The Road to The Ghost Dimension: The Top Moments of the Paranormal Activity Series
Since 2009, horror fans have delighted in the Paranormal Activity franchise. What started as one man’s dream to tell the most real and terrifying ghost story of all time has grown into an industry giant, inspiring a plethora of imitators and legitimate contenders.
Now, this long road is coming to an end on October 23rd with its final stop: The Ghost Dimension. This installment promises to be a hell of a finale, actually showing us the paranormal ghostings for the first time in the series. Audiences will get to finally see the enigmatic demon known only by its moniker, “Toby.”
In celebration of the franchise coming to an end, we here at Dread Central would like to remember fondly our favorite moments from the series. A list could easily be made for each installment, but to honor the series, I’ll be picking out my two favorite moments from each film in order. I’m sure you all have your own favorite bits so check it out and see if you agree!
Paranormal Activity (2009)
The film that started it all and the one we literally demanded. Employing a bold new kind of guerilla marketing, the film had to be requested by a legion of fans in your town before it could be brought to a local silver screen. What started as a handful of theaters grew in a month to a worldwide release, all through the power of audience demand. Looking back, it’s easy to see why. Oren Peli’s bold vision brought maximum terror with limited effects, showing everyone what can be accomplished with $15,000, two actors, a camera, and one killer idea. His dream would become a legend, an icon of the horror community, and one of horror’s standout Cinderella stories. Katie and Micah’s story has inspired horror hopefuls the world over, and rightly so.
1) Footsteps
One of the most terrifying shots of the entire Paranormal Activity series, it represents everything that made the movie great. Simple, effective, and scary as hell, the footprints appearing in the talcum powder is a shining example of how basic practical effects can still be used to send shivers down our spine. I remember my first time witnessing the infernal footprints. Alone, here in the Dread Central offices, every time the camera timer slowed down, my hair stood on end. When I heard the thump and saw the prints press into the fine powder, I froze. It literally scared me stiff. If I were to rank the series’ best moments, this might very well be at the top.
2) Ouija Board
There are so many awesome moments in Paranormal Activity, I struggled limiting it to two. I thought about going with the big finale or one of the many exceptional bumps in the night, but the Ouija board scene sticks with me the most. While Micah and Katie spend a night out to relax, we watch a mysterious force write an unknown message on the distant board. After it finishes, the board catches fire, leaving behind a mysterious and foreboding design. One of the more quiet scares, it adds a depth to the movie beyond the jump scares. The audience is left wondering what was said and what it all means.
Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)
The next step of the franchise expanded both the story and cinematography. The plot followed Katie’s sister, Kristi, and her family; and we watch events unfold from multiple angles. Instead of just watching one couple from one angle, we now see how the haunting is evolving in every room and threatening everyone in different ways. We also begin to get a sense of the motivation behind the mysterious entity with the reveal that there may be some connection to a demonic pact, with the asking price of a first-born son. This installment is best known for refining the series, and these two scenes epitomize that.
3) Locked Door
Ramping up to the climactic finale, this scene made it clear that the demonic force was done messing around. Harkening back to the scene from the first where Katie is ripped out of bed, Kristi is dragged down the stairs and shut in the basement. After a two-hour time jump, we see Kristi emerge, sullen and changed. We find out that there are strange markings on the door that look to spell out something unknown. It’s never clear what exactly happened to her down there, nor what the markings mean. It marries the mystery and physicality nicely, and those aspects kept fans coming back year after year.
4) Night Vision Exorcism
The peak of the action, the exorcism brings the intensity of the demonic force to new heights. The whole house shakes as furniture flips and hanging installations come crashing down. It leads up to a tense descent into the basement. After the action has subsided, they wrap the films together by burning the same picture that Katie finds burned in the first movie. Transferring the malignant spirit to Katie, this explains the cause behind the haunting in the first film. Once again, Paranormal Activity 2 successfully joins together the tense mystery plot and explosive supernatural action. It is a pivotal moment for the series, expanding it in a believable and interesting way.
