Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones

Plot synopsis:
In June 2012, high school graduate Jesse Arista lives with his father, sister and grandmother in Oxnard, California. He begins to enjoy the summer with his best friend, Hector. In the apartment below lives a mysterious woman named Ana, who everyone believes to be a witch. When Ana is found murdered, Jesse and Hector spot classmate Oscar running from the scene, suggesting he was responsible. The two investigate the apartment, where they find black magic items, as well as VHS tapes and a journal of spells that can "open doorways to unholy lands."
After Jesse, Hector and their friend Marisol try out a ritual, paranormal occurrences gradually begin to take place in Jesse's apartment. One night, the trio begin to communicate with an unknown entity through a game. Jesse finds a mysterious bite mark on his arm and also discovers superhuman abilities, proven when he knocks out two thugs that assault him. He and Hector at first view his abilities as a "gift". At a party, Jesse takes a girl to Ana's apartment to have sex and encounters Oscar, who has oily black eyes and a similar bite mark on his arm. He tells Jesse that it's only a matter of time before "something inside them" will take over, and if they kill themselves they won't harm those they love. Oscar rushes and disappears; when Jesse and Hector search for him outside, Oscar commits suicide by jumping off a building, landing on a car.
The group discover a secret trapdoor in Ana's apartment, where they find a witch altar and photos of Jesse, his pregnant mother, Ana, Oscar and Lois; at the same time, a strange woman in black enters but leaves after finding nothing. Jesse is lured to the trapdoor one night after hearing his dog Chavo barking for help, but the door slams shut and Jesse sees the ghostly figures of young Katie and Kristi before being attacked by a roaring demon.
Jesse's personality gradually becomes dark, suicidal and extremely violent; Hector and Marisol are disturbed by Jesse's behavior and meet Oscar's criminal brother Arturo, who tells them that Oscar was in contact with Ali Rey, who had researched demons after her father and step-mother were killed and half-brother kidnapped by a possessed Katie. They meet with Ali, who tells them that Jesse has been "marked" by a worldwide coven of witches called the "Midwives", who have been brainwashing women to give up their first-born sons to create an army of possessed young men. Ali gives an address to where a final ritual is supposed to take place, and warns that Jesse will no longer exist if the demon manages to fully consume him.
Jesse's concerned grandmother Irma visits a botánica and tries to cleanse Jesse, but he telekinetically tears the living room apart. The next morning, an ill Jesse pushes Irma down the stairs before disappearing. While Hector and Marisol drive to the hospital, Jesse ambushes them in the street and attacks Hector, but Marisol knocks him unconscious with a bat. As they are attempting to leave, a van smashes into their car and Jesse is kidnapped.
With help from Arturo and his friend Santo, Hector and Marisol go to the address, which turns out to be Grandma Lois's house, where Katie and Kristi's mother and her boyfriend were killed. When they enter the garden, coven members with knives appear and begin to attack them. Arturo urges Hector and Marisol to flee and they both ran to the house, leaving Arturo alone in the garden trying to defend himself. Santo is found dead by the front door. Marisol disappears, Arturo gets killed off-screen (it is implied that he was overpowered by the coven and then stabbed to death) and then thrown and smashed into a window near to Hector, later, Marisol's corpse is thrown through a glass roof. A possessed Jesse appears and chases Hector upstairs where /hector slams the door shut. Jesse's normal voice asks Hector to open the door but after he doesn't, Jesse breaks down the door causing Hector to open a strange brown door taking him through a portal to the events of October 8, 2006, at the household of Katie and Micah. Katie goes downstairs to the kitchen and screams for Micah upon seeing Hector. Micah assumes Hector is an intruder and attacks him, but Katie goes hysterical and stabs him to death with a kitchen knife. Hector runs away but Jesse, now completely under the demon's influence, appears and attacks him off-screen (presumably killing him) as the camera falls to the ground. A witch stares blankly at it before turning it off.

Tags: paranormal, murder, prank

Review:
Nevertheless staying true to the reason these films are still being made, and fans of real horror, like myself continue to watch them, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, rewards its loyal audience with a fairly sensible connection with the previous films and characters.
This time however, I felt like I need to say something, because the overall rating of this movie is a gross understatement.Second of all, reading this you should keep in mind that I am no particular fan of the series.
Some of the scenes involving Latino gangs were too stereotypical and unnecessary but other than that, the movie didn't have too many flaws.All I'm going to say without spoiling anything is that the last 20 minutes of the film will truly scare you with a huge twist at the end that will obviously not be explained further until the confirmed PA 5 comes out this October.
The profane filled dialouge is embarrassing to the point where you will actually find yourself becoming annoying by the constant use of the F-word, and this is coming from someone who has a pretty filthy vocabulary.Aside from elements from other films that have been rehashed into this entry, The Marked One's offers nothing you haven't seen in the other installments.
The film is about Jesse, an ordinary teenager who is marked by the same demon who torments Katie and Kristi in the earlier PA films after he and his best friend, Hector discover weird black magic material in his murdered neighbour's apartment.For the first 20/30 minutes this movie plays out like a comedy, showing the day to day activities of Jesse and Hector (which is mostly them getting up to mischief) and even when Jesse is marked there is still a fair amount of comedy until he realises that what he has is a cure, not a gift.
They're also very likable so you actually care when bad things happen to them.There are a lot of scares in this entry some of which are very unpredictable and some which are very effective (especially one scene involving the main character's dog).
Here's my take:Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones is the 5th movie in the franchise, but it can also be considered a spin-off...sort of.
Marked Ones follows high school graduate Jesse, a kid living in a rather tough part of town (noticeably distant from the settings of any of the previous movies).
Every single moment is spent either scaring you, making you laugh, or pushing the story forward.About the story...As a stand-alone film, without seeing any of the other Paranormals, this movie is still very enjoyable and scary.
This film like every other paranormal follows the same trend, 3rd person recording, that annoying rumbling sound which pretty much gives away any time that your going to be made to jump or scream, as well as finding some plausible way to keep all the films in the series linked.The first task of these films is to try and make it plausible why the lead character is always using a camera, which I guess it did OK.
There are plenty of jumps and screams to be had, sitting in a 3/4 full cinema and seeing people jump or scream to me shows its done what its supposed to and the general feeling was that everyone enjoyed it.Here is my only real dislike of this series, as a jumpy bit approaches in all 5 of the Paranormal series in the background you here a faint rumbling, which although maybe for effect, on the 5th time of watching this series becomes an irritating give away of what is about to come, other than that effects and sound were done well.Im sure there will be more from this series as it seems still a popular franchise, I would like to see it really push itself a bit more but overall its a good addition to the series.Well worth a watch for all horror fans alike!
Don't go expecting amazing filming or top quality scripts as it isn't designed to be like that, its chilling home shot movie style still works but maybe if were going to a 6th or 7th film it may need to add something new.There are many Paranormal films out and also coming out in 2014 such as The Quiet ones and Devils Due, I will see and review them all , I left feeling hyped, I was gripped and entertained and its definitely worth a watch, if not at the cinema then definitely for a DVD rental in the future!!!
The worst entry in the 'Paranormal Activity' series, this spin off is little more than a ripoff of possession-type horror movies with some of the supernatural from 'ChronIcle'.
But what could have been an opportunity to invigorate a franchise of increasingly diminishing returns turns out instead to be a nail in the coffin, and despite boasting the series' regular screenwriter Christopher Landon as its writer cum director, this is undoubtedly the worst entry yet to bear the 'Paranormal Activity' brand name.The setting is a modern-day Latino neighbourhood in Los Angeles, where best buddies Jesse and Hector (Jorge Diaz) spend their time doing Jackass-type stunts and filming them with their new hand-held camera.
On one hand, he wants a clear link to the other 'Paranormal Activity' films, such that hardcore fans who have seen especially the last two in the series will immediately guess that it has to do with some coven of witches who have been practicing the dark arts.
What redemption the relatively exciting climax provides is also quickly undone by the ending, which sees Landon try just too hard to tie the events of the film to the main 'Paranormal Activity' story thread of Katie and Kristi.
The execution is a slightly different, but this comes as a refreshing addition to the film series.If you're a fan of the franchise, you will enjoy this film and look forward to Paranormal Activity 5 even more when it debuts in October..
As a fan of the Paranormal Activity movies I have to say that the first couple were really thrilling with the unexpected and creativity of things happening throughout the film.
Having just graduated from college and now enjoying some spare time, Latino best friends Hector(Diaz, mostly filming this and thus heard more than seen, and doing well with that) and Jesse(Jacobs, credibly doing a complete personality shift) check out the neighborhood witch, and the latter of them gains superpowers.
After some Chronicle-y testing of such, they start to realize that maybe something sinister is going on, and try to find a way to stop it.With found-footage growing stale, this tries to reinvigorate the franchise, to which this is a spin-off, which shares less of a connection to the others than the rest, perhaps even the sub-genre, by taking a different approach.
Rather than recording when they sleep(which they were getting increasingly dubious in their explanations for) and the titular activity being hidden in tiny details on still angles, this has them "documenting" their attempts to figure out what is going on(with more locations in this than in the first four combined), and the paranormal is more direct and frankly incontrovertible(the guys upload one proof, and a quick jab at YouTube users being jaded and/or thinking it's faked, along with their *ahem* distrust for law enforcement explains why they don't bring more people into it).As usual there is not much progression in the overall mythology, with this utilizing the greater freedom of not having to bring it back to you-know-who to explore a different element of the coven, the titular Marked Ones, and the ending(and this is a weird one) has us hungry for more.
The lack of paranormal activity borders on ridiculous, hard to believe it's actually being marketed as a horror movie!If you want something scary, jumpy, and suspenseful, just re-watch the first three.Still looking forward to Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension next year, fingers crossed it will return to it's former glory!.
Fans of this series will be happy to know that not only does this supposed "spin-off" get PA back on track but, is more reliant on actual scares than jump scares and answers a lot of questions that the other films have set up.
He knows how to build scares and he does so slowly with a film that builds it's momentum steadily till a really intense last act that leads up to one of the best horror movie endings in quite a while and a climax fans of this series will love from between the spaces of the fingers that are covering their eyes.
Along the way, the three friends uncover clues to secrets they never could have imagined.The Marked Ones is a spin-off of the popular Paranormal Activity series.
He does an excellent job of showing the different stages of Jesse's persona changes throughout the film.Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones is an excellent entry to the series and the breath of fresh air it needed.
Not knowing what to make of the mark or the strange, new physical abilities he suddenly has gained, Jesse, his sister Marisol (Gabrielle Walsh) and Hector look back on an occult journal they found the night before that leads them to discover something much more sinister awaits Jesse.In 2009, Paranormal Activity was finally given a wide release, after first appearing at the Screamfest Film Festival in 2007.
By the way, speaking of Halloween, they're planning on Paranormal Activity 5 for October of this year.No, I'm not kidding.While there are some comical moments involving Jesse discovering his newfound powers that work, and the change of setting is nice, this is just more of the same that we've seen again and again and again from this film series.
Then that third act reared its ugly head and tried to go for a "tie it all together from a different perspective" ending (you'll know it when you see it) that's nothing short of eye-rolling, "Are you kidding me?!" awful.I give Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones a D+ (★½).Review source: silverscreenfanatic.com.
from paranormal 1 - at the end when she comes back upstairs with blood all over her and then sits on the floor rocking back and forth, you see what happens just before that at the end of this movie - the marked ones.its like they tried to rip off afflicted, and im not sure which movie came first but afflicted is WAY better, I've watched that twice now.I hope they don't make any more "Paranormal Activity" Movies, because they have lost their affect..
The Marked ones is without doubt one of the best films from the Franchise (first one apart.) It's the usual format, every stereotype included, kids, found footage, person turned away, being on top of the ceiling, but somehow this one has an air of originality about it.
I still don't understand why they would pay money to ruin other's time at the theater.4) I won't reveal anything about the ending, but I can safely say that most people in the theater didn't like it.If you see this movie, you should probably watch the other Paranormals first.
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones was a surprise, breaking the security camera shoot that make the other movies in the series boring, this movie really deliver big time it was very entertaining, it have some in your face scary scenes like the ones of REC movies that makes the movie work in a new way That the others didn't.PA: The Marked Ones explain some of the thing that happen in preview installments of the series but at the same way open some other path for the series to keep going, hopefully in a good way.
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (2014)* 1/2 (out of 4) The fifth film in the series is the first spin-off and features 18-year-old Jesse (Andrew Jacobs) as he and a couple friends start to investigate a neighbor and soon the teen finds himself possessed by a coven of witches.
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: THE MARKED ONES is the second bad film in a row for the series and it really doesn't give me much hope for PARANORMAL ACTIVTY 5, which will be released in about ten months..
Despite rebuilding some faith after a feeble fourth entry, The Marked Ones holds back the franchise from the crucial revival it needs due to weak scares and little expansion in the mythology.One year after the events of Paranormal Activity 4, this spin-off removes the focus from Katie and Kristi in San Diego County and takes us north to Oxnard, California.
Of course Jesse stumbles upon some bad juju when they enter her apartment, which might explain the strange sounds and behavior he had encountered from his newly deceased neighbor.With the well of found footage films all but dried up, the Paranormal Activity series has always been one to progress the medium in ways we haven't seen before, as Saw did with its unique traps.
Overall, The Marked Ones is a passable entry to a noteworthy horror series that creates enough intrigue to believe that Paranormal Activity is back on track in the right direction..
In many ways it's not a good movie if you have not seen the previous PA movie series, you do not know what has already happened, you do not know the story behind very important aspects, such as secondary characters and the ending.
A Latino spin-off from the inexplicably popular Paranormal Activiity found-footage series, The Marked Ones follows a group of friends, Jesse (Andrew Jacobs), Hector (Jorge Diaz) and Marisol (Gabrielle Walsh), who discover that strange occult rituals have been taking place in their apartment complex.
Soon after, Jesse starts to act very strangely, and it gradually becomes apparent that he has been marked by a coven of witches who need him for one of their black magic shin-digs.Boring, predictable, unimaginative garbage with zero atmosphere and countless ineffective jump scares, the fifth Paranormal Activity film fails to bring anything new to the table, reeling off all the clichés that have become synonymous with the found-footage sub-genre.
I really enjoyed this film a lot,the film had a lot of jump scares and I think,I just think,even though it wont happen,a sequel would be good or another spin off maybe called like 'The Marked Ones 2' or something...
We're introduced to our main characters, everything is cheery, there's an early scare or two which usually turns out to be one of the characters playing a prank on another, and then slowly things begin to happen out of the normal, steadily increasing towards the final scene (which about 80% of the movie usually gets judged on) *roll credits*.A lot of this is because of the restrictions placed on film makers when using the 'found footage' format.
It seemed like the series was quickly losing steam, and was going stale.I just saw this spin off movie "The Marked Ones" out of boredom.
Even though not an original idea, it was a scary film that introduced good new characters and along with "The Blair Witch Project", Paranormal Activity made found footage movies even more mainstream.Now in 2014 after four sequels and a fifth one due in October, you can't really look at the first Paranormal Activity the same way.
The new spin off film, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones is really an even bigger question mark.The movie is set in a rundown Hispanic community and some would call it the hood.
Its seems like it is up to us to figure out just what is going on or what it means.In the end, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones is kind of a mess and it is hard to get used to but at the same time it's an above average film.
"Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones" is a great horror flick that presents in the series' traditional found footage format the story of Jesse, a 18 year old boy from Oxnard, California who gets "marked" for possession by a malevolent entity.
After some strange and unexplainable events happen, he thinks he's developed superhuman abilities, but as time passes, the true nature of the entity begins to take control of him, putting him and his loved ones in danger.This spin-off features a new setting as well as a new set of characters, however it does connect to the previous movies and answers some questions regarding certain events in the previous entries.Andrew Jacobs does a great job as the main character, Jesse, managing to show the transformation of the character from a funny, happy guy to a very dark and violent guy.
All this elements make "Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones" one of the best entries of the Paranormal Activity film series, a movie that will definitely scare and entertain you!.
A huge improvement over the fourth film, "Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones" is a pretty decent spin-off entry in the franchise that has it's share of flaws and strengths..
Because I honestly would love to see another film that was as good as the first three.I give "Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones" a slightly-above average 6 out of 10.
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones is supposed to be a spin off of the popular found-footage series, but it feels more like a sequel.
I am a huge fan of the Paranormal Activity series and except the fourth one all the films were really good and scary.
If you watch the Paranormal Activity series as individual movies, they are above average ghost stories.
This one has the name Paranormal Activity but it is nothing like the others in the series at all...the only real tie in is the last 5 minutes of the movie.
At least that was working in favor of the movie."Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones" is for the fans of the series, no doubt about it.