Movies
Explaining Tobi, Asmodeus, and the Midwives of the ‘Paranormal Activity’ Franchise
Welcome back to Horror 101, a series of articles where we explain horror movie legends and their lore. For beginners, the confused, or just those who need a refresher, these articles are for you. All of us here at Horror Press have a love for found footage horror movies, which inspired our latest lesson. Today we’ll be revisiting Blumhouse’s powerhouse franchise and the king of all found footage films (box office wise, at least). That’s right, we’re tackling Paranormal Activity.
With tons of time travel, loads of lore, and one hard reboot under its belt as of 2021, we need to answer quite a few questions about this series’ enigmatic villains: the (mostly) unseen force Tobi, his minions, the Midwives, and his much more recent counterpart Asmodeus.
The Paranormal Activity Franchise Explained
What is Tobi?
An immeasurably old demon (because when are they ever young demons?), Tobi is the main antagonist in the Paranormal Activity series. Feeding on the suffering and fear of his human victims, he is an inscrutable evil that communed almost entirely with children to torture their families. Once he had succeeded in breaking his victim’s minds, he would possess them and “pilot” their bodies to further his own goals.
For much of the series, Tobi doesn’t have one defined form and is usually massless and invisible. Our only hint in the original Paranormal Activity of what he looks like are some strange footprints. In Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension, he manifests on spirit photography as a shadowy cloud of vaguely human-shaped energy. He had a gaunt, pale face that was barely visible and used tentacles of shadowy energy to manipulate objects and attack people.
We also learn that Tobi’s strength waxes and wanes based on the suffering he can get out of his victims. This manifested in him growing and shrinking over time, implying he has to feed on misery to reach his full potential literally.
What is Asmodeus?
Taking the name of the biblical demon, Asmodeus is the antagonist of Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin, and is presumably that same demon.
At some point in history, the Norwegian village of Beskytter was beset by the demon, who caused a mass slaughter by driving villagers into a violent madness. The village elders managed to subdue the demon by forcing it into a body, forming an isolated cult. From there, Asmodeus was forcibly transferred down a long matriarchal line from mother to daughter as a means of trapping the demon and keeping it from reaching full strength.
It would escape by the end of Next of Kin, though, free to walk the earth in the body of the villager Samuel.
Asmodeus’ true form is never revealed, unlike Tobi, although we do see the end stage of demonic possession from Asmodeus turns his victims into gaunt, pale monstrosities with superhuman strength and speed similar to the Marked Ones.
Wait, so Tobi and Asmodeus Aren’t the Same?
No, not at all. If the people who had popularized this claim had seen these films, I don’t know how they would have thought this.
As far as the movies are concerned, there is no connection between the two demons outside of the possibility that they share the same universe, and even that is dubious at best, given that Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin is a hard reboot. Fan wikis assert with much misplaced confidence that they are the same entity. Still, the cult of Beskytter from Next of Kin doesn’t practice any of the same rituals as Tobi’s Midwives and seems dedicated to containing a demon rather than giving it new forms to walk the earth.
What Can Tobi Do?
Outside of a human body, Tobi is a disembodied spirit with all the classic abilities that would entail. He has telekinetic abilities that allow him to move people and objects, famously dragging and throwing his victims to torture them; still, it takes time for him to build up these powers and reach the level of flinging people around. At his strongest, he can instantly impale one of his victims with his tentacles and even liquefy them from the inside out, as he does with Skyler in The Ghost Dimension.
This is the exception, however, and usually, he has to act through living beings or be given a physical “real” form. Victims who are bitten and then possessed by Tobi, known as the Marked Ones, exhibit superhuman strength, telekinesis, levitation, teleportation, and take on a demonic appearance marked by visible blackened veins.
However, Tobi’s most prominent power is in his ability to manipulate time and space, making pathways to other points in history out of even normal doorways and walls that are inscribed with his demonic runes. It’s possible this is simply a trait of the Ghost Dimension that Tobi can utilize as a spirit, as humans are also able to travel through portals that bear his markings.
While it isn’t outright stated, it’s possible that being divorced from the natural flow of time allows him to possess multiple victims at once, as with Oscar, Jesse, and a young Katie & Kristi being possessed simultaneously in The Marked Ones (circa 2014) while Tobi was terrorizing Katie and Micah in the first film (circa 2006).
Who Are the Midwives?
The Midwives are an international coven of witches who do the bidding of Tobi. The most prominent of the Midwives was Lois, the grandmother of Tobi’s favorite victims Katie and Kristi. Though only a few people such as Ali Rey and Oscar were aware of it, there is a throughline in many kidnapping cases that connects missing children to the Midwives coven. It’s clear that they conscript the children to serve as members of the cult and enforcers, but what this army will be used for other than recruiting more people is uncertain.
The Midwives have a diverse set of abilities themselves. They not only are granted wealth and power among humans but also have access to dark magics. They can curse their victims, mentally and physically control others, and create dimensional portals. Of course, all this comes at a cost: namely, the firstborn son of their family, and pledging an undying loyalty to a black cloud that hucks people like footballs.
What Does Tobi Want?
If we go by what Micahs’ super thorough research says in the first movie, demons like Tobi cause suffering for their amusement. But we do know there is a greater plot at hand due to the actions of the Midwives, Tobi’s faithful witch acolytes.
He spends most of the series grooming Katie and Kristi Featherston to be his “brides” as part of a demonic ritual that spans through time. It’s eventually revealed in Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension that there is an ages-long prophecy to open a door to, you guessed it, the Ghost Dimension, so that Tobi can walk freely on Earth.
The ritual involved using a young Katie and Kristi to find Leila Fleege, who would be born on the same day and time as Kristi’s son Hunter Rey. Father Todd says this is significant because they were born on the sixth day of the sixth month of the sixth year of the millennium, which marks the number of the beast for the ritual.
…Even though she was born in 2005, not 2006?
Look, it’s demon math; it doesn’t make sense, that’s what makes it scary.
Using Leila’s blood to open the gate, Tobi can take on a human host, presumably one of the many Marked Ones the Midwives made. From here, who knows what happens. Some references to a passage in Revelations during Ghost Dimension make it seem like Tobi is trying to usher in the apocalypse in some way, but who knows since the movies only give us the cut-and-dry answer: he wants a body.
Because he’s a movie demon. Of course he wants a body; it’s all they ever want. And as of the latest film, he got one.
Where Is Tobi Now?
Everywhere? Kind of. And everywhen, for that matter, given the whole time travel thing.
We also know there are sects of Midwives all over the world from Oscar’s conspiracy map, so if there are Marked Ones internationally, Tobi would have to have some level of omnipresence. And assuming that body of his burns out, he’s got plenty of backups. If we’re lucky, a future film will explore this.
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And that will be it for today’s Horror 101 lesson. See you in the next class, and stay tuned to Horror Press’s social media feeds for more content concerning horror movies, television, and everything in between!
My New Year’s resolution is to spend more time watching my favorite app. Luckily, Shudder is not taking it easy on us this holiday season, so I may meet my quota this January. The streamer is bringing in the new year with quite a few bangers. We have classics from icons, a new title from the first family of indie horror, and a couple of lesser-known films that have finally found a home. So, I am obviously living for this month’s programming and think most of you will too. I have picked the five films that I believe deserve our collective attention the most. Get into each of them and start your 2026 off on the right foot.
The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month
Carrie (1976)
A sheltered teen finally unleashes her telekinetic powers after being humiliated for the last time. Carrie is the reason I thought proms might be cool when I was a kid. This Brian De Palma adaptation is one of my favorite Stephen King adaptations. It is also an important title in the good-for-her subgenre. I cannot help rooting for Carrie White (Sissy Spacek) when I watch her snap at this prom and then head home to accidentally deal with her mom. The only tragedy of this evening is that Carrie had to die, too. I said what I said, and I will be hitting play again while it is on Shudder. This recommendation goes out to the other recovering sheltered girls who would be the problem if they had powers. I see you because I am you.
You can watch Carrie on January 1st.
Marshmallow (2025)
A shy 12-year-old gets sent to summer camp and finds himself in a living nightmare. While Marshmallow did not land for me, I know plenty of people who love it. Which makes this the perfect addition to the Shudder catalogue. I am actually excited to see more folks fall in love with this movie when it hits the streamer. If nothing else, it will help a few folks cross off another 2025 title if they are still playing catch-up with last year’s movies. It also gets cool points from me for not taking the easy route with the mystery it built. I hope you all dig it more than I did, and tell your friends about it. Perhaps you could even encourage them to sign up for the app.
You can watch Marshmallow on January 1st.
Chain Reactions (2024)
Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre cemented his horror legacy over fifty years ago. So, it is long overdue for a documentary where horror royalty can discuss its impact on them and their careers. I have been waiting for a couple of years to hear Karyn Kusama and Takashi Miike talk about Hooper’s work and how he inspired them. So, I am super geeked that Shudder is finally giving me the chance to see this film. The streamer is also helping the nerds out by adding The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 2 (1986) this month. If you are also an overachieving couch potato, I will see you at the finish line next week.
You can watch Chain Reactions on January 9th.
In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
An insurance investigator discovers the impact a horror writer’s books have on people. I love chaos, and John Carpenter chaos happens to be one of my favorite kinds of chaos. While we talk about The Thing and Halloween all the time, this maestro has given us plenty of horror to celebrate. In the Mouth of Madness is very much one of those titles vying for a top spot among the best of his filmography. To sweeten the batshit pot, this movie features Sam Neill. You know that he only shows up in our genre if the movie is going to be legendary. You cannot tell me this is not a Shudder priority this month.
You can watch In the Mouth of Madness on January 10th.
Mother of Flies (2025)
A terminally ill young woman and her dad head to the woods to seek out a recluse who claims she can cure her cancer. The Adams Family has been holding court on Shudder for years, so it feels right that Mother of Flies is a Shudder Original. More importantly, this fest favorite has one of the best performances of 2025. Which makes it a great time for people to finally get to see it and get in line to give Toby Poser her flowers. Whatever you think your favorite Poser role is, it is about to change when you see her as Solveig. I am being serious when I say that this movie might be the first family of indie horror at their best.
You can watch Mother of Flies on January 23rd.
New year, but same Shudder. I would not want to go into 2026 any other way, personally. I hope these horrific recommendations bring you the good kind of anxiety. Or at least distract you from the state of the world for a bit.
I’m happy Netflix knew I would be back on my bull shit. Now that we’re in January, and the end-of-year lists are done, I’m trying to cram as many 2025 titles into my eyeballs as I possibly can. I know it sounds backwards, but it’s sadly a yearly tradition now. No matter how many titles you cram into a year, there are always a ton more you missed. Because I am broken, I need to know if I missed anything that should have been on my lists ASAP. Then I can drag myself for not getting my eyeballs on things sooner. Or worse, seeing titles that came out after my deadline and would have definitely been on there. I need to feel resentment for their schedules not letting me be great.
Luckily for me, the streamer has dropped quite a bit of new stuff recently. This includes movies and shows that I put off, or that legitimately premiered a couple of weeks ago. So, now I can spiral in the comfort of my own home as I binge all of these titles like a maniac. If you are also trying to walk into the new year stressed out, then maybe this streaming guide is for you, too.
City of Shadows (2025)
When a burned body is put on display on the facade of an iconic building, two inspectors must work together to solve the crime. I don’t know much about this Spanish thriller, but I know winter is the time for an unsettling mystery. The show is based on the first book of the Milo Malart tetralogy written by Aro Sáinz de la Maza. So, if it’s as good as I hope it is, there is a whole world with this inspector awaiting us in print. I’m ready to take all six of these episodes in one setting if the streaming Gods allow.
Frankenstein (2025)
Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, and Christoph Waltz are among the names in this newest adaptation of the beloved Gothic horror classic. Guillermo del Toro’s take on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is clearly one of the top priorities this month. While I skipped it in festivals because of the runtime, I knew I would have a date with it on Netflix this winter. While it has been on the streamer for a minute, I wasn’t able to dedicate two and a half hours to it. I also had watched my friends’ mixed reviews come in, and couldn’t take another disappointment last year. So, I saved this treat for the holiday. Fingers crossed, it is better than people are saying it is.
I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025)
A new group of friends is tormented by a new stalker in this sequel to Kevin Williamson’s other ’90s slasher. I’m indifferent to the I Know What You Did Last Summer movies. Some are less awful than others, and I think this one was fine, but I know the original source material. Which means I know just how far they stray from what the original author, Lois Duncan, was about. So, I look at these movies and the flimsy premise they repeat differently than a lot of my friends. I think it’s an interesting look at how IP gets handled in Hollywood, but I don’t usually get much out of these. Which is another reason I’m kinder to this Jennifer Kaytin Robinson film than some people. While I won’t be rewatching it this January, I think a lot of people who missed it in theaters are going to have fun with some of these kills now that it’s on Netflix.
Stranger Things: Season 5 (2025)
The long-awaited conclusion to Stranger Things is finally upon us! Will Vecna take out some of this ridiculously large cast on the way out? I hope so. Will we pretend to be surprised when Eddie Munson gets a few seconds of screentime? I refuse to play this game. However, are we all going to tune in to see how this epic ride ends? You betcha! I hate that they’re breaking this final season up into three chunks, but I will be sitting for all of them.
The first four episodes hit in November. The next three landed on Netflix on December 25, and the finale premiered on December 31. I don’t know what to expect, but I know I am so ready to close this chapter of my relationship with Netflix and the Duffer Brothers. If it is even half as good as season four, then I will be a very happy nerd.
Troll 2 (2025)
A new troll awakens, causing Nora, Andreas, and Captain Kris to find new allies to take it down. This Norwegian monster flick almost got by me, so I’m happy Netflix dropped the trailer for this one. I’m using this as an excuse to finally watch the first one. I’m thinking a double feature is in order, so I can spend a whole day with these trolls. This is not my usual type of party, but after Troll Hunter won me over, I figure anything can happen. So, I will not judge you if you’re not feeling this out of left field pick. Just know that I’m running at it with an open mind and hoping to see some carnage as a reward.
These are just the Netflix titles I’m prioritizing. This is in no way a complete overview of all of the new shows and movies they’ve added this winter. We also know that they usually have a ton of international bangers that they refuse to advertise. So, I end up stumbling over Korean titles every January and then trying to tell people we missed some really excellent stuff. So, pick up your remote and turn your phone off. It’s time to Netflix and Chill in the less sexy and more nerdy way.
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