Spoiler-Free Review of “Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin” on Paramount+: Found Footage Folk Horror

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“She’s still here…”

Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin premiered on October 29th 2021 and is currently available to stream on Paramount+. The found footage horror film stars Emily Bader, Roland Buck III and Dan Lippert. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-eight minutes.

Abandoned as a baby, a young woman named Margot discovers that she has relatives living in an Amish community, prompting her to create a documentary film to learn more about her secretive family.

Here is the trailer:

Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin attempts to continue the popular franchise with a new story, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Paramount+

Leads up to real moments of intensity…

The last part of the film is actually really intense and I couldn’t stop watching. I witnessed a lot of terrifying moments and I thought that this was probably the most frightening entry in the franchise. There was this slow burn build up that really paid off in the end and my heart is still pounding.

Solid performances.

Usually I’m not really blown away by the actors in these movies but I actually thought the cast did a decent job with this one. The characters could have used some more development other than Margot, but I thought they were believable, which helped me invest in them and care about their well-being.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Paramount+

Takes a while to get going…

I was intrigued at first, but then things started to really drag for the majority of the movie. The ending saved it in a lot of ways, but I think this film could have cut out a lot to keep up the pacing.

Silly jump scares.

The first half of the movie also threw in silly jump scares in addition to the dizzy found footage camera approach, which didn’t do the film any favors. I actually really liked the folk horror vibe and I didn’t even mind that the film had nothing to do with the other entries because I thought it was a decent enough story on its own. Perhaps it didn’t really need the Paranormal Activity name…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Paramount+

I’m in about 75 percent…

This film was a lot better than I thought it was going to be and I think it managed to branch out into its own story so that it didn’t seem stale or overdone. The pacing needed some work and a lot of the gimmicks were unnecessary, but that ending was edge-of-your-seat intense!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” Season 4 Episode 15: “Murder in a Small Town”

Happy Thursday TV fans! After watching The CW’s Riverdale season 4 episode 15, we were reminded that “Life’s not an Agatha Christie novel, it’s a lot messier.” Although I certainly can’t get enough of this small town mystery drama.

Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. 

In last night’s episode, “Chapter Seventy-Two: To Die For,” Betty, Archie, and Veronica finally allow themselves a chance to grieve, but it doesn’t help that they are being framed for the murder of their best friend. Meanwhile, Cheryl reaches out to Betty, Alice films a documentary, and Bret and Donna make their next move.

My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 4 episode 15 are:

5

“Don’t let them drown you.”

Cheryl is no stranger to family tragedy and decides to reach out to Betty to show her support. Although when it comes to Jughead’s untimely death, she just seems genuinely sorry about calling him a hobo…

Cheryl tells Betty that she knows what it feels like to lose her better half and explains that she will keep her on constant suicide watch, but Betty is not really sure she wants Cheryl tagging along.

4

“I cannot wait to find out….”

Hermosa is not about to stay quiet after finding out that Veronica is under investigation. She does some digging of her own and finally meets Archie. Although perhaps she should really consider knocking next time…

Riverdale CW 5
Images courtesy of The CW

Veronica does not seem threatened by Hermosa and it looks like her skills will come in handy later on when Hermosa does some digging on Donna and Bret.

Welcome to the team, Hermosa!

3

“There’s no way out of this for you.”

FP refuses to take a break until he finds out what happened to his son and follows up on an anonymous tip that leads him to Donna’s dorm room. He finds Jughead’s tie pin, but Donna puts on the water works and says that they were afraid of Betty. This leads to the flashback we previously saw of Betty, Archie, and Veronica being arrested for the “cold blooded murder” of Jughead.

Riverdale CW 6
Images courtesy of The CW

Betty keeps her cool and reminds her friends that this was their move. Donna continues to threaten Betty even though she is shaking in her own boots, especially when a funeral service is held to honor and mourn Jughead.

Donna seems convinced that this is all some kind of “elaborate ruse” and rumors quickly begin to spread about Jughead actually being alive, but it doesn’t look like they are going to get a chance to open up that coffin.

2

“Destroyer of end games.”

Betty finally takes a moment to break down and truly grieve over Jughead, but this leads her right into the arms of Archie, as we witness a kiss between these two. Of course Cheryl manages to capture this on camera and the whole school is talking about it.

Veronica is outraged by the betrayal and Kevin takes a few hilarious minutes to discuss the Barchie and Bughead ship followings.

We later discover that this was all part of the plan to throw Donna and Bret off. Veronica was in on everything and although it was fake, it does stir up some old feelings, even though both Betty and Archie swear that there is nothing there anymore…

1

“But it worked.”

After Donna barges into the bunker to find Betty and Archie together, she really loses her cool. We don’t have to wait too much longer for the big reveal as we discover that Jughead is actually alive and was hiding under a cot in the bunker.

I can’t say that I am that surprised as I predicted this from the start, but I am very happy to see that our main character is all right. Phew!

Riverdale CW 7
Images courtesy of The CW

So, now of course the question is why?

Apparently the blow to the head was not enough to kill him and Betty can only pin the “attempted murder” of Jughead on the Stonewall Prep cronies if she forces them to crack. Betty knits Jughead a new beanie and we learn that many of the parents were in on the ruse, but there is still this new mystery behind Donna, as Hermosa digs up something interesting on her.

Jughead says that this is their “smoking gun,” but what did they discover?

Is there a new connection to Mr. Chipping or Mr. DuPont or is it something else?

Stay tuned!

What are some of YOUR theories? 

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Riverdale in the comments section below. Thank you so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural? Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery? Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon! Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well. I really hope you enjoy!

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