Spoiler Warning: This review contains minor spoilers.
This is what American horror needs more of. Amidst a wave of mindless, gore-filled sequels and remakes, Paranormal Activity is a proverbial breath of fresh air.
A few weeks ago, a friend invited me along to see a new horror movie called Paranormal Activity, which he claimed was supposed to be the scariest movie ever. Tired of the current trends in American horror films, I was hesitant to spend money on yet another scare-free horror flick. Not having heard much about it (this was before the nationwide release of the film), I talked to a few people and did a little bit of reading online. Though still hesitant to believe the growing hype, I was intrigued enough with what I found that I decided to give this movie a chance—by spending my hard-earned twelve bucks on it.
Those twelve bucks were well spent.
Paranormal Activity brings terror back into the horror genre, with subtlety and suspense rather than the usual blood-and-gore or endless jump scenes—neither of which create true scares. The first hour or so of this low-budget masterpiece plodded along pretty slowly, developing suspense while throwing in a number of laughs to ensure the audience’s continued attention and enjoyment. The last 30 minutes amped up the intensity several levels, leaving me gripping my armrests through the nerve-wracking denouement. Maybe it was just the energy drink I had before going to the theater, but I was even jittery while walking out of the theater to the car.
The Film:
• The handheld camera style of filmmaking in Paranormal is used the most effectively that I have seen in a movie, outshining Blair Witch, Cloverfield, and even Quarantine in its mockumentary approach.
• For the first five minutes or so of the movie, Katie Featherston’s acting bothered me a little, because she didn’t seem completely natural in her speaking and mannerisms. Then I realized that her acting was perfect, for she behaved just as most normal people do when they know they are in front of a camera—with a hint of unconscious affectation.
• The plot of the movie is one area that seems to be a bit lacking; however, I realize that the point of the movie was not to develop a complex storyline but to create an environment that would scare the crap out of people. Which it did—very effectively. Still, I think it could have used a bit more backstory/explanation of what was going on with the demon and how it related to Katie’s past.
• The one other aspect of the movie that I somewhat disliked (but more in retrospect than while at the theater) was the fact that there seemed to be a low rumbling noise every time the “demon” manifested itself in some way, almost as a cue that something crazy was about to happen. At first I thought it was an actual noise in the house, but neither character ever commented on it, so I am forced to assume that it was an addition to the “soundtrack” to clue me in to the fact that I should really pay attention—which was completely unnecessary, since my eyes were already glued to the screen.
I would like to congratulate and thank first-time director Oren Peli, for making a movie that I will not soon forget. Pure genius? Or sheer luck? Also, kudos to Paramount Pictures, for having the good sense to release the original film instead of going through with the planned remake. I strongly doubt that a few million dollars, some cheesy CGI effects, and B-list actors would have done anything to improve Paranormal. In fact, the opposite is much more likely.
As a closing note, I must say that I was fortunate to have seen Paranormal before its nationwide release, and well before it topped the box office, for I was able to watch it on its own merit, without comparing it to what was being said about it in the media. In that sense, the hype is unfortunate, because it can tend to give people impossible expectations for how scary the movie will be. But at the same time, I am very glad that Paranormal is getting the recognition it deserves. Is Paranormal Activity overrated? Yes, but not by much.
Intelligence Level: 6/10
Scare Factor: Extreme
Violence Level: Very Low
Overall Rating: 9/10
Best Quote: “Everything’s going to be all right now….”
“Moral of the Story”: Don’t screw with demons. They will screw you back.
