How did we get here? Well we watched 30 horror/Halloween movies in October (a lot more to be honest but things I didn’t want to write about) but that is not the question I am actually asking. How did we get to SEVEN, yes SEVEN Paranormal Activity movies? I mean, it’s a found footage movie about creepy things happening to people at least my understanding. I never really watched after the first Paranormal Activity, I vaguely remember watching 3 or 4 in theatres but the projector died and I never bothered going to see the rest of it. I digress, Paranormal Activity Next of Kin is surprisingly not at all what I was expecting and much better than I ever could’ve thought. It is actually kind of great, and disturbing, and doesn’t feel like a 7th overdone installment in a franchise, but its own thing which is great.
The movie focuses on Margot played my Emily Bader and Chris played by Roland Buck the third, despite the fact that Margot is the main character and main protagonist. Margot knows she is adopted and was abandoned by her mother at birth, but never knew why and tries to create a documentary after finding out where her mother spent her pregnancy. Turns out she spent her pregnancy in an Amish facility, but nothing is truly as it seems. As the movie progresses, it turns out the Amish facility is something much more sinister, and disturbing bringing to life the new levels of horror. With new and exciting things unfolding, albeit maybe a tad predictable, the twists, turns, and genuine fear that comes through Next of Kin is truly not something to be missed.
If you don’t know the names of William Eubank and Christopher Landon, the director and writer of Paranormal Activity Next of Kin, then strap yourselves in and look at their cinematography. Eubank directed the incredible Underwater, another under the radar horror movie, and Landon wrote a Paranormal Activity 2 through The Marked Ones, Scouts Guide for the Zombie Apocalypse, Happy Death Day 2U and Freaky, then you’re truly missing out. These guys definitely know what they’re doing, how to do it, and absolutely deliver on all fronts. Paranormal Activity Next of Kin is so refreshing, terrifying, fun (remember when horror movies could be fun???) and just all around creative. Supported by a great cast and great performances, Paranormal Activity Next of Kin truly delivers on all fronts.
It is rare for a franchise who switched writers mid franchise, cranked out a few other movies to completely revitalize and rebirth itself and thankfully Next of Kin delivers that excellently. There is so much delivered in Next of Kin, even if Christopher Landon admitted that due to a power shift at the studio there were changes in the script and direction of the film, it is still in essence a Paranormal Activity movie, delivers the scares, and truly exceeds expectations.
