MTV Movies Blog › Paranormal Activity

Today, the existence of "Paranormal Activity 4" was announced -- not so shocking considering the franchise’s hefty popularity with fall crowds.

The most recent installment completed a rough trilogy, which begs the question of what a further film could touch upon that wouldn’t feel trite or done. Audiences may be sick of Micah and Katie by this point, and the series’ trademark found footage look hasn’t received any serious updates. It could be time for a serious rejuvenation, which is why we came up with this list of some directors we wish would get hired.

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Tags john carpenter, John Erick Dowdle, M. Night Shyamalan, Paranormal Activity, Paranormal Activity 4, takashi miike

With the release of "Paranormal Activity 3," the found footage genre has a new entry. Known for its quiet, everyday moments before big scares with a heightened sense of realism, found footage has become a staple of the horror genre in a few short years. The shaky, faux-documentary style really came into its own with 1999's "The Blair Witch Project," but examples of similar films can be traced back to as early as 1980 with the infamous "Cannibal Holocaust."

"Blair Witch" set off the biggest and most recent crop of found footage films, but the latest releases probably owe their popularity to 2008's "Cloverfield" and the original "Paranormal Activity." Ultra-cheap to make, the movies can either work because of their low-budget scares or stink of a movie studio trying to cash in on the latest movie fad without spending as much. Even the king of the zombie movie, George A. Romero, tried it out in "Diary of the Dead."

So we want to know which found footage movie you think is the best. Does the nod go to the movie that started it all, "The Blair Witch Project"? Or do you prefer your scares on the more "Paranormal" side?

Vote for your favorite in our poll past the break!

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Tags Apollo 18, cloverfield, Paranormal Activity, Paranormal Activity 2, paranormal activity 3

"Paranormal Activity 2" has scared up $157 million worldwide -- off a measly $3 million budget -- since bowing in October, giving Paramount 157 million (and counting) reasons to set a release date for "Paranormal Activity 3." And that's exactly what the studio has done, setting the third installment in the hit horror franchise for an October 21, 2011, release.

The obvious profitability of the endeavor aside, a "Paranormal Activity 3" should come as no surprise to anyone who saw "Paranormal 2." That film -- and some "PA2" spoilers will follow, so consider this your OFFICIAL SPOILER ALERT -- clearly set up a sequel. Read more...

Tags Katie Featherston, Paranormal Activity, Paranormal Activity 2, paranormal activity 3

Chances are you've seen the first two trailers for "Paranormal Activity 2," and chances are you still have no clue what the flick is about.

That's all about to change because the newest minute-long teaser, which arrived today on Apple, actually offers some semblance of a plot AND even reveals a few of the characters. Hooray!

After the obligatory shot of a demon-possessed Katie throwing her erstwhile beau into the camera at the end of the first film, the trailer segues into some daytime, non-security-camera footage -- the first of its kind seen from "Paranormal 2" -- that introduces us to the family being haunted in the sequel. Here's the interesting part: All signs point to the matriarch of this fam being the sister of poor ole crazy Katie (Katie Featherston) from the original. Hmm ... this would seem to add credence to our inkling that Paranormal Katie is the one haunting said house these days. Food for thought. Read more...

Tags Katie Featherston, Paranormal Activity, Paranormal Activity 2

Around this time last year we were all getting excited about this little low-budget horror/thriller "Paranormal Activity," by a then-unknown filmmaker by the name of Oren Peli. The movie arrived and it made ridiculous amounts of money which, coupled with the tiny budget, quickly turned it into the most profitable movie of all time.

Peli star has been on the rise since then. He's producing a sequel to "Paranormal," which arrives in theaters just before Halloween this year. He's working on another sort of "found footage" film, this one apparently involving aliens, called "Area 51." And now he's got a TV series in the works. Deadline reports that ABC has picked up a pilot for "The River," which is described as "cinema verite-style thriller drama in the vein of 'Paranormal Activity' set on a mysterious river." I'll be curious to see how a couple's self-filmed struggles with an unfriendly demon compares to a river thriller, but Peli is definitely the right guy for a verite-style treatment of the supernatural.

Tags Oren Peli, Paranormal Activity, The River

Right around this time last year, the fervor surrounding "Paranormal Activity" was just starting to ramp up. The $15,000 budgeted movie would go on to earn almost $200 million worldwide, making it the most profitable theatrical release of all time. A sequel was inevitable, and it's coming this October. The only problem is we don't really know anything about it outside of what's in a vague trailer. MTV spoke to "Paranormal" star Micah Sloat recently, and sadly, he had no details to share.

"I can just talk about the trailer because I saw that for myself," he said. "There's a baby and a dog and a new house and that's about all I can tell you." Of course that's all he can tell us. That's all you see in the trailer! Sloat chose his words very carefully, speaking of the sequel in only the vaguest terms and not mentioning how he might or might not be connected to it. Read more...

Tags Micah Sloat, Paranormal Activity, Paranormal Activity 2, Video

Last year, "Paranormal Activity" became a late-in-the-year sensation when Oren Peli's "found footage" horror flick -- which first screened in 2007 -- arrived in theaters following an extensive social campaign staged by Paramount. The $15,000 budgeted movie grossed almost $200 million worldwide, the strongest budget-to-box office earnings ratio in Hollywood history.

A sequel was inevitable.

Now we have the first trailer for "Paranormal Activity 2." If you haven't seen the original, there's a definite spoiler alert here: the first half runs through a brief retelling of the conclusion. The rest is all new though, and it looks very much the same in terms of style. Instead of a handheld we appear to be peering through a full suite of security cameras. There's a dog too.

I hope nothing bad happens to that dog.

The sequel hits theaters on October 22 of this year. Peli is busy working on his follow-up, "Area 51." Tod "Kip" Williams will be directing in his place, with a screenplay from Peli and Michael R. Perry.

Tags Oren Peli, Paranormal Activity, Paranormal Activity 2, Tod Williams

When MTV News caught up with 'Paranormal Activity' star Micah Sloat in March, the actor seemed to hint that both he and co-star Katie Featherston would return for the sequel to last year's record-breaking hit. "All I can tell you is I'm very excited for the project, it's really cool, it's gonna be really interesting and it's not gonna suck, which most horror sequels would," he said.

Not so fast, Mr. Sloat, because nothing seems to be settled at this point. Featherston herself is completely in the dark about "Paranormal Activity" plans and unsure if she'll be asked reprise her role as a young woman who becomes possessed by a demon. Read more...

Tags Katie Featherston, Paranormal Activity, Paranormal Activity 2

One of the more interesting developing projects out there right now is "Paranormal Activity 2," sequel to the 2009 smash hit from newcomer director Oren Peli. Since Peli is off now working on his own follow-up -- called "Area 51" (for now) -- Paramount has had to turn to other possible candidates to direct. "Saw VI" director Kevin Greutert was at one point set to helm, but he was later shuffled back to Lionsgate's long-running franchise. The most recent rumblings suggested another crop of possibilities, including veteran filmmaker Brian De Palma, but the studio isn't ready to confirm anything just yet.

MTV's Josh Horowitz caught up with "Paranormal Activity" star Micah Sloat on the red carpet at last night's 2010 Independent Spirit Awards ceremony, and he asked the actor to set the record straight.

"I know a lot, I can't tell you--" he said, cracking into a smile before adding, "Well, just a little." Read more...

Tags Micah Sloat, Oren Peli, Paranormal Activity, Paranormal Activity 2, Video

It might not be Oscar bait, but last year's found footage thriller "Paranormal Activity" remains an unparalleled achievement. The low-budget indie which first screened for festival audiences in 2007 finally got a wide release in the fall of 2009. The wide opening came after Paramount's weeks-long campaign appealing for fans to "Demand It" by signing onto a website and clicking their home city. The end result: a record-breaking success story, which saw the film take in a 434,000 percent return on its initial investment of $15,000, making it the most profitable movie of all time.

As you might expect, there will be a sequel. Of course there will be. "Paranormal Activity 2" has been the subject of some discussion in recent months. Original director Oren Peli will not return. "Saw VI" director Kevin Greutert was at one point set to do it, but he was ultimately shuffled back to work on "Saw VII" instead. Now there are three other names in contention for the gig, including -- oddly -- none other than Brian De Palma. Read more...

Tags Brad Anderson, Brian De Palma, Greg McLean, Paranormal Activity, Paranormal Activity 2