Horror suspense on a shoestring budget can still rivet audiences
Written: Sep 25 '09 (Updated Sep 26 '09)
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Product Rating:
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| Bang For The Buck |
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Pros: Decent script and acting, no graphic violence, surprisingly convincing special effects
Cons: Filming everything on one video camera becomes irritating after a while
The Bottom Line: People who like the horror genre and are interested in what new film talent is doing should enjoy this movie, but those demanding slick productions should stay away.
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| adriennefoster's Full Review: Paranormal Activity |
Following on the tails of The Blair Witch Project, Paranormal Activity is a simply produced horror suspense flick that does an excellent job of commanding the attention of its audiences. For the past couple of years, it has been making the rounds at film festivals around the world and is now going into limited distribution. The story, acting, and some production values do a good job of rising suspense, but the use of one camera could be its biggest drawback.
Katie (Katie Featherston) and Micah (Micah Sloat) are a young couple who have been together for three years. Taking their relationship to the next step, Katie, a student, has moved into Micah's house in San Diego. They have been noticing some strange noises around the house at night, so Micah purchases a video camera to film their bedroom while they are sleeping. When they capture some phenomena during playback, Katie calls in a psychic (Michael Bayouth) for a reading and advice. The psychic insists it is not a simple haunting; he believes they are being stalked by a demon and recommends a demonologist. Micah, however, believes they can handle the problem themselves and refuses to call, but the phenomena he records escalates as he practices his TAPS-style investigation techniques.
The acting in this 2007 movie was surprisingly well done, considering Featherston (Mutation, Walking Distance) and Sloat have few, if any, credits in their careers. The characters in Director Oren Peli's script may not be at their full capacity, but the acting was persuasive enough for viewers to suspend their disbelief. There was also some touches of humor throughout the story. The biggest weakness in the cast is Bayouth, who loses the moment when he pays his second visit.
Filmed entirely in and around Micah's house reflects the movie's limited budget, but Peli and the crew deliver some convincing special effects with all that considered. The house is attractively designed and decorated, not only giving viewers a good idea of the couple's financial status and organizational abilities, but also making it an becoming background. On the other hand, it soon grows irritating never being given a full, clean shot of a scene when Katie and Micah argue. It was SOP to keep one of the actors off screen and that was usually Micah. Since he's actually a nice looking young man, this is disappointing. In addition, there is no music score, so it misses any mood building from that quarter.
Despite the drawbacks of its filming budget, which was even less than what Blair Witch Project had, it was horror more in the tradition of Edgar Allen Poe. This movie left the really gruesome parts to the imagination instead of inflicting the audience with graphic violence and spurting blood. Having so many of the young people screaming in the auditorium when they were startled became really annoying, but obviously they were paying attention.
This movie is rated R for language and probably the intensity of its suspense. Parents might want to watch it first before they decide whether it's something their kids can handle.
If the response at last night's screening in Santa Cruz, California, is any indication, Paranormal Activity should do well. Even though this flick appeals to a young audience, it is mature enough for older crowds. Those who like the genre might appreciate seeing what some budding film talent is doing. Even though the story still comes through regardless of the lack of varied camera shots, people who have no tolerance for vehicles with limited production resources should stay away.
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Scary Movie
Viewing Method: Sneak Preview at My Local Theater
Film Completeness: A few glitches, but mostly complete.
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