“Paranormal Activity: The Marked One”

Rated R for pervasive language, some violence, graphic nudity and some drug use.

Fifth (I think — my head is spinning) in the franchise, “Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones” has all the same ingredients as the previous films except this one has the tangy taste of mild-salsa. Instead of the usual cast of vanilla Caucasians, we have L.A. Hispanics, specifically Mexican-Americans. This is actually not only refreshing but immensely entertaining while we get to know the various characters, which are pleasantly unstereotypical and are actually likeable despite their usual stupid human tricks. Two high school graduates are entertaining themselves during their summer figuring out what they are going to do the rest of their lives. One has the ubiquitous shaky camera, of course, and their dream is to film something that can go viral on the Internet.

Jesse, Hector and Marisol hang around together. Marisol and Jesse are brother and sister living with Grandma. Hector is Jesse’s pal. Well, I think that is the case. Things are sketchy in these “found footage” movies, you know. What you see is what you get. Unlike so many of these films, this horror flick has many jokes — all intentional. While messing with the camera, the boys capture another young Hispanic boy, Oscar, running out of the apartment below Jesse and Marisol’s. The story goes that a bruja (witch) lives there. There are all kinds of spooky sounds emanating from it and the windows are covered by newspaper. So the boys decide to drop a mini-camera down the register and they see a naked woman; full frontal. One of the boys says, “This is the best day of my life!” Poor kid, later he tries to have sex in an empty apartment, and we all know how such things go in horror films, right? Fright castration AKA: horror-induced “limpification.”  I think “limpification” ought to be a word, don’t you guys agree? We know what it means. God forbid that that should happen to us (permanently) but still…

Speaking of limpification, there is nothing wrong with “The Marked Ones” except for the last 30 minutes. A perfect opportunity is lost; everything goes soft and the end is a case of cinematic interruptus. Actually there are tie backs into a previous Paranormal Activity movie but that only delivers a punch to PA aficionados.

There are some really cool snippets in this movie, particularly character driven, which is terribly rare in cheesy-pap horror films. The actors are really very, very good. And the dialog isn’t poor either. It is as if somebody lost 20 pages of script and everybody went out for some Cali-Mexican food and never returned and the film editor did the best he could with what he had in the digital can.

There are parts in the film that are in Spanish and no sub-titles clue us in. I had to depend on my personal translator. Apparently the Spanish speakers actually are saying “Shush, and stop scratching your beard” an awful lot.

‘Tis a pity, I opine. I understand that the producers discovered that 30 percent of ticket buyers to the most recent Paranormal Activity films were Hispanic and so they decided to make one around that demographic. The scene with grandma (Renee Victor) is charming; Jesse teases her into drinking a tad too much tequila and the results will make you feel like you’re part of the family. The Huzzahs and Muchas Gracias for that but it is too bad they didn’t give us the whole enchilada.

“Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones” earns two bow ties out of five.

I intend to give the whole enchilada Jan. 24 at the Greene County Library Friends of the Library Dinner. I will be dishing out lies, exaggerations and shameless bravado about my illustrious career as film critic. A ticket (a mere $20 each) may be purchased at the Greene County Library. More information can be obtained by calling 706-453-7276.  A ticket will include a free autograph from yours truly (you provide a copy of The Lake Oconee Breeze). An additional $5 donation to the Friends means you don’t have to take my autograph. Get your reservations in by Jan. 20!