Rental Review - Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension

Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension (2015), R, 88 minutes - My wife and I have generally enjoyed this franchise (the first two films in particular), so rather than waiting for it to be available from redbox or Netflix, we decided to rent it through Amazon Prime last week.

For anyone familiar with the Paranormal Activity films - and six films in now, you've either seen them or get the gist - this installment implements the usual 'found footage' presentation to depict events from 2013 in order to help fill in the 1980's cult-filled back story of sisters Katie and Kristi (who, as adults, were the stars of the first two films).

Ryan (Chris J. Murray), Emily (Brit Shaw), and their daughter Leila (Ivy George) discover an old video camera and a box full of VHS tapes in their house.  Ryan starts playing with the video camera and discovers that it allows him to see strange anomalies throughout the house.  As he delves into the numerous VHS tapes, he discovers that years ago, strange activity was documented on their property, and that the house they recently moved into was actually built on property with a very questionable past (see previous Paranormal Activity installments).  Leila begins acting strangely and communicating with 'a friend named Toby'.  Meanwhile Ryan, Emily, and their friends Skyler (Olivia Taylor Dudely) and Mike (Dan Gill) begin seeing and experiencing strange things.  A pastor is consulted with, but is unable to help and Ryan discovers that somehow, Katie (Chloe Csengery) and Kristi's (Jessica Tyler Brown) actions in the past are directly influencing what his family is currently experiencing.

Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension differs slightly from its predecessors in that in this installment we actually see the source of the paranormal activity take visible form.  There are a couple of jolt worthy moments, but the film is more successful in creating further questions about Katie and Kristi's history and setting up what will assuredly be yet another future entry to the franchise.  For those who have been intrigued by or enjoyed the previous Paranormal Activity films, this one is probably worth checking out.  If not, don't waste your time as the story is very continuity heavy and re-hashes techniques put to better use in prior installments.

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