Released in 2007, PA bought a welcome return to scary horror infecting cinemas with a fear that the multiplexes hadn't seen for a while. Building its fanbase on rumours it had terrified Steven Spielberg, and made on a small budget, the film was a success and over the coming years has become somewhat of a Halloween tradition. Over the years there's no denying that the series has taken a downward spiral only revitalising itself with 2013's spin off movie 'The Marked Ones' changing the format to a more comedy led lead but still retaining the same framework and storyline progressed through previous instalments. 5 sequels later and as Jason Blum (Producer of the series) has confirmed, this will be the last chapter in the series and will bring all of the answers to the questions the series has so far bought to its audience.
This time, a new family, the Fleeges, enter a home sold by PA original star Katie and events turn to the predictable as they come across a box of tapes and a strange camera featuring two girls, Katie and Kristi, in their childhood. It soon becomes apparent that the events unfolding on film have further connections with the new family and history begins to repeat itself as their daughter Leila (Ivy George) becomes friends with the infamous Toby.
While this is the finale to a franchise that has mixed opinion, there is so much to explore with the breadcrumbs left behind. The coven of witches in 3, the portals in "The Marked Ones", the ongoing saga with Katie, what does it all mean? Well, one thing is for sure, there are no answers here. In fact, the film leaves with even more questions:
The feeling is that the guys behind the series had an idea and rather than spend the time and invest in a long term story, felt they had to wrap it up in a finale that is as bland as white sheet for a Halloween costume. The series could have benefited from further spin offs to create a bigger scale as now "The Marked Ones" feels more like a standalone film than part of the bigger picture.
What should have been closure to the franchise, ends as an unsatisfying blend of repetitive bangs and a mad dash attempt to create a cash-in to the 3D that is limited to 2 scenes. Throughout the film are a number of jump moments that focus more on waking you up than actually delivering a scare.
Toby's appearance is a disappointment to say this is a demon but merely masks the appearance of Baghuul from the Sinister series with a more human like posture than the horned faced demon the film leans towards.
Where the original entry and even some of the other films, there are standalone moments that are memorable but here lies a repetition of the worst moments of the franchise, taking away any plot that was promised in favour of a new gimmick (3D) that is well underused. Previous movies have kept Toby in the background and have decided that now is the time to let the world see this menace but what unfolds is merely disappointing. Gone is te suspense of what is/isn't there and instead the venom-like creature (fans of Spiderman would understand this reference) adds little in terms of fear. While some of the 3D moments wherein the fragments of the supernatural look impressive but never really add anything to the experience. The forceful demon that was seen dragging Katie in chapter one is missing here, and if Katie is now possessed, how can the demon himself appear if he's inside Katie?
Unlike previous instalments where the films unravelling occurs over a number of weeks, here the hauntings are all delivered by the 10th consecutive day and pretty much sums up the rushed and heartless film that is Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension. The longer you think about the film the more disappointing it becomes. It's a huge let down for what could have been a solid conclusion to a mixed bag of films, instead doing more of the same and stitching a half thought out plot to close the series. You'd even question if the makers had even watched any of the previous instalments, as many will not be tuning into this one.
> Martyn Wakefield is a writer and editor for BloodGuts UK Horror and has contributed over 250 reviews on the horror genre
This time, a new family, the Fleeges, enter a home sold by PA original star Katie and events turn to the predictable as they come across a box of tapes and a strange camera featuring two girls, Katie and Kristi, in their childhood. It soon becomes apparent that the events unfolding on film have further connections with the new family and history begins to repeat itself as their daughter Leila (Ivy George) becomes friends with the infamous Toby.
While this is the finale to a franchise that has mixed opinion, there is so much to explore with the breadcrumbs left behind. The coven of witches in 3, the portals in "The Marked Ones", the ongoing saga with Katie, what does it all mean? Well, one thing is for sure, there are no answers here. In fact, the film leaves with even more questions:
- Where did the camera come from? Why did the coven want to summon Toby?
- Why is the demon called Toby and seeking human form?
- Why does the demon only need the blood of Hunter and Leila born on the 6th day of the 6th month of the 6th year?
- What ever happened to Katie?
- What is her exact role in all of this?
- What is the cause of the portals/dimensions and why do we not see more of this?
- What IS the "ghost dimension"?
- What does it all mean?
- Can I have an aspirin?
The feeling is that the guys behind the series had an idea and rather than spend the time and invest in a long term story, felt they had to wrap it up in a finale that is as bland as white sheet for a Halloween costume. The series could have benefited from further spin offs to create a bigger scale as now "The Marked Ones" feels more like a standalone film than part of the bigger picture.
What should have been closure to the franchise, ends as an unsatisfying blend of repetitive bangs and a mad dash attempt to create a cash-in to the 3D that is limited to 2 scenes. Throughout the film are a number of jump moments that focus more on waking you up than actually delivering a scare.
Toby's appearance is a disappointment to say this is a demon but merely masks the appearance of Baghuul from the Sinister series with a more human like posture than the horned faced demon the film leans towards.
Where the original entry and even some of the other films, there are standalone moments that are memorable but here lies a repetition of the worst moments of the franchise, taking away any plot that was promised in favour of a new gimmick (3D) that is well underused. Previous movies have kept Toby in the background and have decided that now is the time to let the world see this menace but what unfolds is merely disappointing. Gone is te suspense of what is/isn't there and instead the venom-like creature (fans of Spiderman would understand this reference) adds little in terms of fear. While some of the 3D moments wherein the fragments of the supernatural look impressive but never really add anything to the experience. The forceful demon that was seen dragging Katie in chapter one is missing here, and if Katie is now possessed, how can the demon himself appear if he's inside Katie?
Unlike previous instalments where the films unravelling occurs over a number of weeks, here the hauntings are all delivered by the 10th consecutive day and pretty much sums up the rushed and heartless film that is Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension. The longer you think about the film the more disappointing it becomes. It's a huge let down for what could have been a solid conclusion to a mixed bag of films, instead doing more of the same and stitching a half thought out plot to close the series. You'd even question if the makers had even watched any of the previous instalments, as many will not be tuning into this one.
> Martyn Wakefield is a writer and editor for BloodGuts UK Horror and has contributed over 250 reviews on the horror genre