Paranormal Activity 3

Time-traveling back to 1988, this prequel reveals how two sisters were traumatized at an early age by ominous, supernatural occurrences. Beginning in the summer of 2006, just before the events of the previous two films in the series, now-adult Katie and Kristi Rey (Katie Featherston, Sprague Grayden) discover a stash of old VHS tapes from their recently deceased grandmother's house. As the “found footage” flashback begins, young Katie and Kristi (Chloe Csengery, Jessica Tyler Brown) are living with their mother (Lauren Bittner) and her partner (Christopher Nicholas Smith), a wedding videographer. Curious about the inexplicable sounds emanating from their new home in Santa Rosa, CA, the shutterbug sets up surveillance cameras to capture daily activities, along with those mysterious nighttime disturbances. Revealed are phantom footsteps, doors that open and close, and a toy closet that contains demonic spirits. In addition, Kristi has an imaginary friend named Toby, and plays a fateful game of “Bloody Mary” in the bathroom. Terrified and tormented by otherworldly ghosts, the siblings wind up being creepily cursed by a deeply evil force. Working from a formulaic yet infuriatingly illogical script, co-directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman nevertheless effectively prolong the suspense while also leaving much to the viewer's imagination. Spooky and scary, it may not always make sense, but it's definitely sinister and unnerving. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include both the theatrical and unrated versions of the film. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are the “Lost Tapes” scenes “Scare Montage” and “Dennis' Commercial” (3 min. total), and bonus DVD and digital copies of the film. Bottom line: a small extras package for a decent chiller.] (S. Granger)