Paranormal Activity 4 will definitely hit screens this year, according to Paramount Pictures - the horror series following as so many in the genre have done so before by transforming from a one-off shock to the system to a drawn out money spinner for all concerned. The third instalment, released last year, earned just under $108 million at the US Box Office alone following a trend that's seen each of the movies gross over $80 million in the country after their release. The films provide a significant return for Paramount who shoot them on a low budget thanks to their aesthetic of making up the thriller stories based upon grainy faux "found footage." The latest addition's expected to be released just in time for this year's Halloween.
A Paramount press release reported a number of upcoming productions set for release this year, with 'Paranormal Activity 4' among them. It read "In 2012, Paramount's release slate highlights include 'World War Z,' a zombie thriller starring Brad Pitt and directed by Marc Forster, 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation,' the next installment in the global franchise starring Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Channing Tatum, a new chapter in the 'Paranormal Activity' franchise, and 'The DICtator,' starring Sacha Baron Cohen and directed by Larry Charles, the team behind 'Borat.'"
The first film very much proved a working template for Paramount, being released upon an estimated budget of just $15,000 dollars in 2007 only to gross almost $200 million worldwide. Each of the proceeding films have acted as prequels, moving further back in time with each release; it's as yet unclear as to when the fourth will be set.