PARANORMAL ACTIVITY is the scariest movie since The Exorcist. It’s not perfect but it’ll definitely bother your sleep. Writer/director Oren Peli has created not only a phenomenon for this generation but he has also… restored our faith in horror genre which has been tainted by meaningless slashers and unnecessary torture porn in recent years. It’s haunting, creepy, and no matter how hard you try to man-up, it will freak you out.
After a young, middle class couple moves into what seems like a typical suburban “starter” tract house, they become increasingly disturbed by a presence that may or may not be somehow demonic but is certainly most active in the middle of the night.
Especially when they sleep. Or try to.
I’m impressed how much Oren Peli has done with just $15,000 budget. The shaky camera method isn’t as annoying Cloverfield because the important scenes are the ones captured in the middle of the still night when the two characters are trying to sleep in their supposedly quite bedroom. The movie’s strength lies in leaving a lasting impression in your mind that.. you can fight robbers, you can mace intruders,.. but you can’t control what you can’t see, especially if that which you cannot see often attacks you when you’re in your most vulnerable state, when you’re fast asleep. Ar one point it even breaks the fourth wall for a quick second.
THE EXORCIST is still the undisputed champion in my book because the build up in PARANORMAL ACTIVITY is rather slow, not until the last 30 minutes or so that it finally gets unpredictable. I understand Peli’s need in character development but the couple’s arguments can get annoying. The movie is not scripted but the result more or less feels like watching a badly written reality show. That said, the guy is a stereotype of those immature men who are too proud to admit defeat and yet he’s like Steve Irwin, always curious and trying to videotape every single thing, always approaching the danger often without calculation just for the hell of it, not considering the danger it might have on himself and the people around him and the girl is a stereotype of those who fall for guys who aren’t so bright but eventually she’s had about enough. It takes a while for the movie to finally grab hold of you and make sure you’ll sleep with lights on for days.
It’s not some old haunted mansion, it’s your usual nice suburb house. Peli wants you to know that it could happen anywhere, even in your own home, that may be new or you just bought yesterday. What really gives you the creep is you can sense when the demon is approaching. You may never know yet exactly what time or what exactly it’ll do but when it comes near, Peli provides a very excellent sound effect that you’ll remember for a long time. Once again, the shot is in the bedroom, the door is open, it’s practically brilliant because then Peli can play with what’s going on just right outside that bedroom door. The lights, the footsteps, the swinging door, that breathing sound yet again, every element gets worse and worse each night until it finally takes its toll and claims its victims. Sam Raimi’s DRAG ME TO HELL is an equally terrifying demon film but that one was more fun and thrilling thanks to the VFX but Peli’s PARANORMAL ACTIVITY on the other hand is simple and convincing because it looks more possible to happen to anyone.
Take somebody to watch it with you,… a girl would scream and a guy would try to cover their eyes but not quite.
Finally, a scary movie that’s really scary.
* Place the cursor on the image below to check my grade for this film
Paranormal Activity is simply the best horror movie in the last decade, and yes i agree The Exorcist still holds the crown. it’s different style though, i would put this above The Blair Witch Project by miles.
I didn’t think Blair Witch Project was scary at all… I thought it was annoying and the sequel was equally lame.
The Exorcist was a different style but it had one thing in common with PARANORMAL ACTIVITY… they’re both about getting possessed.
Difference is The Exorcist was nominated for Best Picture.. I guess folks in the 70s liked it so much they thought it deserved the top honor… I don’t see that happening to Paranormal Activity though
It’s not scary, but it’s the father of all handheld camera style in films. and why i compared it to Paranormal Activity cos both films are inflicting fear without the showing the ghost or whatever u may call it. and the ending of The Blair Witch is a guy who appears possessed, if i’m not mistaken. and yes, the sequel sucks. I own both DVDs though.
The Exorcist deserved the top honor based on originality and acting-quality.
i would love to see this movie but i am too terrified to see it.
no doubt the exorcist is the scariest movie ever. its probably going to be the only movie the paramedics will have to be at the movie theater when shown.
but paranormal activity isn’t a visual thriller, its a phycological one. thats why people are so freaked out.
Good point,
THE EXORCIST went out of its way to embed graphic images in your mind
when PARANORMAL ACTIVITY sorta just.. messes with your mind.
Check it out, you might like it
Paranormal Activity was boring…hands down boring…I went to sleep on that. Man, that was sooo disappointing, acting was decent expect for the ghostbuster guy, and what a big help, which was an indicator of…mind as well leave cause the supsense has long pasted its expiration date. WOW, I wasted money and time…and thats a lose-lose situation there. At least Cardinals won(GO CARDS!)
I guess you’re one of the few..
I admit, the first half of the movie, the build up was a bit slow, just as I said in my review,.. but after that Ouija board scene, everything turned terrifying
OK, I despised Blair Witch. It was stupid, unscary, and annoying. PA…..scared thee crap outta me. Yes, it was slow to start, but, that worked. It worked because that was how it was meant to work. Would things have escalated had micah not gone nuts with the camer and shouting at the thing and so on, etc? Would it have just…subsided? We never know. What we do know is that katie’s final scream before micah runs downstairs…is still haunting me days later. I won’t say any more but yes, this movie DID deeply frighten me, and I am a grown skpetical man. I find myself feelin uneasy in my own suburban house these past couple nights…which means that the movie delivered on it’s promise.
That scream left a lasting impression indeed
it was like her and her demon just screamed at the same time in agony
Hahaha…come on, you guys didn’t laught when she got dragged out of bed??? That was funny, I can see Conan O’Brian spoofing on that. Also, the fire on the Ouija board…by the devils tears of joy that was soooo digital…and I know what real fire looks like.
If you put it that way, of course it sounds funny. lol
I can see your point about the fire thing… but keep in mind that it was a low budget production, like under $15,000 low.