Movies like “Cloverfield” and the “Paranormal Activity” series have made me a big fan of the horror sub-genre of found footage. But like anything else, the style needs to be done in moderation. The 2014 movie “Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones” (which henceforth the “Paranormal Activity” moniker will be dropped from the title – more on that to come) is a perfect example of drawing too much water from the well, as its a movie that didn’t need to be made using a style that fits its story like a square peg being jammed into a round hole.
Unlike the preceding “Paranormal Activity” movies, “The Marked Ones” is told from the use of a handheld camcorder in lieu of a static recording device or a series of constantly running security cameras. In addition, the movie is stretched out over a much longer time frame, with much of the action not presented in real time.
The story begins with the high school graduation of Jesse (Andrew Jacobs) who gets the camera at his home party, and covets it as though the year is 1985 and he’s never seen anything like it before. Since the story takes place in 2012, it’s odd behavior right from the start.
The recordings switch between Jesse and his two friends; Hector (Jorge Diaz) and Marisol (Gabrielle
Walsh). Despite a tight running time of 84 minutes (consistent with the other found footage films) “The Marked Ones” starts out in a sluggish way as we watch Jesse and Hector meander about, filming various stunts and tomfooleries (though there is one comical scene in which they are accosted by a group of gang members they inadvertently record). Half an hour in and you’ll forget its supposed to be a horror movie.
One thing you’ll come away with is that the two focal characters are complete idiots. Jesse and Hector act like silly clowns and for some reason, they never put the camera down. Unlike in “Cloverfield,” Jesse and Hector have no real reason to be carrying a camcorder around for the days/weeks the movie spans, and the whole thing seems forced and unnecessary.
Dull and unoriginal, its a movie that contains scares that are beneath amateur level and not once during the film did I jump form my seat. “The Marked Ones” uses the “Paranormal Activity” franchise like a struggling second rate coffee shop begging to be known as Starbucks. If not for a contrived scene at the very end, the movie has nothing at all to do with “Paranormal Activity” and in no way serves to advance the plot or story of that series.
There is no suspense at all in the movie, and the characters are anything but likeable. Even the moments that were obviously designed with the intent of being heart dropping are lame at best, and all can be spotted well before they happen.
The story is dated, and the addition of Hispanic characters and the Mexican witch element is included for no other reason than the diversification of the series. Unlike the actual “Paranormal Activity” movies, you never feel that the events of “The Marked Ones” are actually real. From start to finish it comes across as just another bad movie.
I love Paranormal Activity 1 and 2. 3 is okay. 4 is tolerable. “The Marked Ones” is complete junk. With “Paranormal Activity 6” now in the works, the writers are at this point just cashing checks.
by – Matt Christopher
