Prettyphile Posted October 10, 2009 Share Posted October 10, 2009 Release Date: No Release Date Available Director: Oren Peli Writer: Oren Peli Starring: Katie Featherston Micah Sloat Studio: DreamWorks Rating: R SYNOPSIS A young couple suspects that their house is haunted by a malevolent entity. They set up video surveillance to capture evidence of what happens at night as they sleep. Their surveillance and home videos have been edited into the 99 minute feature film "Paranormal Activity". Bloody Disgusting Review A scary haunted house movie! A scary haunted house movie! And it’s not even Poltergeist! Yes, Paranormal Activity managed to do something that almost no other haunted house movie in the past 25 years has managed to do: actually be scary (1408 got a few jumps out of me, though nowhere near as effective as this). Like Blair Witch, it’s presented entirely through self-shot footage (or from a fixed tripod in their bedroom), and ramps up from simple noises to truly freaky ‘violent’ acts. The increasingly terrifying nature of the scares is what really makes the film work – if you just watched the finale by itself, you’d be pretty perplexed as to why anyone was scared by it (just like Mike standing in a corner isn’t really that interesting unless you’ve been totally sucked into the previous 80 minutes). Also, as the film is entirely digital video that looks no better/worse than what any average Joe can shoot, the scares are fully believable. There’s a subconscious acceptance that what you are seeing is real when it’s digital video (it’s not all glossed up and “cinematic”), which is what made those Ratchet and Clank commercials work so great. So when added to the perfectly paced ramping of scares, it proves incredibly frightening. The acting is also good, something that posed a problem with a few characters in Diary of the Dead. There’s really only two people in the film, and unlike Heather in Blair Witch, they never get too shrill or just plain unlikable, even as they begin to bicker with one another. I totally believe them as a couple, and they sell their fear quite well too. And the film does a good job of making their actions with the camera logical for the most part (100% admiration for how the finale is “filmed”). The hilarious thing about the whole presentation was that it was preceded by 10 minutes of some new A&E show called Paranormal State, which deals with a “real” paranormal research team. The footage was cheesy and laughable, and without any sort of suspense. So yes, the “real show” wasn’t as believable as the movie that we knew damn well was fake. Then the guys who host/produce the show came out after the movie and more or less dismissed the film while tooting their own horn. Wisely, I (and many others) just left them to suck their own cocks while I talked to the filmmaker/cast of Paranormal Activity in the lobby. Which is the great thing about Screamfest, and any independent film festival in general; you can often just chat up with the filmmaker after the film and not be bothered by 40 other people in the process. Not to mention laugh at the actors in stupid basic cable shows for talking about things like “Dead time”. Not sure if there’s a release date for this one (it doesn’t even have an IMDb page!) but hopefully it will play in theaters (though I suspect it will play just as well at home). Take it from me, dismisser of nearly every film of its kind I have ever seen – this one DOES work as an actual ‘scary’ movie. Score: 8 / 10 QUOTES “THE SENSE OF DREAD Is Sustained the Entire Time” - Peter Paras E! ONLINE “GENUINELY HAIR-RAISING” - ORLANDO SENTINEL “Go See It. Tell Your Friends GOOD LUCK SLEEPING” - FILM SCHOOL REJECTS “THE SCARIEST MOVIE OF THE DECADE ” - CHICAGONOW.COM “THIS IS A FILM YOU MUST SEE IN THEATERS” - Brad Brevet ROPE OF SILICON “'Paranormal Activity' is FREAKY & TERRIFYING” - Owen Gleiberman ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY “THE SENSE OF DREAD Is Sustained the Entire Time” - Peter Paras E! ONLINE “GENUINELY HAIR-RAISING” - ORLANDO SENTINEL “Go See It. Tell Your Friends GOOD LUCK SLEEPING” - FILM SCHOOL REJECTS “THE SCARIEST MOVIE OF THE DECADE ” - CHICAGONOW.COM “THIS IS A FILM YOU MUST SEE IN THEATERS” - Brad Brevet ROPE OF SILICON Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prettyphile Posted October 10, 2009 Author Share Posted October 10, 2009 REVIEW: ImdbNo nonsense horrorThis isn't your typical horror movie. Not flashy with insane special effects and buckets of fake blood, not some giant killer with a knife or chainsaw or machete. This is exactly what it was called, Paranormal Activity, a movie that once it grabs you it never lets go. I am going out on a limb with confidence in saying I am the biggest horror fan alive, no offense to anyone but just test me and you'll agree. This is now in my top 3 best movies of all time (If you don't have annoying people laughing in the theater while you watch it). Every moment was intense and breathtaking, a horror work of art. the supernatural is so unknown, movies like this have a way of forcing themselves into your mind and staying there. This is the epitome of that, I am not going to say much more. Please watch it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prettyphile Posted October 10, 2009 Author Share Posted October 10, 2009 I'm not going to go with the hype on this film just yet. I'll be seeing the movie either today or in the next few days... so I can only hope this movie will be as good as everyone's making it out to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birkin Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 is it a comedy ? very funny trailer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badkids Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 I found the movie to be funnier than scary. I thought it was a good movie, but it wasn't scary at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azgirl Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 I think that has been the best trailer i watch about this movie.. But I think I am going to wait for it to come out on video.. Something says it will be soon. It looks like another blair Witch Project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ariesdior Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 I want to see it but I'm not going to pay to see it. I'll watch it online during the day just in case it is scary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azgirl Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 I want to see it but I'm not going to pay to see it. I'll watch it online during the day just in case it is scary.I watch a lot of movies online too.. Do you have night mares after a scary movie? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ariesdior Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 yes, I get scared easily so I have to watch scary movies during the day and with someone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dizzymisslizzy Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 im afraid to go see it...is it like the blair witch with alot of camera shaking? Because..I will throw up like in Cloverfield..ugh. it made me sick for all the shaking and quick movements from the camera. I do want to see it maybe just not in the theater, and with a bucket near by lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ophelia_Immortal Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 It was freaky as hell! I haven't been able to sleep well for 2 nights because I am so scared.Never watching it again and regret doing so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy The Ram Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 Yeah this was a great film! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egluze Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 Cool film! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valentorg Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 It was freaky as hell! I haven't been able to sleep well for 2 nights because I am so scared.Never watching it again and regret doing so.lolThat's basically what happened to me.I forced myself to think nothing but positive thoughts all night(because the demon fed off their negativity in the movie) and wouldn't turn my tv off when I went to bed.Part of me wants to watch it again but I just...can't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobd418 Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 This movie is really very scary. Both the parts makes you shit in your pants. They are really very scary and horrifying but worth watching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siniko Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 dreadful movie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COP11 Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Well both 1 and 2 freaked the fuck outta me! And to think that this really does happen to people is even more freakier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad Apple Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 I want to see the sequel. Gotta check if it's out on video. :magic: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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