Paranormal Activity 4 (2012)

All Critics (99) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (25) | Rotten (75) | DVD (2)

We're still seeing things through handheld devices and built-in laptop cameras, even though nobody seems interested in looking at the footage the cameras were supposedly recording.

October 22, 2012 Full Review

Bilge Ebiri

New York Magazine

Top Critic

Even for a something about supernatural shenanigans, this ending is embarrassing.

October 21, 2012 Full Review

Wesley Morris

Boston Globe

Top Critic

They could have called this Paranormal Inactivity.

October 21, 2012 Full Review | Comments (11)

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Top Critic

The mood is often playful, with teases and fake-outs that are sometimes humorous and usually right before shocks. Violence is rare, quick and devoid of lingering close-ups.

October 21, 2012 Full Review

Andy Webster

New York Times

Top Critic

There are at least a half-dozen or so decent jolts to be enjoyed over the film's running time, but prepare for a long wait to actually get to them.

October 19, 2012 Full Review

Alonso Duralde

The Wrap

Top Critic

Screenwriter Christopher Landon, along with co-directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, make a truly lame attempt at establishing a supernatural mythology to explain all this ...

October 19, 2012 Full Review

Chuck Wilson

Village Voice

Top Critic

There's no tension, not a single bone-chilling moment, and a key revelation about one character's true identity makes zero sense.

March 8, 2013 Full Review

Ian Berriman

SFX Magazine

The fourth entry in the hugely successful film series just can't match the others in the nightmare-making department.

February 26, 2013 Full Review

Steve Newton

Georgia Straight

Paranormal Activity 4 is the worst of the series and one of the worst horror films ever made. It's bloated, drawn-out and has no idea how to provide a single scare.

February 4, 2013 Full Review

Jeremy Lebens

We Got This Covered

A lack of originality does hold the film back, but with decent work behind the camera and a breakneck finale, Paranormal Activity 4 is still a solid watch if you've an evening spare, or horror film night coming up.

January 20, 2013 Full Review

Sam Bathe

Fan The Fire

It's a strong and creepy expansion of the mythos, but one that could have used a lot more work in the story department.

December 23, 2012 Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

The eerie inertia and starkness of the past films' imagery are mostly gone here, and that style is what had set this series apart for me.

December 17, 2012 Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

eFilmCritic.com

Little depth or subtext here. It's tough to care about the fate of a generic, whitebread family and its blonde-in-distress living in an airless, gated-community Nevada. We've seen the creepy kid and freaked-out teens in countless fear-fests before.

November 22, 2012 Full Review

Brian Gibson

Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)

The chills are centered at the end of 'Paranormal Activity 4.' Even more creepy is the "cute factor" of little kids that permeates most of the movie. Although the franchise may be running out of steam, this segment is more than mediocre.

November 20, 2012 Full Review

Linda Cook

Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

And, then there was four. "Paranormal Activity 4″ is a sequel to the second film, not the third, and totally unnecessary, of course.

November 8, 2012 Full Review

Paul Chambers

Movie Chambers

For the most part Paranormal Activity 4 is effective. It's problem lies in originality. Needed was something more than the "same old" for this sequel to truly stand out.

October 30, 2012 Full Review

Matthew Pejkovic

Matt's Movie Reviews

The latest instalment in a franchise of cheaply made mass-marketed movies that have lined the pockets of producers who chanced upon the holy grail of license-to-print-money filmmaking.

October 29, 2012 Full Review

Luke Buckmaster

Crikey

The popularity of this reliable if repetitious franchise suggests that anxieties over the ubiquity and invasiveness of social media and its related technologies may trouble even the most enthusiastic members of the plugged-in generation (even teenagers).

October 26, 2012 Full Review

John Beifuss

Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

Kids teleconferencing on their stupid computers=NOT SCARY!

October 25, 2012 Full Review

Bob Grimm

Reno News and Review

Anyone who's seen the other entries can tell you this series has never been about the story. "Paranormal Activity 4' proves this once again, and when you factor in the lazy writing and complete lack of scares, it easily earns the title of worst entry yet.

October 25, 2012 Full Review

Jeff Beck

Examiner.com

Unfortunately, this franchise has finally seemed to run its course. There are less quality scares, and now a story that almost doesn't matter.

October 25, 2012 Full Review

Jeff Bayer

The Scorecard Review

Orin Pelli's original idea that we'll keep wanting to pay good money to watch a digital clock ticking over has surely run its course now.

October 25, 2012 Full Review

Graham Young

Birmingham Post

When the scares do come, they come fast and hard but, unfortunately, far too late.

October 25, 2012 Full Review

Alexandra Cavallo

Boston Phoenix

A rickety old ride and no mistake, this instalment is for franchise fans only.

October 24, 2012 Full Review

Chris Blohm

Little White Lies

This franchise has run its course. Time to shut it down.

October 24, 2012 Full Review

Jackie K. Cooper

jackiekcooper.com

A sweet scary little night at the movies.

October 24, 2012 Full Review | Comments (3)

Witney Seibold

CraveOnline

• 1. Ben: Damn, Cockblocked.
  – Submitted by Jake G (34 days ago)
• 1. Alex: Oh my God! Please don't hurt me.
  – Submitted by Mandy C (6 months ago)
• 1. Robbie: You'll find out.
  – Submitted by Sharon T (6 months ago)
• 1. Alex: Fuckin' Prius!
  – Submitted by Daniel R (6 months ago)
• 1. Alex: He's so creepy.
  – Submitted by Austin G (6 months ago)
• 1. Alex: There's something in the street.
  – Submitted by Gianluca S (6 months ago)