home Entertainment Finland (2012) (Finland) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Zon Lusomundo Audiovisuais (2011) (Portugal) (all media)

Special Effects

• Almost Human
• Hammerhead Productions (visual effects)

Other Companies

• California Film Commission  the producers wish to thank
• Digital Media Services (DMS)  digital marketing asset management
• Digital Media Services (DMS)  on-line promotional material creation
• Digital Vortechs  Avid HD editing equipment provided by
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Hot Set Catering  catering
• Soundelux  post-production sound services
• State of California  the producers wish to thank (as The State of California)
• nextLAB by FotoKem  dailies

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for some violence, language, brief sexuality and drug use

Runtime:

83 min | 94 min (unrated director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #47173) | UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Sweden:15 | Malaysia:PG-13 (censored version) | Singapore:NC-16 (cut) | South Korea:12 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Portugal:M/16 | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Italy:T | Japan:G | Germany:16 | Argentina:13 | Mexico:B15 | Australia:M | Spain:16 | Finland:K-15 | France:U (with warning)

Filming Locations:

USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The symbols that appear behind the pictures in Grandma Lois's house are simplified versions of the Pentagram of Solomon (inverted) and the Triangle of Solomon, symbols depicted in the "Lesser Key of Solomon" and used to summon and constrain demons in classical Goethic Theurgy.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: While the film takes place in 1988, the home video tapes are presented in wide screen and high-definition quality. However, this is a necessary and deliberate change on the part of the crew, and not an error. Producing a movie with "authentic" quality based on the equipment that existed back then would make a horrible quality for it to be seen in theaters and the movie would be unusable to most theaters.

Quotes:

Randy Rosen:She got blown in the face!

Movie Connections:

References Poltergeist (1982)

Soundtrack:

Happy Birthday to You

Only if you liked the first two.

Of Paranormal Activity 3, I can tell you this much: Chances are, if the first one didn't do much for you and you found the second one to be kind of blah and repetitive, there's no way you'll like the third one. That's a fact. The setup and premise are familiar, even if the characters are not. So as such, I can understand someone's not liking this one much at all. But. I personally found the first and second ones to be pretty scary – even when, in the second one, I knew stuff was going to happen. It has to be a good film when you're surprised even when you expect something, right? So, right or wrong, I loved this movie. It gave me what I was seeking, and more.

Whereas the second film was set shortly before the first one, this film takes a look at the childhood of Katie, the protagonist of the first film. You may recall that as the first movie progressed, Katie became convinced that something was after her specifically – but she couldn't imagine why. This movie attempts to resolve that issue. And you sort of have to give credit to a movie that resolves some things while leaving other threads dangling just enough to make one wonder what the hey is going on.

It's 1988. Young Katie lives with her younger sister Kristi, her mom Julie, and Julie's boyfriend Dennis. Strange things are afoot in their house, around the same time that young Kristi begins communicating with an imaginary friend named Toby. Is it a normal kid phase, or is it something more sinister? As with the other films, cameras are placed around the house to capture anything odd that may happen during the night. (In a clever bit of ingenuity, Dennis takes apart an oscillating fan and places a camera on it so that he can pan from living room to kitchen and back.)

What makes a movie like this work for me is the same thing that made The Blair Witch Project work (and its sequel not work at all) – it feels voyeuristic, as if we were simply peeking in on some family's everyday lives. Reasons are given for the constant filming (Dennis tells Kristi, for example, that he's "testing" his new camera as they have a tea party.) We're automatically drawn to the video footage. What will we see? We're now ready for something – will it jump out at us? Will furniture be overturned? Or something even worse?

The mood is another huge selling point. People react as you'd expect them to. Dennis is obsessed with finding out what's causing those noises and other disturbances; Julie thinks he's completely off his rocker and becomes more testy as time goes by. People who also experience the occurrences, like a babysitter and a friend of Dennis, are stunned to the point of not wishing to discuss the matter further, hurriedly leaving as soon as possible.

Now, I can't say that everyone, even those who love to be scared, is going to love this as much as I did. For me, since we see almost everything through the lens of a camera, the terror – and the anticipation – are grossly heightened. When that door is opened, what will we find? It's not going to be pretty, but unlike a standard horror film where one can simply slough off a shock as being too fantastic, here we're so easily drawn in by and engaged with our surrogate family that we feel as terrified and mystified as they do.

Paranormal Activity 3 won't answer everything that the first two may have left unsolved, but it does offer hints as to why, in the present day, these events are still occurring to Katie and her family. We see a part of that genesis, and it's not really what I expected. I was unsettled and thankful I hadn't seen the movie at night. Okay, that might be a little hyperbolic, and when some of you actually watch the movie you'll laugh at me for being skittish. I don't care. I enjoyed the movie, and that's all I'm concerned with.