Movie Review – Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones

Another year another Paranormal Activity movie. That was the pattern from 2010 through 2012 when every year we got a sequel (or prequel) to the original released in 2007. Well the franchise is back at it again in 2014 but this time it looks to be following a new arc. This story is centered around Jesse who has been “marked” thus being pursued by mysterious forces. Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones is rated R for pervasive language, some violence, graphic nudity and some drug use. So is this worth seeing? Keeping reading…

I have to admit the one thing. The people behind the Paranormal Activity franchise do a masterful job of its advertising. They get their little hype machine going with the commercials of terrified audiences and word of mouth spreads like wildfire. The Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones strategy is no different in that regard. Where it does differ is that the plot is not focused directly on the family from the first four movies. Having said that, there is a minor tie-in to the other movies.

Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones clocks in at a mere 84 minutes. The great thing about that is there’s no time to dawdle so the story is constantly moving. The humor was bumped up a notch which is always good in my mind. I liked all of the new characters introduced and thought they did a decent job acting. That’s where the good ends. As a horror/thriller movie The Marked Ones lacked both scary and/or thrilling scenes. The “jump moments” that make these types of movies enjoyable were far too few for me to recommend dropping premium box office cash on this one. You’d be better served waiting until it is available to watch in the comfort of your own home at a much reduced rate.

I do not wish for the demise of any movie but sometimes a part of something has to die to make the whole stronger. That’s what I envision for The Marked Ones. Hopefully if indeed this chapter does under perform it’ll put some serious pressure (and focus) on Paranormal Activity 5 due out on October 24, 2014. Maybe then the bar will be raised and the producers will get back to basics. What had such a promising start as a cutting edge found footage original movie in 2007, the latest has found its way off the beaten path. As for Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones I just feel that it is more of a potential money grab idea rather than a movie that has a lot of thought put into it. See it if you must but don’t plan on being on the edge of your seat with your head buried in your hands like the audiences in the promos.