Katie Featherston became an instant horror icon in 2009 after the release of Oren Peli's found-footage chiller Paranormal Activity. Fast-forward three years, and it wouldn't feel quite like Halloween without a new instalment in the spooky film series.
Ahead of the release of Paranormal Activity 4, Digital Spy sat down with the Texan actress to find out what's in store in the latest sequel, if she's ever freaked someone out by standing at the end of the bed and whether or not there's scope for Paranormal Activity 5.
Do you still find Paranormal Activity scary considering you'll know what's coming?
"I definitely get surprised because we filmed so much and it's so fluid and it's so improvisation that we never know going into it what's going to make the final cut so when you watch it for the first time it is a surprise and it's fun to see what actually makes it and it's definitely scary. I jumped a number of times watching this one (Paranormal Activity 4) for the first time."
Has the process of making the movies changed?
"I think as the sequels progress the worlds have gotten bigger and the story becomes more specific in some way so the story has to be a bit more structured, but it's still really improvisational. It's like if somebody has a thought or concern on set everyone's always very good with saying, 'Oh this is good let's try it'. It's how we started and I think it serves the story to continue with that."
Where do we find Katie in this movie?
"That's a very good question. It's something that I feel people should probably experience for themselves when they go into the movie theatre. I think this movie will answer or at least expand upon some questions that the audience members have had about what has happened to my character and where she is and what's going on. And then maybe it asks some new questions so I think audience members will be very excited to see where the story goes."
Do you feel pressured to keep a tight lid on the story, because sometimes we only find out if you're in the movie when we see it.
"Yes I'm often... things kind of happen on the fly sometimes and they're always changing things and trying new things so I'm never sure how it's going to turn out in some ways, like we know they have a general idea but there's specifics that happen in the moment.
"But I think part of what makes a scary movie fun is not knowing about everything before you go in, so it serves the story and the world to not give it all up and tell everybody what's going to happen and whatnot. But I do try and definitely, for the sake of the franchise, try and keep mum on something so that people will have more fun."
The fanbase absolutely love these films - do they come up and share scary stories with you? What's your interaction with them like?
"It's wonderful. People stop me in the mall and the grocery store all the time and tell me how much they like the movie. Sometimes they talk about their experience seeing the movie and I think one of my favourites was this girl who was talking about her big football player boyfriend who was like cowering in fear and apparently crying because he was so scared.

"People are always very excited and we are so thankful for our fans because these movies wouldn't continue to be made and the first one wouldn't have even been seen if fans hadn't been very excited and spread the word so we're truly thankful for their help."
Was there a moment when you realised Paranormal Activity was really taking off? Hearing Steven Spielberg got scared by the first film must have been incredible...
"There were numerous amazing moments but that is definitely one of them. But there was never a time where I was like, 'Oh this is going to be huge, I'm gonna quit my job, I've got it made'. Never never ever. I mean the first movie was in theatres and I was still waiting tables because it was that down to the wire that we just didn't know if it was going to take off or not until it did and we couldn't have been more excited."
Have you ever stood at the end of someone's bed in the dark to freak them out?
"[laughs] You know what I've had people like guests come over and other friends and say, 'Oh, you've gotta freak them out' but I've never done it. I'm saving it for the right moment."
How does it feel to be considered a horror icon?
"That's an amazing thing to hear! I don't consider myself like that, I don't feel that, I just feel like I have a lot of fun making these movies and we have a great group of people involved. We have crew and production and actors and that's what I focus on and I'm joyful to be doing it and if people were willing to respond to it then that's just icing on the cake."
Which horror movie leading ladies do you love?
"It would be amazing to meet Jamie Lee Curtis and hear about her experiences, that would be really exciting. I remember watching those movies growing up and they were always really fun."
Do you think there's room to continue the series with Paranormal Activity 5?
"Oh, I think there's plenty of ways for the stories to continue to grow. I don't know if they'll continue to grow it and or what will end up happening but I look forward to finding out."
Paranormal Activity 4 is in cinemas now.
Movies Editor
Simon has worked as a journalist for more than a decade, writing on staff and freelance for Hearst, Dennis, Future and Autovia titles before joining Cision in 2022.
