Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fourth in spooky series runs out of ideas -- and scares.
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Paranormal Activity 4
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 10 parent reviews
Based on 37 kid reviews
Kids say this movie lacks the thrills seen in earlier entries of the franchise, with many reviewers noting its weak plot and poor execution, describing it as boring and not scary despite a few jump scares. Frequent profanity and intense scenes, along with a dubious storyline, make it unsuitable for younger viewers, leaving many feeling disappointed by what they perceive as a decline in quality.
- weak plot
- not scary
- frequent profanity
- disappointing sequel
- unsuitable for kids
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
At the end of Paranormal Activity 2, Katie (Katie Featherston) and her young nephew disappeared. In PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4, we catch up with a new family, a couple with a teen daughter, Alex (Kathryn Newton), and an adopted son, Wyatt (Aiden Lovekamp). Strange neighbor boy Robbie (Brady Allen) starts showing up and hanging around with Wyatt; weird things start to happen, and Robbie seems to be able to see and speak to some kind of mysterious imaginary friend. Alex's friend, Ben (Matt Shively), rigs the family's computers (one in every room?) to record everything. Meanwhile, Alex meets Robbie's adopted mother, Katie, in the house across the street. What's going on here, and how is it connected to Katie's sinister past?
Is It Any Good?
The story here, hinged on one big twist, makes absolutely no sense, and whatever sympathy we used to have for Katie is now gone. Directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman -- who came up with some inspired ideas for Paranormal Activity 3 as well as making the unsettling Catfish -- can't seem to find a reason for Paranormal Activity 4 to exist.
The scares have also grown lazy. The nighttime sequences, usually reserved for the big stuff, are now tepid and disappointing, and the daytime sequences, usually reserved for rest periods, are now filled with silly jump-shock stuff, often having nothing to do with the paranormal (i.e., a cat jumping into the frame). Even the surveillance footage is haphazardly explained here, whereas in the previous films there was always a reason for it. The only interesting factor is that the film continues its exploration of "broken," and/or nontraditional family units. But sadly, that's not enough to recommend this tired sequel.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Paranormal Activity 4's violence, both implied and shown. Which kind has more impact? Why?
How scary was the movie? What scared you most, and why? How did you feel about being scared?
What would be the effect of constantly filming your life?
Is Alex, the teen girl, a role model? What does she do that's courteous and helpful, and what does she do that's not?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 19, 2012
- On DVD or streaming : January 29, 2013
- Cast : Kathryn Newton , Katie Featherston , Matt Shively
- Directors : Ariel Schulman , Henry Joost
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Fantasy
- Run time : 95 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language and some violence/terror
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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