Double Feature: 'Paranormal Activity 4' & 'Sleepwalk with Me'

As some of my readers may know, I'm on vacation all this week. The reason I mention this is not because I'll be cutting back on the writing, but because my goal this week is to see at least nine movies in the theaters that until now I haven't seen. That's right, NINE. More than eight, less than ten. It's an ambitious undertaking, and one I think I can achieve without too much effort. But that also means that in order to get out timely reviews, I'm going to have to churn out these "Double Features" mini reviews until next week at least. They're not my favorite; I always feel like I'm screwing over a good movie by not giving it a full-length write-up, but there you have it. Movies gotta get seen. Reviews gotta get posted. So say we all.

ANY-way...

First up is Paranormal Activity 4, the latest in the long-running horror franchise. While The Blair Witch Project introduced most modern audiences to the "Found Footage" genre, it was the Paranormal Activity series that popularized it to an insane degree, inspiring dozens of filmmakers to design their movies to be shot on hand-held camcorders and conveniently-placed security cams. The genre is cheap to produce and creates all but automatic moneymakers, but with all the lame copycats that have been released, only a few are really worth seeing. Until recently, the PA series was firmly in that group, especially after a very good prequel Paranormal Activity 3, by Catfish directors Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost. With both returning to direct the sequel, Paranormal Activity 4 had to do little more than promises of the same to meet my expectations.

Paranormal Activity's first blond?

Unfortunately, this latest offering lacks much of the punch and originality that made number three such a good time. While there were parts of the story - which focused on teenager Alex (Kathryn Newton) and her family reacting to strange happenings around their house - that were honestly nerve-wracking and scary (stuff moving around your house without reason is STILL freaky), the directors just didn't have the strong story that they possessed the first time around. Characters never really react logically, and the connections to the previous films are tenuous at best. Worst is the lack of innovation; using Skype and laptop cameras to capture visuals around the house might have seemed inspired at the time, but it ends up looking like just another camera, unlike the infamous "fan-cam" from PA3. And on top of that, I think it's funny that series villain Katie (Katie Featherton) keeps ending up caught on candid camera throughout the entirety of her life. At this point you could stop including her in every PA flick and I doubt people would notice  the difference.

She's 15, so there's only so far I'll go with the sexual innuendo.

Newton is solid, and she's got a decent supporting cast behind her including Matt Shively as Alex's boyfriend, real life married couple Alexondra Lee and Stephen Dunham as her parents and Brady Allen and Aiden Lovekamp as requisite creepy kids. But they can't overcome an overlong, not-all-that-scary horror flick that ramps up at the end (it's actually got a better ending than its predecessor) but really makes you wait through what feels like hours of slog for it. While a sequel is all but guaranteed at this point, you have to wonder whether this is a signal that the end is coming, or if Paranormal Activity 4 is just a weak offering from a still-viable franchise. Either way I won't tell you not to see this latest installment, as it does answer some questions left over from the previous trilogy. But you might want to go back and see the originals first, or maybe even wait for the DVD release. Either way, definitely skip any of the IMAX showings out there, as there is just no need to see this movie with that level of screen and audio definition. Your standard cineplex will work just fine.

The other half of this review belongs to Sleepwalk with Me. Never heard of it? Neither had I, but this gem was brought to my attention by Todd, who had heard of it off of one of her hometown radio stations. Formerly a one-man show by Massachusetts comedian Mike Birbiglia, Sleepwalk with Me is the truth-based story of Mike's struggles with becoming a successful stand-up comic, his relationship with his girlfriend, and a debilitating sleep condition that causes him to act out his dreams, often to his own detriment. Mike gradually manages to improve his conditions on all three fronts, and the film chronicles his journey towards success and happiness with hilarious results.

Probably the most shocking aspect of Birbiglia's tale is that the most outrageous details of the story are based on truth; Birbiglia really does suffer from rapid eye movement behavior disorder, which once caused him - in his sleep - to jump out of the second story of a motel while on a comedy tour (a leap which is chronicled in the film). Birbiglia's brutal honesty about his condition, as well as his self-depreciating approach to himself as a subject, is a main factor that the whole thing works so well. His inability to put himself on a pedestal connects him to the audience with ease, and it is this connection that allows him to be frank about the troubles he was getting into as a younger man.

Is this the face of a sleepwalker?

If there's one thing Sleepwalk with Me has in spades, it's heart. Thanks to the easy connection to its protagonist, you can sympathize with Mike in times good or bad ("Now, when I get to this next bit, remember; you're on my side."). Birbiglia is not a great or an evil man; he's human, prone to both mistakes and insights, and that's what makes him so compelling as a film lead. His willingness to expose his weaknesses to scrutiny is a trait that all people should be able to share. That said, he has some solid friends, most notably Six Feet Under's Lauren Ambrose as his long-suffering girlfriend Abby. There are also a number of well-known stand-up comedians who make their presence felt, even if they're relegated to small roles. Birbiglia - who also directed - really keeps this story about stand-up comedy within the family, so to speak, and makes it feel as though we are outsiders getting a peek inside this difficult, why-would-anyone-want-this lifestyle.

Something bad is about to happen...

Needless to say, if you can you should catch a showing of Sleepwalk with Me if at all possible. Never has there been a better movie about stand-up comedy, and there are enough elements throughout to ensure it is no one-trick pony. The film has begun to wind down its theatrical run, as at this point it's only showing in a few dozen theaters around the country (it's high had been 135). That means if you're REALLY lucky, it MIGHT be playing within 100 miles of you. If it's anywhere close, you should absolutely do yourself and Birbiglia a favor and see this on the big screen. If not, then the eventual DVD release will have to suffice. Both Todd and I are thrilled we went, and I just want to make sure this excellent little film gets its due.

Anything But Normal

Sometimes when a film is really, truly scary, that can be enough. The first Paranormal Activity film came out back in 2009, and with it a resurgence in the popularity of the "found footage" genre of horror films. Long pantomimed from the early days of The Blair Witch Project, the "found footage" films have varied in quality and success, but until Paranormal Activity, none ever came close to the legacy that Blair Witch had built. Like that 1999 horror classic, Paranormal Activity terrified and excited audiences to the point that a sequel was not only demanded, but inevitable. Unlike Blair Witch, however, Paranormal Activity managed to pull a successful sequel out of its wizard's bag, and even if Paranormal Activity 2 wasn't as well received or as financially profitable as the original, it at least stood toe to toe with its predecessor, and many have said that it was better in some ways than the first. And so comes Paranormal Activity 3, the latest in the low-budget thrillers that have so far formed into an unstoppable box office juggernaut. Though I've never seen the first two entries in this franchise, I hoped that going in fresh would mean a unique perspective to the series; after all, how much do you have to know to be frightened out of your wits?

Creepy kids = scary movie

Mostly a prequel to the first two entries, Paranormal Activity 3 looks at childhood videos of franchise stars and sisters Katie (Katie Featherston) and Kristi (Sprague Grayden) and the origins of the malevolent spirits that haunt them. In the tapes their mother's live-in boyfriend Dennis (Christopher Nicholas Smith) sets up a number of video tape recorders when he discovers strange things happening in their new home, from odd shadows to disturbing noises where there ought to be none. He quickly gathers evidence of otherworldly happenings in the house, especially around young Kristi, whose imaginary friend Toby seems to be more than just any old figment. Despite the dismissals by their mother Julie (Lauren Bittner) that anything off is happening, the family must soon contend with spirits with a plan, and what happens when you piss them off.

 Proof that nobody is pretty at 3 AM

The film was directed by Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost, and if those names sound familiar, it's because you either remember 2010's little documentary that could Catfish, or have recently read my review of it. It's easy to see how this duo could climb into the driver's seat of the horror franchise, as there there were certainly a few suspense-laden scenes towards the end of their 2010 mini-hit. Unfortunately, their biggest influence might not have been the best: Catfish had some pacing issues early on that slowed the film down considerably, and Paranormal Activity 3 seems to suffer the same fate, as the film seems to meander throughout the first hour with a coherent story seemingly out of reach. Worse, the explanation we are given for the strange occurrences is barely believable and leaves us with more questions than answers.

Yes. Because you will successfully RUN from a GHOST

At least the "horror" part of the series come through nicely. Sparse early in the film's run, the scares gradually raise in intensity the further into the story we get, even if many simply startle rather than actually frighten. Excellent effects mean that we the audience are able to catch even slight irregularities without them being explicitly pointed out to us. Schulman and Joost do a great job with the camera work, especially in  the deft video editing that shockingly makes the impossible possible, with seemingly little CGI or advanced trickery. Each moment is perfectly captured in almost random fashion, as every moment feels natural and honest, the people reacting to the absurdity put against them in realistic manners befitting normal people. That's what makes the Paranormal Activity series so frightening. These aren't insipid college co-eds or pretty people with problems; the victims in this series are families like any by which we were raised, making us feel like the events depicted could happen to any of us, in our own homes.

Let the Haunting commence!

Of course, this level of scare tactics wouldn't be believable without a genuinely talented cast to tell it. Films like this generally don't have the most talented (or most expensive) casts available, and while it would be wrong to say that they "make due", they do indeed have to take what they can get in terms of ability. That's why it's nice to see some undiscovered talents in this new Paranormal Activity installment, from the mostly-behind-the-camera film producer Christopher Nicholas Smith to disbelieving mother/girlfriend Lauren Bittner. Creepy kids are a must, and the children du jour played by Chloe Csengery and  Jessica Taylor Brown fit the bill perfectly. Beown is especially impressive, and though her showing isn't that much stronger than many children her age, that she is that good at all an actress is definitely most important to this film's successful storytelling.

Ah, the 1980's... that explains the towel color scheme...

All these element combine to make Paranormal Activity 3 one of the scarier films to be released in 2011. Sure, it's no Insidious, but to be fair that would be a very high bar to reach in any year. Still, in a world where Apollo 18 gets financed, Paranormal Activity 3 is a competent, well-made and well-acted horror tale, one that gets better the further along you watch, and you won't ever know what's coming (even to the point where the scenes shown in the trailer are mostly cuts that didn't make the final release), even when you think you do. I wish I could recommend this title more highly, but suffice it to say that if you love anything about the horror genre, you'll probably find something to appreciate here. If not, well, Puss in Boots comes out Friday.

Gone Fishing

Online dating is nothing new. Pretty much since the invention of the Internet males and females of all ages have attempted to use the tools available on the inter-web to meet, greet, and facilitate communication with people of the opposite sex. There are thousands of sites out there with the expressed purpose of getting to to see someone, even specialized sites for any subgroup you might want to focus on, such as Jewish, environmentally friendly, or even video gamers. Millions of people are currently signed up for one of these sites, but often you don't have to be to meet someone online.

Catfish looks at the modern day relationship by examining NYC photographer Nev Schulman, who has recently made the acquaintance of an 8-year old art prodigy from Michigan, Abby Pierce, who saw one of his paintings in a newspaper and sends him a painting of it. Nev is so impressed that he begins personal relations with the Pierce family, who continue to send him paintings of his photos as he talks to mother Angela on the phone, and becomes Facebook friends with the entire family, including Abby's father, brother, and finally her sister Megan. All this is captured on film by Nev's filmmaker brother Ariel Schulman and friend Henry Joost, who try to get every moment even when Nev is in no mood for their company. They're simply looking to make a documentary about the friendship between Nev and Abby, but end up with something completely different.

The resemblance was much more uncanny in a dark theater

It's obvious from the word go that Nev is very attracted to sister Megan. Megan works as a veterinarian, but is also artistically talented, as we as the viewing audience are treated to songs she's apparently sung, art she's apparently painted, and she is also a big fan of dance and ballet, which is often the subject of Nev's work. Very quickly (and under the watchful eye of Ariel and Henry), Nev is constantly in conversation with Megan, whether on the phone, on Facebook or via text message, but never in person. That is, until one of the crew finally speaks up and says they should visit Megan in Michigan as a surprise.

The perfect online girlfriend, Megan Faccio

You very quickly become accustomed to the film's playful tone as you watch this modern-day romance play out in front of you. Ariel and Henry are constantly playing around, and not always to the purpose of cheering up Nev from one of his moods. Nev seemingly doesn't like the fact that his life is supposedly under 24-hour surveillance, but the others prevail and we get pretty much a whole story told in 94 minutes, with a fun musical playlist accompanying the action on screen when applicable. It's obviously an upbeat film, not one to easily dismiss and draw your attention away, as my inability to draw my attention from the screen for about 90% of the film's screen time would attest. And it ends on such a sweet note you're not sure what you're feeling for hours after you leave the theater.

Road trip! Wooo!

There has been tons of speculation as to whether this film is really a documentary or in fact a fictional story done in a documentary fashion. I'm not sure where the idea for this came from, as while it's not like you're normal documentary like Supersize Me or An Inconvenient Truth where you're bombarded with facts left and right, there certainly seems to be nothing SO out of the realm of possibility as to be obviously in error. It's a very confined story, by no means anything more than a romantic story between Nev and the woman in Michigan, and not meant to be an allegory to online dating or Facebook in general. In truth, do I believe what happened in this film to be factual? To be honest, it was so unbelievable an experience, I think it MUST be true.

Spending a little too much time online

The film does have some slow parts towards the end, mostly in wrapping up the story and summarizing. These are merely nitpicks, however, as even as a factual event this is one of the best stories I've seen this year and don't doubt it speaks more to the Internet's influence on everyday life and society than David Fichner's biopic of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg could hope to (not that I know for certain, and I still plan to see it). In the end, Catfish is a sweet, fun, unique and unusual love story that you'd better not let anyone spoil for you so you can enjoy it to the full extent you should. I've got it at #4 for the year, I enjoyed it that much.

Awww, look at the happily Photoshopped, naked couple

One last word, thanks and shoutout to my buddy Dan J. for getting me to see this film (even if he only wanted someone to talk to about it) and providing the movie gift card that paid for it.