Paranormal Activity (2007)

Director:

Oren Peli

Writer:

Oren Peli (screenplay)

Release Date:

16 October 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

What Happens When You Sleep?

Plot:

After moving into a suburban home, a couple becomes increasingly disturbed by a nightly demonic presence.

Plot Keywords:

House | Night | Demon | Handheld Camera | Torn Photograph

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Katie Featherston	...	Katie
Micah Sloat	...	Micah
Mark Fredrichs	...	The Psychic
Ashley Palmer	...	Diane
Amber Armstrong	...	Amber
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Randy McDowell	...	Lt. Randy Hudson
Tim Piper	...	Richard

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

86 min | 99 min (extended version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #45634) | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | UK:15 | Finland:K-15 | Ireland:15A | Australia:M (2009) | Singapore:NC-16 | Hong Kong:IIB | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | Germany:16 | Netherlands:16 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Portugal:M/12 | Brazil:14 | South Korea:12

Filming Locations:

San Diego, California, USA

Company:

Blumhouse Productions

Trivia:

Although released by Paramount, this film is unique in that the studio's logo does not appear, nor do credits, except for one establishing copyright.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: On night #21 the time-stamp changes from 11:59:56PM to 11.59.57AM despite it not having turned midnight yet.

Quotes:

Micah: [Micah replays the tape of him questioning the entity, when he asks "Would you like to you the Ouija board?" he hears a grunt] I'll take one for yes two for no.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Jay Leno Show: (#1.37)" (2009)

A Reminder Why We Love Horror

First of all I must say, living in Belgium, I have the benefit of not being caught up in the hype machine. I'm sure if I were living in the States, I too would be numb to the affects of this film.

I would imagine being in a crowded cinema would take away from the intimacy of the scares. I watched this alone on my couch in the comforts of my own home cinema. I am a huge horror fan, not just a gore hound, though I do enjoy some good gore f/x from time to time, but most of all I love a good scare...which is rather hard to come by. Films that have scared me are, The Changeling, The Innocents, The Ring, Inside (A L'Interior), The Brood, Blair Witch... I'm not easily scared, but given the circumstances in which I watched PARANORMAL ACTIVITY I was quite tense.

This film is a lot like Blair Witch, Cloverfield in the use of the home camera, but the way in which the characters in PARANORMAL approach their situation is rather realistic and believable. The characters are like normal people, not Hollywood types. The acting is fine and the characters are fun and likable. The only thing I had a problem with (as far as believability) was the exorcism footage they looked at on the net.

Maybe I would have been disappointed if I had driven half an hour to the closest English language cinema to see this film when it comes out in December. I love going to the cinema for the great image and sound quality. I wouldn't want to watch AVATAR for the first time at home. But PARANORMAL ACTIVITY is the film to watch at home with as few people and distractions as possible. It's not groundbreaking or amazing, but it works and it's good. I applaud the filmmakers for sending some chills down my spine. Thanks.

Lower those expectations and enjoy the ride.