Indie horror film fails to meet hype
Michael Hart
Issue date: 11/2/09 Section: Arts & Culture
Paranormal Activity
Paramount Films
Grade: C+
Writer and director Oren Peli's probably never thought his $11,000 budget pet project would grab Paramount's attention during 2007's Screamfest, and become the latest hot topic.
Paranormal Activity had a limited release on Sept. 25, 2009 but thanks to a persistent internet campaign, Paramount opened more screens each week.
On Oct. 23, Paranormal Activity received a wide release, and won at the box office that weekend.
The plot involves Katie, a frazzled grad student whose childhood paranoia causes her insomnia.
With a psychic's help, Katie thinks a demon followed her into her boyfriend Micah's house.
Micah who lives with Katie plays along, and records their bedroom at night to see if anything strange happens.
Much of Paranormal Activity's frights revolve around those nightly recordings.
Critics compared Paranormal Activity to The Blair Witch Project, and the resemblances cannot be ignored. That includes the unfocused and blurry camera angles, which makes it look like a YouTube video.
Actors Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat work well as the unfortunate couple.
For all of Paranormal Activity's limitations, it feels more authentic than summer blockbusters with bigger budgets to burn.
If only it were scarier. While the bizarre occurrences are plentiful, none of them chill to the bone.
The experience felt as harmless as a haunted house, and used the same eye-rolling tricks.
The last fifteen minutes thrilled somewhat, but hardly made up for the lack of legitimate scares. Paranormal Activity was all bark but no bite.
Bottom line: Although curious moviegoers might enjoy Paranormal Activity, do not be surprised if it underwhelms.
Darius Williamson
Paramount Films
Grade: C+
Writer and director Oren Peli's probably never thought his $11,000 budget pet project would grab Paramount's attention during 2007's Screamfest, and become the latest hot topic.
Paranormal Activity had a limited release on Sept. 25, 2009 but thanks to a persistent internet campaign, Paramount opened more screens each week.
On Oct. 23, Paranormal Activity received a wide release, and won at the box office that weekend.
The plot involves Katie, a frazzled grad student whose childhood paranoia causes her insomnia.
With a psychic's help, Katie thinks a demon followed her into her boyfriend Micah's house.
Micah who lives with Katie plays along, and records their bedroom at night to see if anything strange happens.
Much of Paranormal Activity's frights revolve around those nightly recordings.
Critics compared Paranormal Activity to The Blair Witch Project, and the resemblances cannot be ignored. That includes the unfocused and blurry camera angles, which makes it look like a YouTube video.
Actors Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat work well as the unfortunate couple.
For all of Paranormal Activity's limitations, it feels more authentic than summer blockbusters with bigger budgets to burn.
If only it were scarier. While the bizarre occurrences are plentiful, none of them chill to the bone.
The experience felt as harmless as a haunted house, and used the same eye-rolling tricks.
The last fifteen minutes thrilled somewhat, but hardly made up for the lack of legitimate scares. Paranormal Activity was all bark but no bite.
Bottom line: Although curious moviegoers might enjoy Paranormal Activity, do not be surprised if it underwhelms.
Darius Williamson
Be the first to comment on this story