Paranormal Activity

Starring: Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Mark Fredrichs
Directed by: Oren Peli
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Thriller
2009

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: A couple (Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat) struggle with unexplained paranormal activity, which terrorizes them at night. They set up a camera to capture evidence of the haunting, but they soon realize the activity is becoming stronger- and more dangerous.

Review:

Tim: Paranormal Activity can only be described as a phenomenon. For a film that cost less than $15,000 to make to gross over $107,000,000 and spur remarkable word of mouth, you know there will be buzz aplenty about it. I have heard this film called the scariest movie of the decade, the scariest movie of all time, etc. Those titles are overwhelming, because there is no way any movie can satisfy everyone when expectations are so high. Despite all of that, much of the buzz was correct- this movie is very, very good. It is incredibly scary, unforgettable, and proof that big budgets aren't the only way to create a great story.

I was so impressed with the scope of this movie. Instead of trying to tell too big of a story, it focused on a small scale- but told that story effectively and in incredible fashion. This is a movie about two people and the unexplained phenomenon that has cursed them. I love the close quarters, the almost claustrophobic feel of the film. I also loved the single-camera technique. It is so simple, and yet, so brilliant. So many horror movies today are all flash- if they throw enough up on screen, sooner or later, someone will jump at something. Paranormal Activity takes the less-is-more approach, and it works. Our greatest fears here are not in the special effects- the things we can see... but in the things in which we cannot.

I loved the cast. It was great that it was kept to the minimum possible- it gives us more time to identify and focus on those important characters. I also loved the casting- these are not the most experienced actors, and this movie is better for it. Katie Featherston was the critical piece to this film, and she was wonderful. While not the most believable or realistic actor, it worked for this movie. Occasionally, I didn't buy her performance, but that made this all the more realistic. She seemed like what you would expect if ordinary people filmed great portions of their life. I also thought she hit all the right notes- playful, concerned, worried, frightened, and then, terrified. I was amazed by her here.

I also really liked Micah Sloat, but for different reasons. His character wasn't the greatest, but that is what this film needed. His cockiness, arrogance, and utter lack of respect for the more terrifying evils of this world is easy to criticize- but there are so many people out there exactly like him. He represents a dangerous type of person- brave enough to confront the unknown terrors of the world, but stupid enough not to know when to stop. He was believable in the role, and I was impressed.

I love how this movie balanced the unseen with the seen. The real terrors of the film are the imagined ones- but this movie wisely shows us just enough to keep us interested and nervous. The movie balances character development with scares quite well. The pacing of the movie works, and it moves from point to point without getting bogged down unnecessarily. This movie could have been scarier. It is scary, but not as frightening and terrifying as many would have you believe. I wish I had been more afraid.

While this isn't the greatest horror movie ever made, it is certainly one of the most impressive, with the story behind the film. This movie succeeded where so many bigger budget horror movies have failed. I thoroughly enjoyed this film from beginning to end, and I am one its fans. Paranormal Activity reminded that some of the best ideas don't come from where you might expect, and that surprises at the movies still exist.



Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Blair Witch Project, Poltergeist, The Exorcist