I can’t help but wonder what Paramount is thinking as Paranormal Activity 3 is set to hit theaters on October 21 and so far the buzz on the film is a flatline. The third film in the ghost story trilogy played at Fantastic Fest late last month as the “secret screening” and the response appeared to be mixed. It certainly didn’t have the buzzy energy the first film had back in 2009 and the 2010 sequel, which received a pass from the majority of critics, was a misfire in my opinion, though I am liking what I’ve seen from this latest installment so far.
The film, directed by Catfish helmers Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman aims to tell an origin story set in the 1980s that will tell of how all the scary happenings began and I have a trio of TV spots to help sell the story.
Paramount is doing a marketing push on their official site to determine which 20 cities will see it first. My biggest concern is the film is set to hit theaters on October 21 and the Seattle press screening has been set for October 20 at 9PM, which is to say the studio appears to have ZERO confidence in it. Amazing if you ask me, but I guess if you set expectations low enough critics will be more likely to give it a pass. Not me personally, but I can’t speak for everyone else.
All that said, here are three separate TV spots for the film. You tell me, will you be turning up on opening night? I’m certainly excited to see it, but Paramount is doing everything in their power to make me think they have a dud on their hands.
