10 Famous Actors Who Inexplicably Popped Up In Found Footage Movies
8. Sprague Grayden (Paranormal Activity 2)
Love them or hate them, one thing that you cant accuse the Paranormal Activity series of being is inconsistent. Across five films (with a sixth due out in March), series producers Oren Peli and Jason Blum have maintained an ardent dedication to casting almost exclusively unknown actors. Katie Featherson, Micah Sloat, Brian Boland, Molly Ephraim - these are far from household names. Sprague Grayden is another Paranormal Activity star whose name isnt particularly familiar. Yet youll almost certainly recognize Graydens face. Turns in shows like Jericho, Sons Of Anarchy, and Six Feet Under remain among her more notable appearances, but if youve seen Grayden anywhere, chances are that it was probably as Olivia Taylor, the conniving daughter to Cherry Jones' President Taylor in Season 7 of 24. Which is why her appearance in Paranormal Activity 2 as Kristi, sister to central figure Katie, is so distracting. Its weird enough that you're actually watching a sequel to Paranormal Activity less than a year after the first one came out. But watching Olivia freakin Taylor play house with everyone else, as if shes just another normal California suburbanite, going about her day-to-day life?! Its just off, and one cant help but wonder what persuaded Peli and Blum to ease up on their "no familiar faces" rule. Grayden isnt bad in the role; in fact, shes quite solid. But her mere presence in a series that so heavily places an emphasis on authenticity is jarring at best, totally perplexing at worst.
