Release Date: October 2009
Paranormal Activity, written and directed by first time feature filmmaker Oren Peli, is an independent horror film that follows a couple who are documenting their experience of living with a demonic spirit. Never since The Blair Witch project have I ever been so affected by a scary movie. I remember watching The Blair Witch Project and getting pretty spooked with some friends in theaters. Paranormal Activity, hands down, is the scariest movie I have ever seen in theaters. It delivers on all accounts, as a good story combines with realistic acting from the two leads, to equal a naturally creepy film that will have you staying awake with the lights on long after getting back from the theater.
After a young, middle class couple moves into what seems like a typical suburban house, they become increasingly disturbed by a presence that may or may not be somehow demonic but is certainly most active in the middle of the night. Especially when they sleep. Or try to. Katie, played by Katie Featherston, has always felt like a spirit followed her wherever she has gone, ever since she was 8 years old. Now that she’s older her significant other, the wise-ass Micah, played by Micah Sloat, finally wants to get to the bottom of why Katie seems to be the one haunted by this spirit. With the help of a psychic, Ouija Board, and a big ass camera, Micah records some pretty interesting things while they try to sleep.
This movie reminded me a lot of The Blair Witch Project, the handheld camerawork and the storyline were very similar. While The Blair Witch Project will make you not want to go camping and sleep in the woods, Paranormal Activity makes you afraid to sleep in your own bed. The one thing that pushes Paranormal above The Blair Witch is the acting. The two main characters are never annoying or unrealistic. They did a wonderful job of acting like they really were scared out of their minds. This just helps to add to the general creepiness factor. I can’t remember a time in theaters where I was so frozen in my seat, waiting for the next creepy thing that was going to happen to this poor couple. It’s almost funny after each nigh that goes by, because it’s so surprising how a movie can make you so terrified. This is the kind of movie that you need to see in theaters to get the full effect of the scares.
It’s impressive that a movie so simple with minimal special effects and the interesting uses of sound mixing can create such a scary tone. If it’s a loud bang on the wall or a light turning on in the hallway, the way they make you feel during the late hours of the night is the work of horror masters.
The slasher flick filmmakers should take notes on Paranormal Activity. This is how you scare an audience, this is how you make a great horror film, and this is most definitely how you create an independent cult classic. Paranormal Activity definitely deserves to get released nationwide and you can help the film by having this poll reach 1,000,000 votes. So help get this movie get a wide release so you yourself can lose some sleep.
STAMP IT!!!
MADE
IMDB: 8.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Moviewiseguys: 9.0/10
