“Cannibal Holocaust started it…The Blair Witch Project revived it…Paranormal Activity REVOLUTIONIZED it!”

Found footage style horror movies are the newest trend lately, and although not all are hugely successful, this new style of film making MUST give credit to the 2007 smash hit Paranormal Activity!  Written and directed by Oren Peli (Area 51) and co-produced by Blumhouse Productions founder Jason Blum (Sinister, Insidious, The Purge) the film has set the standard for today’s horror cinema.  Filmed in Peli’s own home and on a paper thin budget of only $15K, it stands as one of the most profitable movies ever made when it comes to the budget to profit ratio. Originally meant to be a big budget Hollywood movie, Steven Spielberg suggested releasing it as is (but with a different ending) due to the legitimate fright that it caused him.

THE PLOT

Micah (Micah Sloat) and Katie (Katie Featherston) are a young couple starting their lives together in their new suburban home. All seems well at first, but Katie begins to feel like something is wrong in the house. This prompts Micah to purchase a hand-held camera to try and document any strange occurrences.  A visit from a psychic reveals that the entity in their home is demonic and possibly malevolent, and he strongly advises against trying to communicate with it, adding that it may feed off of negative energy.

Micah seems to be nothing more than amused at this “evil spirit” and continually tries to antagonize it by asking for its reveal and mocking it every chance he gets, no matter how much it upsets Katie.  He sets up the camera on a tripod in the bedroom, and each night as they sleep, the activity seems to get worse and worse until it becomes clear that they’re now dealing with something that neither one of them could’ve expected and are powerless to stop!  This demonic entity seems to have followed Katie since her childhood, and it will continue to follow her until it gets what it wants!

SHOULD YOU SEE IT?

My wife stumbled across the trailer for this movie one night, and after one viewing my first reaction was “WE’RE WATCHING IT!”  After an online “demand it” feature, it was finally released nearby for a one night only midnight screening.  I wasn’t about to miss this opportunity, and I’m very glad I didn’t!  It had been a long time since a horror movie legitimately scared me, but this one REALLY did!  In fact my wife and I were affected by it so much, that we both had some sleepless night for several weeks after.  The surprise success of this film eventually launched a full on franchise of the series, and has since began a long line of “found footage” style horror movies that I personally have really enjoyed.  For a first time viewer of this film, I would recommend watching it in the dark without distraction to get the full effect. It’s not for everyone, and requires an open mind.  Will this film scare you like it did me? Well, that depends on what you consider to be scary.  Sure, a maniac with a weapon is pretty scary, but an unseen presence lurking in the dark waiting to attack is pretty terrifying!