Paranormal Activity 3 begins with our sister protagonists from the previous 2 instalments - Katie (Katie Featherson) and Kristi (Sprague Grayden) in 2005, before the events of the previous two films with Katie storing a box of old family videotapes in her sisters basement. We then jump forward a year into the events of the second film and now, mysteriously, the tapes have gone missing and from here we move back to where this film takes place; in 1988, where a young Katie (Chloe Csengery) and Kristi (Jessica Tyler Brown) live with their mother, Julie (Lauren Bittner) and her boyfriend, Dennis (Chris Smith). 

Noticing strange things happening around the house, not long after Kristi has mentioned her new invisible friend, Toby and witnessing a strange figure on some of his own footage from around their home, Dennis decides to setup multiple cameras around their home to try and catch more paranormal events and to solve the meaning behind them. 

Paranormal Activity 3 follows the old saying of; if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. This attitude suits this film to a tee. Following the exact same beats of the first two entries in the series. While the first film came out of nowhere and was a shocking surprise and a box office hit, then the sequel set to bring the people back for more of the same, but bigger and bolder, this third entry in the series treads the same path and doesn’t broken any new ground. It starts with mild weirdness and creepiness, slow building to bigger scares and an ultimately freaky ending, yes, but there is nothing new or fresh about it. We’ve seen all this before.  

With two new co-directors,  Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman (of Catfish fame) brought in to helm the film this time around, these boys deliver what we want to see; spooky noises in the night, furniture moving by itself, a freaky bed sheet ghost (!!!), scared house owners and plenty of moments that make you want to go to bed after with the lights on, but still, none of it feels new. It’s pretty much a case of same…but different…which isn’t a bad thing, because they’ve made it work, but with these two being brought back to give us Paranormal Activity 4 just around the corner, c’mon guys, give us something new! 

Video quality on this DVD is fine. The film appears to be shot in HD, but being a found footage film (and this particular one being set in the 80’s), we are treated to some good old, 80’s style VHS film grain and a slightly muted colour palette, which the directors have altered and added to give an aesthetic look and trueness to the final image, which gives us the right look for the technology of the time, which the quality of this video shows off nicely and ultimately serves the film well. Audio is great too, they both go hand in hand together to deliver a chilling experience. It’s the type of film that makes you prick up your ears during the quiet moments, as you don’t want to miss any sound that may come through your speakers, but when they do, you get that shock, guaranteed. 

Extras, unfortunately are pitiful with all that’s available on this disc are; Lost Tapes: Scare Montage & Dennis’ Commercial, both of which being pointless are really not worth the time. 

Paranormal Activity 3 is a solid film, which I did enjoy, don’t get me wrong. I didn’t enjoy it as much as the previous two, but the formula still works…for now. It’s not ground breaking in any way, but everything we love about the series is all here, but here’s hoping that later in the year, with Paranormal Activity 4, we get something new, fresh and something that really scares the life out of all of us!