“Paranormal Activity” is a great example of how to create a
found footage style movie without the use of the shaky-cam technique. In this
movie, all of the scenes are recorded by either a camera on a tripod or by
security cameras around the house. This allows people who don’t care for this
technique to watch this show without too much discomfort. It also allows for
the clever use of effects to really shine throughout the film. It’s also an
example of how cost effective this style of movie can be; it is rumored to be
the most profitable movie ever made. With an estimated budget of only $15,000,
“Paranormal Activity” has earned over $194 million worldwide. Four sequels have
been made with the newest one coming out this October.
Are Katie and Micah being haunted in their new home? Not
really because it’s a demon that’s moving things around and going bump in the
night, or says the psychic that Katie hires to figure out what’s going on. The
psychic tells them not to talk to the demon, so of course Micah starts yelling
at it. Katie begs Micah not to buy an Ouija board, so of course he goes and
brings one home. Micah covers the floor outside their room only to find weird
footprints leading to the attic. Lights flicker, noises continue, shadows
appear, the suspense builds until the big ending!
The simple, believable effects are the main reason to see “Paranormal
Activity”. The actors and dialogue are bearable but I was honesty bored during
many of the day time scenes. All of the action happened at night and I felt at
the suspense and building tension suffered from the constant back and forth of
day to night. The time span that the movie takes place over felt too long to
me; why would a demon need almost a month before it’s able to do what it’s
trying to do? Speaking of the demon, I was very dissatisfied how the scene
revealed that it wasn’t a ghost but rather a demon. Or perhaps I was
disappointed it wasn’t a ghost? In any case, I enjoyed “Paranormal Activity 2”
more than this one. And I appreciate how the series is connected to each other
and the twists that are revealed.
Favorite moment – When Katie is suddenly pulled out of the
bedroom by an unseen force.
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