‘Paranormal Activity’ Proves that Less is More when it Comes to Horror
-----The hype has been building week after week for the $15,000-budget horror thriller, ‘Paranormal Activity.’ Initially in Limited Release, playing only at midnight in select theaters, the film then launched one of the finest marketing campaigns in cinematic history. Now in Wide Release across the country, it feels good to see a quality movie rising to the top on its merit rather than its budget.
-----‘Paranormal Activity’ is filmed in the tradition of ‘The Blair Witch Project,’ and more recently, ‘Cloverfield.’ Filmed with a handheld camera to give the effect of realism, audiences are spared from nausea by the fairly consistent use of a tripod in ‘Paranormal.’ The story follows the struggle of a couple, one of whom is has been haunted by an unknown entity since she was eight. What they capture on film in the late night hours only leads them further in their pursuit to find out, and rid themselves of this possessed being haunting them. ‘Paranormal’ is two parts gimmick and three parts suspense, all mashed up for a potent final product-fun.
-----In an original and bold move sure to upset the Directors Guild, the creators behind ‘Paranormal Activity’ have opted to leave out any form of traditional credits, furthering their “it’s real” theatrics. Focusing almost solely on the two leads, ‘Paranormal’ stars Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat. Featherston plays a convincing, scared, and tired female protagonist, though her dialogue gets a bit repetitive as the film moves along. Sloat plays somewhat of a comic relief, somewhat of an antagonist, as he is determined to charge onward in the search for the entity, much to his haunted girlfriends’ eventual opposition. He is strong in the role, easily portraying a believable male personality, and getting scared with the best of them. His character is less repetitive than Featherston’s, though some of his decisions seem downright stupid, if ultimately plausible. Neither of them is likely to find stardom from these roles, but both are more than adequate for the storytelling purposes of ‘Paranormal Activity.’ Here’s hoping their pay is a percentage of the film’s gross income rather than a flat rate.
-----Many of today’s moviegoers are desensitized. With detached limbs, token nudity, and ridiculous gore, nearly all modern horror titles are worthless. With films like this year’s ‘The Final Destination’ and ‘Halloween II,’ the premises are so dull and far fetched that there’s absolutely nothing feasible for an audience to grasp on to. With ‘Paranormal’ on the other hand, the mystery and subtlety of the haunting is scary in its own right. Audiences will be able to stretch their take on reality just enough to be completely enthralled in the thrilling tale being told. Showing the absolute minimum on camera to keep you on you toes for 90 minutes, the film’s earliest scenes are some of its best, drenched with the promise of what is to come. Consistently employing the idea, “the only thing to fear is fear itself,” the film relies completely on anticipation to fuel its runtime. A creaking door and silent footsteps in the night are all things people experience, whether by a stretch of the imagination or the nuances of a noisy house, and that applies to the film’s lasting eeriness. Furthermore, by the time ‘Paranormal Activity’ hits its home stretch, the rising suspense is nearly overwhelming, and whether or not viewers are satisfied by the conclusion, it is no doubt fitting for the story.
-----There is no musical score for ‘Paranormal Activity,’ unless you count the people occupying the seats next to you. Vulgarity and premature screams echo throughout the theater as the audience reaction proves to be half the fun. The credit then must go to the film, for inspiring such consistently intense reactions from its viewers. The critic in me was too interested in the guerilla-style filmmaking and spot-on low budget effects work to be completed frightened throughout the entirety of the film. The sly effects work is reminiscent of last year’s low-budget Swedish horror outing, ‘Let the Right One In.’ Indeed, ‘Paranormal Activity’ proved to be an endlessly entertaining experience as I listened to audience reaction and occasionally joined in on the audible fear myself. After teasing the audience with the precision of a surgeon for the duration of the film, the culmination of these numerous factors is a wicked and vibrant crescendo that gets the five-star reaction everyone’s been waiting for. Seeing this one in theaters is a necessity, with a home-setting threatening to ruin many of its calculated suspense tactics.
-----With a more satisfying conclusion than ‘Cloverfield,’ ‘Paranormal Activity’ is expertly managed by Director Oren Peli. Peli has managed to make the most suspenseful, fun, and fear-inducing thriller in years, and he’s done it with less than most people make in a year. And really, not enough can be said about the brilliant marketing scheme, which had people, including myself, demanding it online after simply seeing its ad. The hype has only made it more fun, as what could have been lucky to get to DVD, has now become a bonafide event film. Much like the no-budget phenomenon ‘Napoleon Dynamite,’ ‘Paranormal Activity’ has spread like a virus across the nation, and will surely become the gold mine for parodies and references that ‘Napoleon’ has entertained. Unlike ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ however, ‘Paranormal Activity’ is actually good, living up to the hype of anyone with realistic expectations. Consequently, those expecting the overhyped epic that some sold it as, may be disappointed; but as for me I found nothing but pure fun in ‘Paranormal.’
-----Taking a page from this year’s ‘Drag Me to Hell’ (a film also superior to most modern horror, though that isn’t saying much), some may be offended by the basis of horror in the film. Though most viewers, especially those who know what they’re getting into, should be able to enjoy the film as the fun it is, and realize that’s it’s all in good spirit, never legitimately claiming to be anything more than fiction. Its storytelling technique no doubt helps modern audiences engage in the story. Due to the nature of the story being told, repeat viewings (or at least ones without virgin viewers of the film present) may be impractical and eventually dull for those who already know the outcome. I was thankfully able to avoid the trailer and go in with relatively small information about the film, and had all the more fun for it, so I encourage you to learn as little as you before seeing it. In reality, as a standalone film, ‘Paranormal Activity’ is only a good movie; but taken as a dark theater, late night experience, fellow friends by your side and a captivated crowd to cap it off, supplemented with the knowledge of just how far this film has come from humble origins, ‘Paranormal’ becomes one of the year’s premium displays of suspenseful storytelling, and the first film in years to make falling asleep a task.
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