You know, with the original Paranormal Activity slowly approaching its twenty-year run, it's getting harder and harder to understand what it actually was and what it is as opposed to the cultural consensus around it. First of all, you probably think of it as cheap, funky looking horror film, although in reality the first part of the series is a slow, tense window into the world of gaslighting and, apparently, the paranormal. Our detachment from this means one thing: the expansion of the IP, which we're seeing today in the form of the film's first full trailer. Paranormal Activity: Thresholdvideo game adaptation from the developer Mortuary Assistant.
Let's create a scene using the game's description on Steam. Paranormal Activity: Threshold focuses on Daniel and Jessica Stewart, who have just decided to renovate their first home. Daniel introduced us to the house in question, showing us a rather large, although sparsely decorated building, which he describes as the only one they could afford. Of course, Daniel!
The rest of the trailer shows various apparitions and events, such as a shadow moving across a room, a stool sliding across the floor, a door suddenly closing. You might be able to solve some vaguely satanic puzzle, but beyond that it doesn't really represent much of the broader action you'll be involved in.
Back on Steam again, there's an explanation that you can “play across multiple timelines,” “hunt and communicate with entities,” and “perform demonic rituals to change your destiny.” Obviously, there are multiple endings, and the game's “Paranormal Engine” makes each playthrough unique. I'm guessing there may be different ghosts in different playthroughs, as I described above they happen randomly, which if I'm right is very similar to the ghosts you can experience in Silent Hill 4's pseudo-central area.
I'll admit, I'm quite concerned about Paranormal Activity getting a live-action adaptation. I can count the number of good films in the series on one hand, but the films need to be counted with both hands, distorting what could have been if done well. How can a game adaptation deal with such a structure? Is the game even able to capture the tactile feel of a real movie like the first film, making you question what's real and what's not? I'm not sure there are enough filters in the world to convey that feeling.
Anyway, there's no release date for Paranormal Activity: Threshold, but you can add it to your wishlist on Steam at this time.
