Horror Movie Review: Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin (2021)

Paranormal Activity in name alone, this attempt to reboot the franchise that seemingly wrapped up in 2015, is little more than a found-footage re-thread. With some baffling plot developments, poor characters and confusing stylistic choices.

Let’s get this out of the way straight away. Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin is not a continuation of the original franchise. In fact, it’s no links or references to any of the events of the last 6 films.

That is not bad thing though as the series that become incredibly tiresome and something of a parody of itself. Going so far from its 2007 roots by 2015 to be near unrecognisable. We have mixed feelings about the franchise and you can find out more by checking out our definitive ranking of the Paranormal Activity series so far, here.

Directed by William Eubank, written by Christopher Landon, and starring Emily Bader, Roland Buck III, Dan Lippert, Henry Ayres-Brown, and Tom Nowicki. Paranormal Activity follows the character of Margot (Bader) as she attempts to uncover her past. Having been abandoned outside a hospital as baby, she has found a link to her potential family through a genetics website.

This is where the film begins. As Margot and her cameraman friend Chris (Buck III) meet her relative Samuel (Ayres-Brown). The pair have decided to turn her journey of discovery into a documentary, hence the filming.

Upon meeting Samuel, they discover that he is Amish and currently going through his rumspringa. He agrees to take Sarah to his community, which Margot’s mother was once a part of, and the three head off to rural Pennsylvania. Along the way, they are joined by their soundman, a fellow called Dale (Lippert).

Once there, they are given a room after helping the community with a lost child and meet the patriarch, Jacob (Nowicki). He is cagey but welcoming and the group attempt to adapt to the Amish way while digging for details about Margot’s mother.

Of course, this is a Paranormal Activity movie so it’s not long before strange things start to occur and the group notice suspicious things and behaviour. From a locked and bolted door that leads to the attic. To a youngster claiming Margot’s mother is still here. To a late-night goat slaying and the group witnessing the community disappearing into the woods in the dead of night. It’s odd behaviour that convinces Margot that they are hiding something.

Is she right? Of course, she is. However, Next of Kin’s twists and turns aren’t quite as impactful as the movie thinks they are. For starters, it’s very predictable and it becomes clear, very early on, that something demonic is involved. Although, that’s not to detract from the interesting reveal build-up as the characters uncover more and more strange things. While the end ‘pow’ moment might be obvious (and disappointing), how the movie gets there isn’t always. It’s a small positive in a movie that struggles.

However, it’s not the only positive.

Another thing worth mentioning is the location. A proper freshening up on the franchise. Moving it out of comfy suburbia with well-off families to an Amish community that lives off the grid and eschews most luxuries. The snow-covered landscapes and clear feeling of isolation is markedly different.

What isn’t so different though is the fact that this is found-footage and falls in too many of the usual traps. From unbelievable moments of filming. Being chased by something that wants to kill you? Don’t forget to grab the camera. Doing any menial thing? Film it. Waking up because you heard a noise? Grab the camera? Low battery or memory full? Not here.

It’s infuriating but par for the course with this style of horror. However, Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin attempts to freshen things up by every so often, switching filming style and it is baffling. Where, suddenly and completely randomly, it will switch to a shot that shows the cameraman or is shot from an angle that just isn’t possible for the characters to get. Who is filming these parts? It’s more akin to a traditional movie and feels so out of place. It actively takes you out of the movie as the ‘realism’ of found-footage horror is lost.

It’s one of the worst things about the movie but alongside that is the characters and just how un-interesting and under-developed they are. Margot’s quest to find out details about her mother never feels important and it is constantly side-tracked. Her actual relationship with this Amish community? Completely lacking in detail. Her relationship with the two other men in her documentary party? Nothing. The desperate attempt to leave things ambiguous results in not caring one bit about them or anything that happens to them.

Which brings us to the major reason why many will check out this movie. The fact that it’s a Paranormal Activity movie and they’re hoping to be scared. If it actually manages that, it is going to be down to the individual. If jump-scares get you, then you’re in luck as this film has plenty. If subtle tension building is more your jam, ala the early films in the franchise, be prepared to be disappointed. It tries, briefly, but similar to the later films in the franchise, after it has already thrown a bunch of in-your-face jump scares at you.

Putting it bluntly, this is not a scary movie. More of an annoying watch than anything else. You’re constantly wondering why they weren’t braver with the changes, especially as this is supposed to be a reboot. Fans of the original franchise will probably enjoy this a lot more than those who grew to hate it. However, it’s highly unlikely that anyone is going to call this the high point of the series so far.