Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones

The original Paranormal Activity was an original horror film and refreshing break from the typical Hollywood blockbusters we see every year. Unfortunately as its popularity soared, it’s become nothing more than a yearly profit watering hole for Paramount Pictures. While Paranormal Activity: The Marks Ones is a slight departure from the main storyline, it features more of the same scares we’ve come to expect five years down the road.

 Jesse (Andrew Jacobs) is just your average high school graduate until one day he discovers a mysterious bite mark on his arm. Unexplainable things soon start happening around him as Jesse slowly becomes possessed by something evil all the while his friends try to save him anyway they could. The Marked Ones is more of the same elements of the previous films only with a different cast of characters this time around.

And therein lies the problem. The found footage style of the franchise has gotten pretty old, and it’s beginning to show. The film features the same demonic possession and the same jump scares we’ve seen in the past so there’s not much that is truly scary aside from a few cheap tactics. Either there’s a shadowy figure behind someone when they move out of the camera’s view or someone quickly pops out from off screen somewhere. Even the Ouija board has been replaced with Simon Says for communication with the demon.

The Marked Ones does tie in to the other films as you’d expect. There are a few subtle references that longtime fans will understand and also past characters return for brief appearances. The whole storyline is starting to feel a bit cluttered with what’s going on. Part of me enjoys the fact that they’re able to connect them all together in a manner that isn’t too confusing, but part of me also wants the franchise to start fresh and try something different.

If you’re looking for a cheap thrill to kick off the new year, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones will do the job. The yearly installments have watered down the franchise but there is just enough gas in the tank for one last scare. Just don’t go in with too high expectations and you’ll be alright.