Paranormal Activity
posted September 25, 2009 2:31 PM
An annoying couple brings evil terror down on themselves
Paranormal Activity is so cheesy that it ought to come with a warning for the lactose intolerant. Further warnings for those who demand sympathetic characters, logic in their storytelling or who are inclined to vertigo induced by shaky, handheld camerawork also apply to this tale of a young San Diego couple’s battle with a demon. An heir to the now decade-old Blair Witch Project, first-time filmmaker Oren Peli's attempt to turn no budget into a virtue with things that go bump in the night delivers moderate suspense and some scares. Paramount picked this up off of the festival circuit, no doubt hoping for a Blair Witch style payday. But as Paranormal Activity lacks that film's novelty, a $140 million domestic gross is unlikely to happen again. Regardless, the studio's targeted marketing campaign recruits Paranormal Activity fans to spread the gospel via Facebook and Twitter, and so should generate healthy returns.
English major Katie (Katie Featherston) and day trader Micah (Micah Sloat) are happily cohabiting except for one nagging wrinkle—Katie is convinced that the house is haunted. He buys a video camera to document the phenomenon. The couple also brings in an expert (Michael Bayouth) on paranormal activity, but his field of expertise is ghosts and he informs the couple that the item infringing on their personal space is, in fact, a demon. Moving out of the house will not help as Katie reveals that whatever this thing is it has been in her life since she was a little girl. Perhaps, as Katie suggests, it doesn't like Micah's camera or perhaps it is jealous of his relationship with her, but whatever the reason this is one angry demon and getting more enraged by the day. Night after night over a period of about a month, Micah's camera records its escalating hostility.
Peli's use of sound to generate fear is the movie's strongest asset. It is creepy to hear heavy footsteps on the stairs when there is no one there or to listen to what sounds like entire bookcases being hurled across a room. Also effective is the way the lingering camera emphasizes the vulnerability of the sleeping couple in the bed, especially when the sudden movement of a sheet underlines the idea that they are not alone. Scenes like that are genuinely chilling. It is too bad that they are undercut by the extremely silly. Lights turning on and off by themselves seem more the work of an otherworldly prankster than evil incarnate. A scene where the bedroom door moves back and forth, controlled by an invisible hand, merely makes the demon look nervous, rendering it less frightening.
The idea of a portable demon that affords no means of escape is clever, or would be if the idea were believable. But Katie is way too happy in the beginning to convince us that she’s spent most of her life living with a stalker to whom temporary restraining orders do not apply. Has it been dormant for a while? Did she think it had gone away? Those nagging little details are never really addressed, emphasizing the tale's implausibility and working against the horror.
The weakest element in the movie is the couple at the heart of it. Katie is a whiner and Micah is a motormouth idiot with less common sense than an opossum. Even when it becomes obvious that Katie has not been imagining things and that they are in deep trouble, he alters neither his constant yammering nor his obnoxious demeanor. There should be some rooting interest in Katie and Micah somehow triumphing over their spectral intruder, but they are both so annoying that it is hard not to come to the conclusion that they deserve this demon infestation. But trapped in the house with this prattling, airhead couple, does it deserve them?
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Cast: Katie Featherston, Micah Scott and Michael Bayouth
Director/Screenwriter: Oren Peli
Producer: Jason Blum and Oren Peli
Genre: Horror
Rating: R for language.
Running time: 99 min.
Release Date: September 25 ltd.
48 Comments
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Anonymous said:
BEST MOVIE EVER
October 5, 2009 6:09 AM
CHRIS said:
YOU FAIL AT MOVIES IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE THIS. TRY ACTUALLY GIVING THATS ACTUALLY SCARY ITS CREDIT. ESPECIALLY FOR ITS BUDGET. THIS MOVIE WAS AWESOME AND ANYONE WHO SAYS OTHERWISE HAS EITHER NOT SEEN IT, DOESNT LIKE HORROR MOVIES, OR IS JUST PLAIN DUMB. TAKE YOUR PICK.
October 12, 2009 9:54 PM
Sam said:
You fail at typing. Try using lowercase, and opt for complete sentences (your second sentence makes no sense). If you're going to call people "just plain dumb," it helps to avoid appearing so yourself.
I'd say someone who thinks this is "awesome" hasn't seen many horror movies. I love 'em, and thought this was pretty good, nothing more. Worth seeing, but hardly the scare-gasm many are saying it is. This review is pretty much spot-on.
October 16, 2009 7:20 AM
Anonymous said:
This movie was not all it was hyped up to be. It would have been more scary to me if they acted how real people would, if they were scared for example turning on the lights in the house instead of walking around in the dark with a camera light going what was that noise would have been better. Im not easily scared so I was disappointed that this movie didnt scare me.
October 16, 2009 8:16 AM
Anonymous said:
"Paranormal Activity is so cheesy that it ought to come with a warning for the lactose intolerant."
It takes cheesy to know cheesy I guess. How long have you been waiting to use that line?
October 16, 2009 2:32 PM
Anonymous said:
I've heard this is a good movie. Horror Movies are overrated anyway. Texas Chainsaw massacre: Laughed through the whole thing.
October 16, 2009 3:21 PM
Anonymous said:
Blah blah blah
GET A LIFE!
October 16, 2009 4:57 PM
Anonymous said:
i think anyone who says it is scary or great movie is a real dumb... it is the worst movie that you will ever watch in your whole life
October 17, 2009 3:51 AM
Anonymous said:
I hated this movie it was a waste of money....SO LAME and BORING!!!!!!
October 17, 2009 6:30 PM
Anonymous said:
YOU GUYS REALLY HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO HUH?!?
October 17, 2009 7:16 PM
Fred said:
I saw this movie tonight and I do not plan on going to bed tonight. I knew beforehand that it was made on a rediculously low budget, so I acdepted it in that context...no computerized special effects...not even the effects seen in the Exorcist. Accept its low budget terms and you will enjoy the movie.
October 17, 2009 11:06 PM
AK said:
99% of this movie is slamming doors, flickering lights, footsteps in the dark. 1% of this movie is actually pretty creepy and would almost be scary if it wasnt predictable. If you actually want to make this movie scary, dont go into a movie theatre with all the screaming dumbasses, wait untill the dvd and watch it at home with the lights turned off, atleast then you wont have an overweight latina screaming "oh hells no!" in the seat next to you...but then again some might still have that problem. ;-)
October 18, 2009 3:00 AM
D said:
the beginning of this movie, made me dizzy and got a slight headache. i almost left but then things started to move (the door) so I thought I'd stick it out and watch what would happen next. I'm still not convinced that this was based on a true story. Is Katie for real?
October 18, 2009 2:00 PM
Ash said:
Don't waste your money. It's all hype. The movie was not scary. I've seen better Ghost Hunters episodes.
October 19, 2009 10:21 AM
Adam said:
You didn't even watch the movie, you horrible bad-reviewing buffoon.. the whole point of reviewing is actually paying attention to the ****ing movie. She didn't believe the house was haunted, try again..
This review fails.
October 19, 2009 11:34 AM
Anonymous said:
I am going to see this movie later on tonight with a couple of friends and some girls. *hint hint*. I appreciate the reviews I've read and hope this movie isnt all hype. I want this girl im taking to jump into my arms =]
October 19, 2009 3:09 PM
Anonymous said:
Old hat.
Predictable. Derivative. Boring. And TV does it better.
I paid money for this?
October 19, 2009 7:58 PM
ML said:
I have not seen the movie yet--came here for some advice but clearly people are divided. For the person who laughed all the way through Texas Chainsaw, You may never be scared. I should introduce you to my mother-in-law.haha
October 22, 2009 8:52 PM
Susan said:
What a letdown. I just saw the movie tonight and was very disappointed. It is NOT scary. Not even a little bit. Zip Zero Zilch. What a ripoff.
October 23, 2009 7:34 PM
Anonymous said:
Everyone just needs to get over themseleves and enjoy going to the movies for what it is.
October 24, 2009 11:09 AM
Eric said:
People in the movie thedere I went too while watching the movie were laughing it was so bad... Best part was the last 5 mins.
October 24, 2009 1:17 PM
Nick said:
I saw this movie the other day with a couple of friends. While I did find it very predictable at parts, I still enjoyed seeing it. I'm the type of person that usually laughs his way through a horror film. This movie was different. I enjoyed the concept but agree the acting might have been corney at times. The paranormal specialist was hilarious the few times he shows up. It's fun to be in a packed theatre when someone spills a drink and half the crowd freaks out. I reccomend it. (:
October 25, 2009 2:27 AM
Anonymous said:
****tiest scary movie ever. People jumped out of their seats last night when I saw it for lights turning on in the movie. OOOO scary, people just had really LOW expectations for this movie and that's what they got. A really CRAP movie.
October 25, 2009 8:30 AM
Linzer said:
I saw this moving last night, and I couldn't help but notice that the parts I was looking forward to were not even in the movie. In the trailer, the "demon" picked up micah and threw him through the bedroom door, against the camera. That was one of the parts I was looking forward to...Shutting him up. I thought that the idea for this movie was plausible, but even after she asks him repeatedly to put down the camera, she still ends up shooting scenes and holding it for him to climb into the creepy attic. I just feel that if you have to flat-out lie about your silly little movie, maybe you should look at the movie itself and see if this is what you really want to show people.
October 26, 2009 4:34 AM
Sonya said:
Worst movie ever. Don't waste your money or your time. And please do not compare it with the Blair Witch Project, that was an awesome movie !
October 26, 2009 12:47 PM
Crystal said:
Considering how well they've been doing in to box office I'd have to say this review was absolutely wrong about it not being able to gross what the Blair Witch Project grossed. I think they will reach the mark. Personally, I'm not into fake gory blood spewing scenes in horror movies. They look fake and over done. No fake blood, beheading, or overly psychotic sadistic murderers here! The couple acted quite normal. They didn't seem like they were acting, just living their everyday lives, adding to the tension of the film because it seemed so realistic. I thought the suspense was gripping and the whole theater was freaking out during the night scenes. I loved the movie, but to each their own I guess.
October 27, 2009 1:21 AM
Isabell said:
I felt tension at the beginning of the movie because I was waiting for the scary parts to happen which took some time. When they did happen, I found them creepy more than scary. I read reviews prior to going and they were glorious! I did not have the overwhelming theatre experience that some had but then I watch scary movies at home by myself all the time. There were some interesting moments but they remained unexplored and unexplained.
October 27, 2009 9:57 AM
brett said:
I watched this movie illegally on the internet and I still regret it. I can't imagine paying money to see this load of crap and horrible excuse for a movie. You couldn't pay me a million dollars to watch this movie again, actually a million dollars would be nice..
October 30, 2009 2:57 PM
Horrorbuff said:
To all you negative people on here, i've got something REAL scary for you, my foot in your ASS!
October 30, 2009 4:23 PM
Anonymous said:
The previews have the scariest part in the whole movie.This movie is lame and i dont suggest anyone seeing it.Waste of money.I know this review is lame too im not a good reviewer.But the movie was bad.
October 31, 2009 2:28 PM
Anonymous said:
Same gimmick as Blair Witch which did a better job of justifying why the main character keeps filming. Still a good scare and fun.
October 31, 2009 5:42 PM
Anonymous said:
It makes me mad that I supported such a dumb movie. I get scared in movies fairly easy and this one had me laughing at how dumb it was. I movie jumped just to get my moneys worth.
November 2, 2009 10:42 AM
Stephanie said:
I loved this movie. No exceptions. I knew the budget was low. I had heard mixed reviews, but, I watched this movie for my own pleasure. It was great.
November 2, 2009 2:35 PM
Anonymous said:
this movie sucked!!
November 2, 2009 2:44 PM
julie said:
I want the 90 minutes of my life back that watching this movie stole from me. it is incredible that this movie has been given "the scariest movie ever" title. It is the worst horror movie I have ever seen. Media hype does wonders for people. I hope the writer and producers are laughing all the way to the bank.
November 2, 2009 3:24 PM
me said:
scary as hell I would recommend this movie. If you go into it acting like a jackass who never gets scared and doesnt expect it do be atleast decent you wont like it though. Take it for what it is worth and you will appreciate the 6 dollar movie ticket!
November 4, 2009 4:07 PM
john said:
Complete waste of time. I love scary movies and was looking forward to seeing this. Don't believe all the hype.
November 6, 2009 3:35 AM
MAdison said:
im going to this movie tonight is it crap or scary??? i need the truth!
November 6, 2009 10:09 AM
david said:
its scary as ****!!! go see it madison.
November 6, 2009 10:11 AM
BobbyD said:
Stephen King once compared the imagination to a muscle. Horror, sci-fi and movies about the fantastic require a very strong muscle to do the heavy-lifting. Some folks have a strong one, others... well, not so much. Most moviegovers have let that muscle astrophy. I like a good work out from time to time to keep in shape. If you fight the workout and resist it, you'll never reap the benefits (a good scare, in this case).
Horror films are just like any other genre -- there are good ones and there are bad ones. I appreciate when a film maker attempts something different, whether it succeeds or not. "Paranormal Activity" succeeds on many levels and rises above the cliched slice and dice mayhem provided by the "Saw" franchise (though the first one was exeeding clever and disturbing) and the like. And you know what? I'm not dumb, either -- as one reviewer here suggested. And neither is anyone else who likes this flick (OK, some might be, but not because they liked "Paranormal Activity." There is really no correlation there.) If you prefer the brooding schmaltz and ham-fisted production of films like "Twilight" (I can't believe they turned my beloved horror genre into a teen chic-flick!) then have at it. Not much muscle required there. But I won't call you stupid... just easy to please.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to check under my bed. Sweet dreams.
November 6, 2009 7:49 PM
RICKY said:
This movie was very disapointing. It needed better actors and definently more money. Is hollywood running out of ideas? Where is Stephen Speilberg when you need him?
November 6, 2009 9:35 PM
morgan said:
you definately are wrong. this movie was the scariest movie i ever have seen, and i've been sleeping with my light on and music playing ever since. maybe you should go watch it again and this time watch it instead of trying to critique it :/
November 7, 2009 4:02 PM
morgan again said:
plus, not too mention, there will probably be another one that will answer all the unanswered questions.
November 7, 2009 4:06 PM
Anonymous said:
Just plain s.u.c.k.e.d. , if this movie scared you, your area true puss
November 7, 2009 6:39 PM
Anonymous said:
Just plain s.u.c.k.e.d. , if this movie scared you, your are a true puss
November 7, 2009 6:40 PM
Nikkita said:
I jumped into this movie from another not really knowing anything about it besides a lot of people were going to watch it. I didn't catch it from the beginning, but being someone that knew nothing about the movie (and hence had no expectations or prior opinions), I didn't think it was that bad. I think you have to put yourself in the directors seat, and imagine that it's all real footage.
November 9, 2009 10:51 PM
Anonymous said:
This movie was a little creepy, but not as good as everyone has made it out to be. It's worth seeing, but probably not worth spending your money on. Wait until it comes out on TV I would say. I really expected a lot more from it.
November 10, 2009 7:19 AM
Anonymous said:
I saw the movie last week and liked it. I like movies that have demons or ghosts that you do not get to see (obviously), because you never know if your alone. I enjoyed this movie and would recommend to go see it. If you do not want to spend full price go to matinee.
November 10, 2009 8:47 AM