Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Summer W

  
  A prequel to a prequel, this film is a good addition to the Paranormal Activity series, which, like it's predecessors, is full of dark creepy night shots, silent suspense, and "gotcha" moments. If you like the first two, and you're into this type of horror movie,… More
  A prequel to a prequel, this film is a good addition to the Paranormal Activity series, which, like it's predecessors, is full of dark creepy night shots, silent suspense, and "gotcha" moments. If you like the first two, and you're into this type of horror movie, I'm sure you'll be pleased. Heck, it scared the hell out of my dog.

• Melvin W

  
  Julie: Who's Toby? Young Kristi: He's my friend. Julie: I don't see him. Young Kristi: He's standing right next to you. "It Runs In The Family" Paranormal Activity 3 is a prequel to the previous two films, both of which I have liked. This is a franchise… More
  Julie: Who's Toby? Young Kristi: He's my friend. Julie: I don't see him. Young Kristi: He's standing right next to you. "It Runs In The Family" Paranormal Activity 3 is a prequel to the previous two films, both of which I have liked. This is a franchise that is going to run as long as it possibly can, and through three films, I'm still enjoying it. Everyone of the three films have been very much alike, but they also have qualities that are very much their own. How long can that continue? Probably not much longer, seeing as each film does use a lot of the same techniques.  Honestly, I like this one more than the second and probably just as much as the first. I liked the briskness of it and how quick it got into the haunting. I also enjoyed a few of the scenes that this one had to offer more than any of the previous movies. The sheet scene with the baby sitter was cool, as was the Bloody Mary scene. But what makes this movie is the ending, which I enjoyed more than the previous two. I really liked the unexpected use of the grandma and for the first time in the series, I was genuinely creeped out by more than just a jump scare. The last 10 minutes was really well done in my opinion. This prequel follows the events of Kristi and Katie as children. They live with their mother and her boyfriend. When weird sounds occur throughout the house cameras are set up to document the occurrences. We learn that Kristi has been talking to an imaginary friend named Toby. From there it's the standard plot progression that we've seen in the previous two.  The moment when this series grows dull is going to vary based on the individual. For some it was dull the moment it started. Others were lost when the second when came out and I'm sure this one lost some more. For me as long as the filmmakers keep trying to make the films fresh and at least some what inventive, I'll keep watching. I'm sure I'll grow tired of it soon, but through three I couldn't be happier. I really hope that when they run out of ideas they will just stop, but sadly, I highly doubt that.

• Jason O

  
  Toss up as to which I like better between 2 and 3

• Dan S

  
  An occasionally scary, atmospheric prequel to the hit horror series this time details the grown up sisters from both 1 & 2 and how they were first haunted by a demonic spirit at a young age, living with their parents in the year 1988. Oren Peli continues to add to his series,… More
  An occasionally scary, atmospheric prequel to the hit horror series this time details the grown up sisters from both 1 & 2 and how they were first haunted by a demonic spirit at a young age, living with their parents in the year 1988. Oren Peli continues to add to his series, providing jumpy scares that hit with precision. This time though, you start to see more of it coming from a distance away. The collective "bang!" moment isn' as surprising, nor is that demonic face that presents itself near the film's gloriously over-the-top conclusion. The first film was an original fright-fest that was a welcome sight to horror film fans in terms of how to properly scare your audience. The second film was a fun, though less memorable experience that added a few more scares to this mix. This film abandons literally all character development, sprints ahead with its premise, and the result is a mixed bag. Sometimes it's genuinely creepy and suspenseful, other times it is silly and unintentionally funny. No one can blame the creators for pushing this series forward and going for the jugular at the box office with even more sequels to follow, when one considers the budget and net worth these films make. However, from a pure film-making/artistic approach, it's fair to say that these movies are starting to run their course.

• Mike S

  
  Scariest of the three and surprisingly good! Although its existence isn't quite justified and really milks the crow dry, they certainly didn't go lazy in the crafting of this film. The story, which is a prequel set in 1988, holds more shock value than its predecessors, and… More
  Scariest of the three and surprisingly good! Although its existence isn't quite justified and really milks the crow dry, they certainly didn't go lazy in the crafting of this film. The story, which is a prequel set in 1988, holds more shock value than its predecessors, and particularily as its main victims are two innocent young girls. As can be expected, there's the obligatory cheap and predictable scares, but once the terror is intensified (which happens about halfway through), it will have you clinging to your chest with some truly heart-stopping moments. Effectfully directed and creepy beyond imagining, it's definitely not the type of movie you wanna be watching alone in a dark room. Another superlative element is the mind-blowing special effects. I'm genuinely at a loss for how some of them were conceived. And with a third act reminiscent of some of the most atmospheric moments in the Resident Evil games, it really cements itself as a horror experience above the median. In fact, if it wasn't for the irritatingly abrupt and confusing ending, I would have given it a solid 4 out of 5. Ungratifying as it is though, I had to lower down my rating a notch. Even so, it really earns itself to be sincerely recommended. For while it does have its imperfections, the vigorously executed horror bits left me with a genuine addiction for more.

• Lewis C

  
  The Paranormal Activity series is (still) fun, but it's apparent by now that it doesn't have much more new to offer. If you've seen the first two movies, you already will be familiar with most of the tricks this prequel is going to throw at you. Set around twenty… More
  The Paranormal Activity series is (still) fun, but it's apparent by now that it doesn't have much more new to offer. If you've seen the first two movies, you already will be familiar with most of the tricks this prequel is going to throw at you. Set around twenty years before the first two movies, PA3 focuses on the first appearances of supernatural activity in the lives of young Katie and Kristi. Once again positioned as a "found footage" film, the events are mostly captured by cameras positioned around their home by their mother's boyfriend. A lot of back-story and the origin of the ghostly presence are revealed as the movie goes along. It's good to get some of the mythology of the Paranormal Activity world, but as the mystery disappears, so does the creepy, "this could happen to anyone" feel that was one of the strong points of the movies. You're still likely to jump and be spooked from time to time, but familiarity has definitely set in by this entry. Fans know what to expect, now. If you liked Paranormal Activity 1 & 2, 3 is likely to be worth your time, as well. I actually prefer it to the second movie, and would put it slightly behind the first. It's more of the same, but it hasn't reached the point where the movies are wearing out their welcome quite yet. One the same note, if you weren't a fan before, PA3 isn't likely to convert you.

• Reid V

  
  If you can suspend your sense of curiosity, which is tough since this movie begs to be torn apart in the logistics department, you can definitely be entertained. It is the attempt to keep the same story throughout the franchise that hinders full enjoyment of the film. All of the… More
  If you can suspend your sense of curiosity, which is tough since this movie begs to be torn apart in the logistics department, you can definitely be entertained. It is the attempt to keep the same story throughout the franchise that hinders full enjoyment of the film. All of the attempts to make this film cogent bring to the surface more questions than answers. Also, while I understand that this is a horror film, every attempt to augment the overall narrative only draws attention to the implausibility of it all. However, in the end these movies are a series of parlor tricks and this film brings it's fair share. From the oscillating fan to the bathroom scene, there are some impressive and sometimes even terrifying moments. In the future, even though I would advise them from making further installments, please do away with trying to tie all the films together. Service the scares before you consider servicing the story, because that is all people want out of these films anyway. Some good old fashioned scares.

• Luke B

  
  I honestly can't blame them for squeezing as much life out of this franchise as possible. Considering the money it brings in. It's certainly going to be the next Saw. Paranormal Activity 3 is a prequel to the previous films. It shows us the young girls and their first… More
  I honestly can't blame them for squeezing as much life out of this franchise as possible. Considering the money it brings in. It's certainly going to be the next Saw. Paranormal Activity 3 is a prequel to the previous films. It shows us the young girls and their first encounters with the demon. The film brings in some nice little touches. Bored of the static shots throughout the last two movies. This time there is a camera set up that gently moves from side to side. But since this is in 80s, they have to spend a scene explaining how this is possible. The 80's also mean there are some questions such as, why does the demon only attack during the 6 hours that the tapes run for. He's also clearly a drama queen, as he refuses to smash the cameras before doing some weird stuff. Surely demons are more subtle about causing mayhem. The build ups to the chills are rather creepy, but since we've sat through this twice already, we know we can relax until at least the halfway point. Doors knock, footsteps are heard, and people act like absolute tools. Can't just one of these films have completely likeable characters? The mum was such a massive See You Next Tuesday, that I wanted to punch her. Midway it has some awesome ideas for scares which I wont ruin here. And the lack of CGI had me wondering how they did it. I miss those moments in movies. I'd say the movie successfully scared me, which is always good for a horror film. But, being the third part of a franchise I expected some questions to be answered, not have more raised. Doing so has left me less interested in watching the 4th entry, because by now I need some closure.

• Matt G

  
  The previous Paranormal Activity film exceeded on one aspect; it was able to scare the living hell out of me. The main problem in PA3 is that I didn't find it at all scary; the pop-outs were easily expected and the running time (at a whopping 78 minutes) was very disappointing. I… More
  The previous Paranormal Activity film exceeded on one aspect; it was able to scare the living hell out of me. The main problem in PA3 is that I didn't find it at all scary; the pop-outs were easily expected and the running time (at a whopping 78 minutes) was very disappointing. I will say this: it was mildly entertaining throughout, hence my high rating.

• Dead A

  
  It was just like the other ones. Can't wait for the next.

• Pedro H

  
  <i>It runs in the family</i> <b>Spooky</b> When you think things are about to get worst, paranormal activity shows you that it just gets better. This third installment of the movie is equally as good as the first two movies, and although a little repetitive… More
  <i>It runs in the family</i> <b>Spooky</b> When you think things are about to get worst, paranormal activity shows you that it just gets better. This third installment of the movie is equally as good as the first two movies, and although a little repetitive still <b>quite good.</b>. This movie shows in its first person shooter the mysterious past of Katie and Kristi, when they were younger and what is it that hunts their family. I always think that whenever they make another movie like they are pushing it and that its going to be bad, but they never get bad. This movie is <b>awesome</b>. It has a fun story line, a good and a lot of scares. Yes, I am in love with these movies...deal with it. <u>Kristi</u>: <i>"Let's go tob"</i>

• Wildaly M

  
  Not exactly a fan of horror movies because I end up screaming at every little cheap scare, and this movie was not an exception. In Paranormal Activity 3, the lack of ambient music made the tension excruciating and simply scared the hell out of me. I watched the trailer after watching… More
  Not exactly a fan of horror movies because I end up screaming at every little cheap scare, and this movie was not an exception. In Paranormal Activity 3, the lack of ambient music made the tension excruciating and simply scared the hell out of me. I watched the trailer after watching the movie and it still gave me the shills. I did notice however that lots of parts were probably cut, so I would definitely like to watch the the extended version... in the company of a friend of course.

• Robert C

  
  The film is mostly pretty solid. Mostly. Sure there are some minor plot holes and a few cheap scares, but all in all they do a great job of building tension and then releasing it with a good jolting scene. This time around the "paranormal activity" is much more… More
  The film is mostly pretty solid. Mostly. Sure there are some minor plot holes and a few cheap scares, but all in all they do a great job of building tension and then releasing it with a good jolting scene. This time around the "paranormal activity" is much more agressive and at times pretty intense for the entire family...but mostly the kids. Which brings me to one of my main problems with the film, which is...when you see some of the freaky stuff that goes on with the two small girls it's hard to imagine that they would return to their own beds night after night and go right to sleep as if nothing strange (at times horriffic) had happened the night before. The other main issue I had was the fact that (like the 1st film), this film sort of cheapens itself with a rather trite final scene, that just feels "tagged on". With the first film it felt like "just in case your too stupid to let your imagination run wild as to what happened in the other room...we'll give you a visual" and this time around it felt like "We created a backstory that (while weak) we feel we can run with". All in all a fun and (mostly) enjoyable addition to the series.

• Sam B

  
  Paranormal Activity 3 moves at a faster pace and is, from the get-go, more over the top than the past films, which is both a positive and negative attribute. On one hand, it takes a lot less time for the movie to get to all the crazy 'activity' that goes on, whereas the past… More
  Paranormal Activity 3 moves at a faster pace and is, from the get-go, more over the top than the past films, which is both a positive and negative attribute. On one hand, it takes a lot less time for the movie to get to all the crazy 'activity' that goes on, whereas the past entries took their time to build up tension before things inevitably got out of hand. While this quicker speed means more action, more spectacle, and a more consistent stream of startling moments, it also loses a lot of the suspense that Paranormal Activity 2 had. In the other films, a large introduction was all set-up and little scares, which later on meant that a simple door creaking in the middle of the film became frightening. Due to the way things are ratcheted up in 3 from almost the very beginning, a lot of that tension is lost. Also, without the same amount of buildup as before, the movie actually ends up feeling a lot shorter. Instead of starting small and growing to a huge climax, some of the craziest stuff that happens in the film is right in the middle, which means that the climax ends up feeling slightly unfulfilling when it isn't notably more scary than events that took place earlier in the film. Still, even with the lost suspense, there is still an abundance of crazy moments and incredibly startling scenes, and the same sense that anything in the room can make you jump at any moment (and it will). In addition, what the directors (the same duo who created Catfish) lose in subtlety, they make up for in increased spectacle. The effects are easily the best in the series, which is ironic given that the film is supposedly shot on 80s camcorders. Finally, it is admirable what small additions like an oscillating camera can add to the same formula that could have easily risked becoming old. It seems there's still considerable life left in this franchise, as long as the directors keep thinking up ways to make the scares fresh and the story more revealing.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"It Runs In The Family"</i> In 1988, young sisters Katie and Kristi befriend an invisible entity who resides in their home. <center><font size=+2 face="Century… More
  <i>"It Runs In The Family"</i> In 1988, young sisters Katie and Kristi befriend an invisible entity who resides in their home. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> As "found footage" goes, Paranormal Activity 3 rates with The Blair Witch Project (1999) by keeping a certain tension even though the audience eventually knows it's hokum, or rather that it's just a good spook tale best told around a campfire at Halloween. In this prequel to the other installments the two little girls begin a relationship with an unseen boy, Toby, who manifests only by occasional strange activity caught by dad's omnipresent camera. Returning writer Christopher B. Landon and directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schuman have dad Dennis (Christopher Nicholas Smith) plant home video cameras in two strategic spots, the little girls' bedroom and the kitchen and living room areas. In the latter spot an oscillating fan has the camera strapped to it so the camera can see into both rooms, sweeping like radar to pick up any stray movement. The surveillance in both areas creates a tension that is almost purely anticipatory for most of the film with a few occult occurrences. Falling ceilings and powerful blasts remove household objects from their moorings and toss bodies around. Needless to say the usual tropes are here: wife Julie (Lauren Bittner) doesn't believe kids or dad that the occult is happening; false starts abound including an effectively ghoulish mask striking fear as it jumps out; the kindest characters may turn out to be the unkindest. Perhaps the slasher chainsaw shows and knife-slashing nightmare films have made this bloodless "reality" more enjoyable for its restraint, or maybe we do fear the things that bump and grind in the wee hours. Whatever, Paranormal Activity 3 delivers chills by replicating every child's fears after the lights go out. Despite our immersion in these antics over the years, when they are done well, as here, the effect is still frightening. Take that you TV reality shows.

• Jameson W

  
  I liked it! I haven't seen the previous films of the trilogy so I don't know how well it fit with the other films, but I thought it was well done and had many genuine scary moments. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time...I recommend it if you're a fan of scary… More
  I liked it! I haven't seen the previous films of the trilogy so I don't know how well it fit with the other films, but I thought it was well done and had many genuine scary moments. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time...I recommend it if you're a fan of scary movies.

• Josh L

  
  It's much better than the previous installment, but not quite as good as the first just because it's the third time around and you pretty much know the routine by now. The first one had a freshness that was undeniable and it had the scares to go with it. The second one was… More
  It's much better than the previous installment, but not quite as good as the first just because it's the third time around and you pretty much know the routine by now. The first one had a freshness that was undeniable and it had the scares to go with it. The second one was boring and frustrating in equal measures. This one is about in between the two. Has a few scary moments, interesting story bits, and a full lulls here and there. It's mostly solid and worth your time, though. Especially if you were like me and found the second one a major disappointment. I found this one interesting just because it was like an origin story. It still leaves you with plenty of questions by the end (which I'm sure will be answered in the next one since this series is going to get milked for all its worth looking at the opening weekend gross for this one), but they are questions that don't exactly NEED answered.

• A.D. V

  
  The first film was a nice update on a worn out gimmick and I thought the second film felt like a natural extension of the first. This one however feels incredibly stale and tends to tip it's hat before the scares come. It also gives nothing new to the back story of the family and… More
  The first film was a nice update on a worn out gimmick and I thought the second film felt like a natural extension of the first. This one however feels incredibly stale and tends to tip it's hat before the scares come. It also gives nothing new to the back story of the family and instead delivers a half-baked expansion of what was already explained in the second. Plus it also goes against what was mentioned in the first and second film about a fire that burns down their home. Let's hope the inevitable fourth will somehow correct these screw ups. Oh and like part 2 this one had scenes in the trailers that are nowhere to be found in the actual film.

• Nikhil N

  
  Going even deeper into its mythology, the third movie is certainly sacrificing the things which made the second so scary to develop a more interesting story. By the end of this movie my teeth were clenched together so hard that my jaw was hurting. Pure terror and dread up until a… More
  Going even deeper into its mythology, the third movie is certainly sacrificing the things which made the second so scary to develop a more interesting story. By the end of this movie my teeth were clenched together so hard that my jaw was hurting. Pure terror and dread up until a spine chilling climax make this movie the most effective, although not the scariest.

• Sunny D

  
  'Paranormal Activity 3' follows the same formula as it's predecessors, and provides the scares just the same. Plenty of slow building, big payoff scares and decent performances out of the cast combine to make PA3 a fun moviegoing experience. Ultimately, if you found the… More
  'Paranormal Activity 3' follows the same formula as it's predecessors, and provides the scares just the same. Plenty of slow building, big payoff scares and decent performances out of the cast combine to make PA3 a fun moviegoing experience. Ultimately, if you found the other members of this franchise entertaining, you'll enjoy this one. Rating: B

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