Paranormal Activity

[blammo]

This looks like it's gonna be the next big thing.
Talk is...well, talk is talk, but...talk is this is one of the
scariest movies done in a looooong time. Scarier then
Blair Witch. People were walkin out of it midway through
it and not because it was bad.

But, then, I haven't seen it yet....could be good...

[Bron]

I have heared great things about it. I'm seeing it this weekend.

[Nick August]

I did have high hopes for this film but after reading a few reviews I'm not so sure, but they could be wrong too. Welcome back Bron,you've been off here for a while.

[jspartan]

As per the new FCC Guidelines I must disclose that I attended a free screening of Paranormal Activity on October 1st of this year at the Sherry Lansing Theater located on the Paramount Studios property.

I did not receive payment nor did I purchase a ticket for this event.

There, now I shouldn't get fined $11,000 for this review.

The short version...

See it.

The reviews can not match the actual feeling you will get when you watch this movie. Reviewers are going to going to build hype for this and its not going to match that hype. You need to see this for yourself.

There are many wonderful creepy moments in this film that a review just can not do justice. Literally when the movie started I was afraid of a shaky cam movie, like Cloverfield or The Blair Witch Project. However, as the film continued to its end, that fear of "crappy handheld" video changed to actual fear of what was going on onscreen.

Again you need to see this and judge for yourself.

Oh, and....

Warning here be spoilers.

theaters were instructed to play with the house lights as the film ends or after it ends. It took over a minute after the curtains closed for the lights to come on in the theater on the Paramount lot. Everyone in the rom was noticably shaken and uneasy with that long period of darkness

Highlight the portion above this sentence to read it. You haz been warned.

[kamikazesquid]

everyone I know that has seen it has said it's just OK. I think there's way too much hype over it. Also heard that it's basically Blair Witch Project all over again.

I'll probably see it eventually, but not gonna rush out to get a ticket.

[jspartan]

Its not Blair Witch Project again.

The camera only moves when then couple take it with them. Otherwise, it stays on a tripod or other stationary surface.

Where as the Blair Witch Project was mostly noise and non-events. There are more than a couple of creepy moments in Paranormal Activity.

For low budget filmmaking, it will have you perplexed and utterly chilled when you see some of the stuff that goes on during the film. Yes, it starts out slow but when the first documented night occurs, that won't matter anymore.

Fun facts on this movie...

Steven Spielberg took a screener DVD home and during the film, the room he was watching it in had the door lock on him. He had to call a locksmith to free him from the room.

Dreamworks, who bought the movie, had little faith in it so they wanted to remake it. They invited screenwriters to view the original and to their dismay, the writers were walking out. Not out of boredom but sheer terror.

-

This film brings back the idea of a scary movie slowly building to a terrifying and shocking climax. Its not just a Blair Witch or Cloverfield "knock off" where a lot of nothing happens except running and crying. The film actually gives you moments to catch your breath then hits you again.

[Nick August]

Tom,I didn't know you lived in LA..must be nice.Also there's another film like this coming called 'The Fourth Kind' about alien abductions which looks interesting too.

[Bron]

I really hate when something is getting good reviews and people start talking negative about it like they dont want to go with the flow. Nick you said after reading a few reviews your not to sure. Well I've been reading alot of reviews for a while now too and havent read one negative review. And also does everything have to be compared to something else? The movie looks nothing like The Blair Witch Project to me. I just dont understand people sometimes.
And thanks Nick, I havent left I still come here almost everyday to see if there are any interesting topics, I just havent posted for awhile. The Horror and Cult section hardly ever gets touched anymore.

[Nick August]

I have read a few negative reviews but I still want to see it.The trailer does make it look kinda like a video of an 'actual haunting' that's why people compare it to BW.The actors have been called 'too self-aware' of their acting that's the main complaint.The film reminds me of the old film 'The Entity' kind of.

[Bron]

I havent seen a scary haunted house movie in a long long time. Its a sub genere thats way overdo for a good scare.

[Nick August]

I haven't either,most are horrible,the last good one [even though it's not a typical haunted house] was 'The Orphanage'.

[Bron]

Yep that was good.

[Lily Powers]

I have to say that I did enjoy it. I went with my gal pal and while we both kinda saw the ending a mile off - it was still very suspenseful and really stuck with me for awhile.

[wildstorm]

Ok, I just got back from seeing this. I must say it was just, eh. When it was over I sat there and thought, "Is that it?" I mostly found myself chuckling at the other people in the theater for all there gasps and jumping.