10 Horror Movie Sequels That Deserve A Second Chance

As with a few other titles being discussed here, the fifth Paranormal Activity film – 2014’s The Marked Ones – had the misfortune of arriving shortly after the series’ low point: 2012’s Paranormal Activity 4. In fact, The Marked Ones ended up being sandwiched between the franchise’s two worst installments, as The Ghost Dimension arrived a year later.

Despite not being revolutionary or remarkable, the movie is markedly better than the full-length features that surround it, if not better than one or two other sequels, and it deserves to be championed for everything it nails.

By retaining some requisite elements - namely, possession and witchcraft - while shifting the focus to a new culture – a Latino community within the series’ consistent California locale – The Marked Ones is inherently refreshing and intriguing. Protagonist Jesse’s superhuman abilities, such as levitation and telekinesis, add flavor to the tired tropes, too, and virtually all the leads are compelling.

However needlessly complicated, the movie’s mysteries are unexpectedly captivating, just as its final twists and connections to the past are laudably clever. Admittedly, The Marked Ones is mostly just another Paranormal Activity affair, but its absorbing tale, exciting nuances, and unique revisions of the formula give it several extra points.