Tractor Tire Award of the Week - Paranormal Activity 3 ~ LightsRemoteAction

Have you ever watched a trailer and had that one scene, that one shot that made you go "Wow, that was cool!"? Or maybe there was something you saw that stuck with you, something that for some reason was in the back of your head and despite how insignificant it was you were waiting for it to show up in the final cut of the film. But when you watched the movie that scene was nowhere to be found or has been altered in a significant way. Well, that is what the Tractor Tire Award of the Week is all about. We try to track down those scenes that didn't make it into the final version of the film and make sense of them. Where in the film was it supposed to be? Why might it have been cut? Why has it been changed? We may not always have the answers for you but at least you will have your piece of mind and know that you aren't crazy. So, this weeks award goes to Paranormal Activity 3!

Cut Scene #1

From trailer #1

One of these two aren't supposed to be in this scene...

Whoa...OK now, where to start. In all the time I have been doing this section...no, scratch that. In all the time I have been watching movie trailers ever, I have never seen anything quite like this before. Both trailers to the film are littered with scenes that appear nowhere in the finished cut. There are scenes that have been completely omitted that appeared to have been fairly major and others that have been completely redone with different characters or consequences. It is hard to know where to begin but let's start with our first image up there.

The first trailer for PA3 featured a fairly creepy scene where we see two little girls, a video camera and a mirror. They proceed to chant the words "Bloody Mary" three times in a completely dark room. At the end we see something in the background that many believed to be this Bloody Mary. This scene still exists in the finished film, however...it does not feature both girls. It only features Katie and the guy helping out Dennis. Not sure why this was altered or even if it was altered. Maybe the scene with the two girls did happen and since they think nothing occurred that is why Katie wants to do it so badly again...just to have fun. Either way though it is one of the most memorable parts of the marketing campaign for the film and just about anyone that has seen the trailer will feel that something is off with the scene (which many of my fellow movie goers remarked on while it was happening). Not a huge loss but one that stands out.

Cut Scene #2

From trailer #2

The glass knocks back but not in the final cut.

Here we go now. First up from the second and main trailer for the film (the first trailer was more of a teaser) is a scene where Dennis is filming both Katie and Kristi as they show him what happens when they knock on the mirror. We see the mirror knock back like someone is inside the closet but when it is opened no one is there. Your typical set up moment that looks as inconsequential as it feels. Would it have added anything to the film? Not really, it appears to be during the beginning phase of the haunting so it most likely was an easy cut and removed for time.

Cut Scene #3

From trailer #2

Don't jump off Kristi!

This scene stands out a little more than that last one simply because it actually is pretty creepy. We see Kristi walking along the banister and then jump off into the darkness only to be seen running back up the steps a moment later. This never happens and I can see why because in the finished film we see A LOT of Kristi running around the house and doing mysterious things so it feels as though this was cut just for time once again. If it were kept in it would have been a fun moment but I don't think it loses anything for not having it. I actually liked that it was cut mainly due to the fact that the part of the film it appears to be from seemed to drag on the longest so the shorter that section was the better.

Cut Scene #4

From trailer #2

Have some water Toby.

Now here's a good one. This scene still appears in the final cut but it is different...a lot different. In the film we see Julie talking to Kristi about her imaginary friend Toby. She tells her that he is standing right next to them but when Julie looks and feels around her she finds nothing. The scene lingers for a second and then ends. In the trailer it plays out much differently. After Kristi tells her mother about Toby standing next to them she throws a glass of water and it hits an invisible figure standing there which freaks Julie out and is followed by things getting thrown around the room. I suppose this was cut or changed due to it being a tad too much. Plus it wouldn't make any sense with the narrative. Julie is skeptical all the way up til the end so having her become a believer that early on just wouldn't work. Another point is that Kristi is constantly telling people to not bother Toby and here she blatantly blows his cover. This scene reeks of a trailer moment, a sequence made specifically for the trailer and nothing else. Not a great loss but yet another stand out and memorable scene from the trailer that will have people scratching their heads at its omission.

Cut Scene #5

From trailer #2

Time to cut out the experts.

This is a big one. Apparently at some point in the film both Julie and Dennis bring in an expert. We see him look over the house and then sit down with the couple to tell them what he thinks is going on. That is when he starts to get his head knocked against the table by an unseen force and both Julie and Dennis freak out. How long of a sequence was this? I have no idea. Where was it supposed to take place? I have no idea. How big of a loss is it really? Well...that really depends. At this point we have seen so many other movies bring in an expert that doesn't believe at first and then gets messed up, so having one less movie do it is kind of good actually. But I also love stuff like this so I kind of wish it was included in the final cut of the film so for me personally it is a bit of a loss.

Cut Scene #6

From trailer #2

Kristi hides out in the car.

I have no idea on this one, seriously. I know that it is Kristi and that she is hiding in the car (which never happens anywhere in the film) but I have no idea at what point this was supposed to take place since Kristi is doing all kinds of weird stuff all throughout the film. We can chalk this one up to just another scene that was most likely cut for time due to it not being overly important. Not a huge loss and not really an interesting one considering the wealth of other missing scenes.

Cut Scene #7

From trailer #2

Who cut out the lights?

Probably the most insignificant missing scene in the bunch. I mean who really cares why or how the bulbs leading up to the girls room get blown out. The only reason this scene peaks my curiosity in the slightest is because it may be a lead up to the scene directly following this one which is right below. It feels right that some sort of chaos would lead into a disaster like that and that's what this very brief shot feels like to me.

Cut Scene #8

From trailer #2

Something caught on fire?

What the hell? OK, history lesson time. We know from the first film that Katie's house burned down with only that one photo left from the fire. Now we have a film that has us witnessing her youth and in the trailer we clearly see a house on fire. There is no fire in the final cut of the film, not even a hint at a fire. But it makes sense that there would be one since we know from the first film that Katie's house was destroyed by a fire. So what happened here exactly? Was there an alternate ending that was scrapped? Maybe that is why Julie and Dennis head to grandmother's house for the last act? I mean in the finished film they just kind of up and take off which felt kind of abrupt. Was it their house that was supposed to burn? That is the only thing that makes any sort of sense to me. Out of all the missing scenes compiled here this one has me the most curious as to its fate and purpose.

Cut Scene #9

From trailer #2

Julie gets swept off her feet.

Bringing our very long list of cut scenes to a close is another peculiar scene. Neither Julie nor Dennis where ever outright attacked by the force in their home. But here we clearly see Julie freaking out and saying that they should leave just before she is pulled away, thrown into the bedroom, and the door is shut and locked before Dennis can get there. My only answer for where this scene most likely took place at was perhaps just before the house (supposedly) burns down. It make some sense if you put together all the pieces, it clearly appears to be one of those last straw scenarios. I think it would have been nice if it were kept in only because, like I mentioned, we never really see either parent put in any real peril, only the kids and Dennis friend. Not a huge loss but a mild curiosity if nothing else.

What happened here? I mean really, what the hell happened here. Did the filmmakers intentionally make a trailer filled with a major percentage of the scenes never meant to see the light of day (until it hits blu-ray that is). I actually kind of like that it turned out this way because when I sat down to watch the movie I had nothing ruined for me because almost none of what was in the trailer(s) was in the film I paid to see. I can see some people maybe getting upset about it (as I usually do) but if that was their intent then mission successful. It's kind of strange though because given the amount of scenes missing it almost felt like it was a trailer for a completely different film. You could almost mistake it for the trailer to the inevitable Paranormal Activity 4. Who knows, maybe they will use these excised scenes and create some sort of prequel to the prequel of a prequel? Hell, they sure have enough footage to do so.

Paranormal Activity 3 trailer #1:

Cut Scene #1 :42