By: Martin Rand, III
Date: November 3, 2011
The "Paranormal Activity" franchise has done well for itself in the past three years. From being a simple little indie horror movie to setting the box office record for a horror movie on opening weekend, with its latest installment "Paranormal Activity 3". According to ign.com, Paramount is planning on releasing a follow-up next year.
 |
| What should we expect from "Paranormal Activity 4". |
"I can't imagine that we wouldn't make a number four, and I imagine [Paramount Film Group president] Adam Goodman this morning is thinking about the challenge," said Head of Domestic Distribution Don Harris. "I'm sure he's thinking, 'Now what do I do?'"
That's a good question. What could they do now? So, I've thought about some ideas for "Paranormal Activity 4".
SPOILER ALERT! IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE FIRST, SECOND, OR THIRD MOVIE BUT PLAN ON IT, STOP READING NOW!
Follow the Grandmother's Story
They could explore the grandmother's involvement with the witches. The whole reason Toby (the spirit) is after the first male in the family is because of an agreement she, or someone older like her mother, made with Toby. What did the family get in exchange for the first-born male? What events lead to them making a deal with Toby?
Follow Hunter's Story
Since the first three movies are about Toby getting Hunter, the baby in "Paranormal Activity 2", the fourth film could be about what happens after the possessed body of Katie takes Hunter. At the end PA2, they leave the room, but we never see what happens after they leave. Did the possessed Katie make it out of the house with Hunter? Was Hunter able to grow up, and if so, what connection does he still have with Toby?
Follow Diane's Story
In the first PA, Micah bought an Ouija board and Toby used it to spell out the name Diane. When Micah looked up who this could be, he found out a woman from the 60s named Diane had some of the same things happen to her. She was later killed during an exorcism. For the fourth movie, they could explore or flesh out the Diane character and how she relates to the family. What connection does Katie have to her? What did Diane do that would make Toby mention the name to them?
These are just a few of the options they could explore. I'm sure there are many more. All I hope is, whatever the makers decide to do, they don't mess up the PA.
This next movie could either make or break the franchise. We've seen this happen in recent memory. Remember the former Halloween King franchise, "Saw".
"Saw" burst on the scene much like PA. It was simple and low-budget with a good story. Then, "Saw II" was released with a better story and more characters. Then, "Saw III" and another sequel and another and another. By the end of it all, there were seven movies made and only the first three were really good and made any sense.
I really don't want to see this happen to the PA franchise. If they try the same scary tricks as the first three movies or the fourth contradicts something previously mentioned, the franchise could be hurt forever. So Goodman, choose wisely.
| Tweet |
May i just tell you that Toby from PA3 and the demon from Paranormal Activity 1 are different. In PA1, when they put powder all over the floor, they saw weird animal-like footsteps. In PA3, Kristi describes Toby "old like grandma". So there's no way Toby was the demon in Paranormal Activity 1...
Well, if the demons are different, that would mean the first PA has nothing to do with the two sequels. In which case, there would have been no point in them trying to explain the relationship history between the sisters and the demon. In reference to the description, it's saying the demon was old like grandma. It's not saying the demon looks like grandma. She was merely saying the demon is very very old.