From first time director, Oren Peli, Paranormal Activity tracks the story of a young couple who move into what seems like a typical suburban house until they become increasingly disturbed by a presence they experience in the middle of the night. In the style of The Blair Witch Project, all of the low budget handi-cam footage is presented as if it had been discovered after the fact, shot by the couple as they experience these strange happenings.
There are moments in Paranormal Activity when you have to ask yourself why you’re so terrified. This much-hyped, low-budget flick is really no more than a boogeyman thriller. With a budget of just US$15,000, writer-director Oren Peli didn’t even need to invest in a set, shooting the entire thing in his house.
The film’s limited setting means there’s much repetition – your heart rate will literally oscillate as the sun goes up and down. But thanks to its less-is-more filmmaking techniques, Paranormal’s biggest triumph is its ability to ramp up the tension throughout. Much of the time it’s like waiting for an electric shock.
It helps that the two main leads are so easy to watch. Their take-the-piss relationship does plenty to calm the nerves in the lead-up to the scary stuff – comic relief has never been so welcome. Yes, there are a couple of silly bits and you must suspend disbelief to get the full effect, much like its forefather, The Blair Witch Project.
Because the home-footage, cinema verite style has been done before, it’s not as impressive as it might have been ten years ago. But if it’s an old-fashioned fright night you’re after, you won’t be disappointed.
By Rebecca Barry Hill, Flicks.co.nz
I think Paranormal Activity will be a great selling movie so I recommend this for all the veiwers that are up for a thrill!!!
Omg.. It wasn't even scary and i'm scared of everything lol. It was so fake.. I don't really think the people who are in this movie could act. So don't waste your time watching it.
i loved this movie i think it had the SCARY element but not overly scary. It was such a great move ! !
so much hype and what a let down.The Spanish film REC uses the same idea of demon an they did a better job. This so drawn out that by the end you know whats coming its almost insulting.I woke to find my son in the hallway with a bleeding nose(picked it too much ha-ha) that was scary. This is not. handy cam movies should have been buried with Blair Witch.
Ive never been less scsred in my life. night after night waiting for something to happen.The ending was so predictable.Very disapointing.Or did I fall asleep and miss the scarey bits?Ive been more scared when the wind slams the door shut and the cat jumps on my bed.
An ingenious little horror film, so well made it's truly scary.
Paranormal" ultimately does deliver in a way that "Blair Witch" never did, but its achingly slow buildup is a test not just of an audience's patience but the power of hype surrounding the latest alternative scary movie.
Peli works at mining the unknown, the unknowable, like a minimalist, using small moments and virtually no special effects exceedingly well.
With a $15,000 budget too puny to empty a petty-cash drawer, the no-frills Paranormal Activity comes packed with thrills.
Beyond the viral ingenuity of the marketing, what's cool about PA is that it's not just a fun thrill ride; it's an instructive artistic experience. A horror-movie revisionist, Peli follows a less-is-more strategy.
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Thursday, 7th Jan 2010.
Release date: January 7th 2010.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
