Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin

Movie Trailer

Release Date
October 29, 2021

Genre
Horror, Thriller, Supernatural

Cast & Crew

• Emily Bader as Margot
• Roland Buck III as Chris
• Dan Lippert as Dale
• Henry Ayres-Brown as Samuel
• Tom Nowicki as Jacob
• Jill Andre as Lavina

Director
William Eubank

Other Movies Director is Known For

• The Signal (2014)
• Underwater (2020)

Producer

• Jason Blum
• Oren Peli
• Christopher Landon
• Steven Schneider

Writer

• Christopher Landon

Budget
Estimated at $7 million

Production Company

• Blumhouse Productions
• Paramount Players
• Paramount+

Running Time
98 minutes

Languages
English

Maturity Rating
R

Content Advisory

• Strong horror violence
• Language
• Disturbing images

Movie Story
“Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin” is a supernatural horror film that serves as a reboot of the Paranormal Activity franchise. The story follows Margot (Emily Bader), a young woman who was adopted as a child and knows little about her biological family. After discovering her roots, Margot decides to document her journey to find out more about her family history, leading her to a secluded Amish community where her mother was raised.

Accompanied by her friend Chris (Roland Buck III) and cameraman Dale (Dan Lippert), Margot sets out to learn more about her origins. The group is welcomed by the community, led by Jacob (Tom Nowicki) and Samuel (Henry Ayres-Brown), but soon, they begin to notice strange and unsettling occurrences. As they dig deeper, Margot discovers disturbing secrets about her family and the community’s dark, supernatural practices.

As the tension escalates, the group realizes that the community is hiding something far more sinister than they could have imagined. The film builds to a terrifying climax as Margot uncovers the true nature of her lineage and the horrifying rituals that have been kept hidden for generations.

“Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin” combines the found footage style with traditional cinematic techniques to create an immersive and chilling horror experience. The film explores themes of identity, family, and the dark secrets that can be buried in even the most seemingly innocent places.

Special Effects
The film uses a mix of practical effects and CGI to create its scares, with a focus on atmosphere and tension rather than overtly graphic horror. The found footage style is employed throughout the film, using handheld cameras to give a sense of immediacy and realism to the supernatural events. The film’s rural setting and the eerie, isolated community add to the overall sense of dread, with sound design playing a crucial role in building suspense.

Box Office Performance
“Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin” was released exclusively on Paramount+ rather than in theaters, following the trend of streaming releases during the COVID-19 pandemic. The film received mixed reviews from critics and audiences, with some praising it for attempting to rejuvenate the franchise with new ideas, while others felt it strayed too far from the original series’ formula. Despite the mixed reception, the film attracted viewers who were longtime fans of the franchise and those interested in supernatural horror.

Filming Locations

• Buffalo, New York, USA

Notable Quotes

• “Some places are meant to be left alone.” – Jacob
• “You wanted answers, Margot. Now you have them.” – Chris

Behind-the-Scenes
“Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin” was directed by William Eubank, known for his work on other science fiction and horror films, bringing a new visual style to the Paranormal Activity franchise. The decision to set the film in an isolated Amish community was made to refresh the series with a new setting and mythology, differentiating it from the suburban environments of previous films. The film’s producer, Jason Blum, and writer, Christopher Landon, sought to balance the found footage aesthetic with more conventional cinematography to appeal to both fans of the franchise and new viewers.

Awards

• None, though the film was noted for its attempt to innovate within the established Paranormal Activity formula.

Final Verdict
“Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin” brings a fresh perspective to the long-running horror franchise, with a new setting and storyline that diverge from the original series. While the film may not fully satisfy die-hard fans of the earlier installments, it offers an intriguing and atmospheric take on the found footage genre. The film’s mix of traditional horror elements with the established Paranormal Activity style creates a tense and eerie experience, making it worth a watch for those who enjoy supernatural horror with a twist.

IMDb Rating
5.2/10