Paranormal Activity (2009)
Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Michael Bayouth, Amber Armstrong, Mark Fredrichs
Katie and Micah are enjoying a happy and carefree existence. Their future looks promising until bizarre events begin to occur at night. In order to get to the bottom of things, Katie and Micah purchase a video camera to find out what happens at night while they sleep.
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R, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed by:
Oren Peli
Release Date: Sep 25, 2009
DVD Release Date: Dec 29, 2009
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Flixster User Reviews
Paranormal Activity was released on DVD, claiming to be scarier at home than it was in theaters. So how would this movie be for your significant other? Definitely, with no doubt, Paranormal Activity is a thrilling and frightening movie. Perfect fo... (read more) Paranormal Activity was released on DVD, claiming to be scarier at home than it was in theaters. So how would this movie be for your significant other? Definitely, with no doubt, Paranormal Activity is a thrilling and frightening movie. Perfect for you and your significant other to hold on to each other and watch in horror as the couple in the movie goes through what might be the single most freakiest and wretched situation ever. So for those of you who think you’re having a tough time with your relationship, go watch Paranormal Activity and get a glimpse of what true issue is for a couple. With a very much realistic and documentary feel to this movie, Paranormal Activity is truly much scarier to watch at home. So if you are tired of the typical Valentine’s Day romance flick, Paranormal Activity is the movie to watch and when one were to watch this movie, I do recommend there be someone else there to watch it with you. This movie I would recommend to anyone who doesn’t get scared so easily. As for those who could only put down this movie for being “fake”, what I have to say to that is put that fact aside and enjoy the movie for what it is and be thankful that it finally broke the streak of bad horror movies that we have all been stuck with in our generation. Sorry Saw fan’s… but I think it’s about time that this series got a look at what a true thriller movie is and that it’s not all about blood and gore.
-Jeffrey Lavin
this movie had me jumping at noises in my house AFTER the movie was over. this move was great!
These kind of movies actually scare the crap out of me. Had to watch something funny before going to sleep.
Most horror movies bore the crap out of me, but none so more than this. Most of the tension and drama in horror is built up through suspense. Characters wait through most of the flick for something bad to happen, whether they know it or not. The "vic... (read more) Most horror movies bore the crap out of me, but none so more than this. Most of the tension and drama in horror is built up through suspense. Characters wait through most of the flick for something bad to happen, whether they know it or not. The "victim's" stories used to fill up the vast remainder of time between people having their faces slammed through the doors on RV campers are largely inconsiquential, mainly because they're the ones who are having their faces slammed through RV camper doors. I mean they're going to die in about five minutes, so why should I care? They're like fruit flies.
Paranormal Activity was hailed for being so low-budgeted and sparsely released, but making a shit-tonne of money. Much like the Blair Witch Project, the story is told through ther character's video camera. There's a grand total of five people in the movie, and three of them are on the screen for about fifteen minutes total. The story is about a dude trying to figure out the who, what, where, when, why and hows of why his girlfriend (and her lack of personality) are being haunted, so he sets up a camera every night to record what kind of shit goes down. The first time something happens, a door moves on it's own, as if blown by the wind. DUH-DUH-DUMMM! Then about ten minutes of talking occurs, then another nighttime scene with some hooboo-heebie-jeebies, then fifteen minutes of them talking, then another nighttime scene where they wake up after a loud bump, and so forth and so on. Their haunting progresses over 21 nights without ever so much as a side-boob, or someone jumping out with a knife.
Really, you can fastforward through the movie without missing anything. Even the night scenes are fast-forwardable. Everything builds up until about the last thirty seconds or so of the film. Then you say, "Is that it?" and furrow your brow. EXACTLY LIKE THE BLAIR WITCH.
A excellent horror flick! 1 of the freakiest I've seen! And who does'nt love a good scare?
not bad film remindes mi of blair witch wen tht first came out all in all a good effort
Fairly well done horror movie. The surprises come not through typical horror movie cliches, but because you're so used to those cliches, that when shots are set up that seem to indicate a "scary" moment is coming, and then it doesn't, it makes the s... (read more) Fairly well done horror movie. The surprises come not through typical horror movie cliches, but because you're so used to those cliches, that when shots are set up that seem to indicate a "scary" moment is coming, and then it doesn't, it makes the scary things scarier when they do happen. Does that make sense?
Critic Reviews
It illustrates one of my favorite points, that silence and waiting can be more entertaining than frantic fast-cutting and berserk f/x. For extended periods here, nothing at all is happening, and believe me, you won't be bored.full review
Paranormal Activity shows how little it takes for inventive filmmakers to do a lot.full review
The same old thing dressed up in very slightly different clothes.full review
In the light of day, it's all very silly and conventional. But of course we're not talking about the light of day.full review
It works best when it comes out of nowhere, because that's, in the end, where it goes.full review
Even Roger Corman might have hesitated to pitch this deal to one of his hungry young proteges: "You get a little over $11,000, one camera and two unknown actors to make a really scary movie. No effects, of course. Oh, and no gore, please." Imagine th... (read more) Even Roger Corman might have hesitated to pitch this deal to one of his hungry young proteges: "You get a little over $11,000, one camera and two unknown actors to make a really scary movie. No effects, of course. Oh, and no gore, please." Imagine the laufull review
This unsettling ultra-low-budget tale capitalizes on our innate fear of things that go bump in the night, and adds a supernatural element that will effectively terrorize even the toughest among us.full review
Without financing, stars or more than a couple of special effects, first-time writer/director Olen Peli has made a diabolically effective essay in irrational horror.full review
With a $15,000 budget too puny to empty a petty-cash drawer, the no-frills Paranormal Activity comes packed with thrills.full review
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