Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension

Starring: Chris J. Murray, Britt Shaw, Ivy George, Dan Gill, Olivia Taylor Dudley, Chloe Csengery
Directed by: Gregory Plotkin
Rating: R
Genre: Horror
2015

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A family uses a camera that allows them to see spirits to try and combat the evil force threatening them.

Review:

Tim: Supposedly, Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension is the last film in the franchise. It makes sense, since the franchise has been on a steady decrease in quality since the very good original. To wrap up the franchise (unless money talks and we get more of these films), things get switched up here. This requires a bit suspension of disbelief, but it gives this film a fresh twist. I might be in the minority, but I enjoyed the change and would consider this film better than the three that came before it. It would go in the top 3 films of the franchise for me.

Now, how you feel about this film depends a lot on the "special" camera the characters find in their house. Admittedly, this is a very convenient narrative device. This magic camera lets them actually see the spirits haunting their home. So, on the one hand, this is a weak, lazy plot device that feels forced and unrealistic. I admit that. However, the benefit is that for the first time, we see what's actually happening when things move about the room. This whole franchise has been about creeping us out when we see things moving of their own accord. To throw that all away and actually reveal the sinister forces worked for me. I bought into this change because it was so unique within the context of this franchise. I really appreciated the attempt to do something different. Now, the absurdity of the camera hurts the film in some aspects, but it also gives it a fresh approach. I appreciated that greatly.

I have to say, I was fairly frightened by the events on screen. They might not be anything we've never seen before, but I found it significantly more creepy to see the ghosts pulling down from the ceiling or out of the ground. I actually turned the movie off the first night I was watching it because it was late, dark, and it made me a bit nervous. I'm not ashamed to admit that. I watched the rest later, but my heart was beating a bit. The fact that this film made me feel nervous instead of bored was a major achievement. Some people may hate this whole approach and I get it- it's very different from what we've come to expect. However, the visuals were strong and scary and it made this film feel unique compared to all the others.

Besides the visual depiction of the evil forces, I have to admit this film followed the same path we've come to know intimately. A family moves into a house and is haunted by a supernatural force. There's some denial about it, especially because it seems benign at first. It builds in intensity, until the finale climax where very bad things happen. Which movie am I referring to in that description? It's all of them, this one included. The formula of the plot is identical to the others and that holds the movie back. Another complaint I had is that with this camera that can see spirits, you would have the greatest footage ever captured in the history of humankind. The fact that these characters don't run out and sell the footage or alert the media makes no sense. This isn't an orb or something that can easily be explained- this camera would change the world and yet they do nothing about it. The story also continued the plot device of one parent believing and the other one being hesitant to believe. This could be done, but not after some of the footage captured. It was beyond ridiculous that the husband wouldn't show the wife and the wife wouldn't immediately freak out when she saw the footage. These plot holes represented lazy writing and bothered me.

There were some decent moments. I liked the scene of the brothers watching footage of the girls who were seeing them at the same time. That was cool and different and was creepy without needed to resort to the tired tricks of the franchise. There were enough of those moments that kept me interested.

There's certainly some good and a lot of bad in Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension. It was uncomfortable enough for me to consider this at least a decent horror movie. I wish more care had been taken to tell a logical story, but seeing the ghosts breathed new life into this film. It's still not a good movie, but it does represent at least an upswing in quality. That being said it's not enough of a change to make me think this franchise should continue. We got 6 films over 7 years, which is more than most franchises get to. Outside of the visual gimmick, though, this franchise is running on empty. It was a fun ride, but it's time to put this one on the shelf.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 6.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Paranormal Activity, Paranormal Activity 2, Paranormal Activity 3, Paranormal Activity 4, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones