Fans of the horror genre eagerly anticipate the Halloween season. Besides the classic scare-fests on TV, this time of year also brings a fresh wave of horror films to both the big and small screens. The new release “Halloween Kills” is dominating the box office, while Netflix viewers can’t get enough of “There’s Someone Inside Your House” since its October 6th debut. But there’s even more reason for excitement this October – one of the most highly anticipated horror flicks of the season, the seventh installment in the “Paranormal Activity” series, was shot in the town of Allen, located in Allegany County in the Southern Tier.
Table of Contents
Who’s Involved in “Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin”?
The “Paranormal Activity” movies have never relied on big-name movie stars. For instance, Micah Sloat and Katie Featherston, who starred in the first film of the series, were chosen from thousands of actors who auditioned for a low-budget horror movie. The cast of “Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin” similarly consists of relatively unknown actors, including Emily Bader, Roland Buck III, Dan Lippert, and Henry Ayers-Brown.
The movie is a collaboration between Paramount Players and Blumhouse Productions, which is responsible for the previous six “Paranormal Activity” films, as well as other iconic horror movies like “The Purge,” “The Invisible Man,” “Get Out,” and “Sinister.” The screenplay was written by Christopher B. Landon, known for his work on “Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones,” the fifth film in the found-footage horror series. Landon also serves as a producer for “Next of Kin.” The film is directed by William Eubank, renowned for his 2020 disaster horror film “Underwater” starring Kristen Stewart.
Where and How to Watch “Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin”
“Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin” has taken a unique approach in releasing the latest installment of the popular horror franchise. Rather than a theatrical release, it will premiere directly on the streaming service Paramount+ (formerly known as CBS All Access) on October 29th, just in time for Halloween. Paramount+ offers not only exclusive original content like “Next of Kin,” but also thousands of TV episodes and movies from various networks and studios.
A free trial is available for new subscribers, and they will not be charged if they cancel before the trial period ends.
Why Choose Allegany County as the Filming Location?
The decision to shoot the movie in Allegany County was influenced by the positive experience the filmmakers had while shooting “A Quiet Place Part II” in Western New York. The success of that film, which was primarily filmed in Akron, Olcott, Dunkirk, Lackawanna, and Buffalo over 47 days, left the movie studio eager to return to the area.
After the filmmakers of “A Quiet Place Part II” expressed interest in finding a farmhouse for an Amish-themed movie, the Buffalo Niagara Film Office assisted by providing potential locations in the area. Ultimately, the director found what they were looking for in Allen, Allegany County. The positive experience of shooting in the region motivated Paramount to film most of “Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin” there as well.
Where Does “Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin” Fit in the Franchise?
“Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin” is the seventh installment in the successful found-footage horror series, which has grossed nearly $900 million worldwide. Tanya Giles, chief programming officer at ViacomCBS Streaming, and Tom Ryan, president and CEO of ViacomCBS Streaming, describe the new film as an “unexpected reimagining” of the beloved horror franchise. The movie’s early trailer confidently declares that “The Activity” is “Reborn.”
The franchise began in 2007 when Oren Peli’s low-budget film premiered at the 2007 Screamfest Horror Film Festival and received rave reviews. The film’s wide release in 2009 earned over $108 million at the U.S. box office and $85 million internationally. Since the most recent film in the series, “Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension,” was released in 2015, fans have eagerly awaited the next installment.
An Inside Look at the Filming
Details about the movie were kept under wraps while it was being shot in Allegany County during the spring of 2021, which is typical in the film industry. Many expected the next “Paranormal Activity” movie to hit theaters next year, but to everyone’s surprise, it will be released much sooner and will bypass theaters altogether.
The working title for the film during production was “Black Snow,” a common practice in the movie industry. However, the final title became “Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin.” The Buffalo Niagara Film Commission, along with many others, was caught off guard by the quick turnaround of the film’s release.
For the latest news, follow Neal Simon on Twitter @HornellTribNeal. To access unlimited news content, consider subscribing to our digital account today.
