Reflections on: Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin (2021)
Full disclosure: this review is totally biased because I am a fan of one of the actors, Dan Lippert. Heâs a talented improv comedian and is one quarter of the hilarious group Big Grande. Iâm also a fan of his excellent podcasts The Teacherâs Lounge and Man Dog Pod. Iâm not sure I would have liked the movie as much as I did without consuming all of that previous content.
It feels like Dan Lippert improvised most of his lines. There are familiar themes from his comedy such as: bad MJ impressions and cannibalism.Â
This is the 7th film in the Paranormal Activity franchise. I havenât seen any of the previous instalments. This is technically a âfound footageâ movie like the others, yet instead of using security cameras footage, this looks professional due to the fact that the main character has hired a crew to help her make a documentary.Â
It was strange to watch a movie that took place in a COVID-19 world. Itâs only briefly addressed in the beginning when Dan Lippertâs character awkwardly forgets to put on his mask at an airport and then offhandedly remarks, âI got COVID like 5 times.â
Dan Lippert steals every scene heâs in - which is most of them. He casually does yoga in the background, refers to his camouflage pyjamas as his âcammiesâ, offers a translation of âso weit nicht weiterâ as âSweet, nice wienerâ, and gets an Amish makeover complete with a bob and bangs. A 6â˛7âł man with a cute bob is a sight to behold!Â
Despite being the main source of comedy in the story heâs also the most sensible character who figures out whatâs going on before the compulsively confident and pathologically nosy protagonist.Â
The story has a lot of parallels with Midsommar (2019), but also has some similarities to Rosemaryâs Baby (1968) and Children of the Corn (1984).Â
I wonât spoil the ridiculous ending but it does finish with a beautiful symphony of harmonious moos.Â
This was way more enjoyable than I expected! I loved it and would watch it again. Maybe you might not feel the same way if youâre not an Old Slob like me :)