Paranormal Activity 3

Is it possible for a third film in a mostly tedious horror film franchise to be the best of the lot? This is the case of "Paranormal Activity 3", which isn't saying much as this prequel sticks to the dreaded documentary style of previous films while adding a much-needed "Poltergeist" influenced edge. Somehow it made the most money for any horror film debut to date.

This unnecessary prequel follows sisters Katie and Kristie (victims of the previous two films) as an entity harasses and terrorizes them as children in 1988. This is thanks to a VHS tape being discovered by the sisters as adults. Their stepfather Dennis starts using his new recording device on the unsuspecting kids and is startled by the phantoms that he sees on playback. The kiddies become communicating with a poltergeist named Toby but what follows is annoying clich�d loud bangs and sudden jolting camera jumps that may have been frightening in the theater but becomes "Paranormal Activity 3's" biggest downfall on the small screen.

This unrated Blu-ray features 10 minutes more than the theatrical version and the latter is the much-more preferred condensed way to watch it. "Lost Tapes" is really just an excuse to show deleted footage that ended up on the cutting room floor. It's no more terrifying than the vapid movie.

"Paranormal Activity 3"
Blu-ray
$39.99
www.paramount.com