Film Review
| Published in Blog
Paranormal Activity
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m neither a fan nor an expert on films in the horror / thriller genre. Save for genre-busting blockbusters like the Blair Witch Project and more recent Japanese imports, I seldom go out of my way to see films of this ilk in theaters, on DVD, and otherwise. However, Paranormal Activity has generated a buzz that could not be ignored, try as I might. I have a very persistent roommate. The filmmaker and businessperson in me was also very curious to find out exactly how a film could be made for just $11,000 and win ANY sort of critical and audience acclaim.
Did it live up to the hype? Absolutely!
The film works in ways that similar recent and successful horror / thrillers (such as Cloverfield) have gripped audiences. It is shot documentary-style, a narrative device that not only explains presence of the camera, but also allows the audience to come inside and break down that “fourth wall” that exists between the “screen” world and the audience existing inside the theater. The film does not exhibit a traditional “studio” look, as the camera used was mobile and utilized only one additional light. These effects created heightened visual ambiguity, which only served to enhance the suspense.
Beyond aesthetics, the story was relatively simple and straightforward, as were the characters. The main characters, Katie and Micah, were relatable enough as believable in the real world, but dumb enough to fall for conventions that ultimately seal the fate of many a horror film victim. In that regard, they did not disappoint!
Space played an important role in the composition of the film and in the story. It was shot entirely within the interior of one house, with most of the action taking place in the master bedroom, bathroom, living room, and kitchen. The space constrictions were not just by design of the budget, but also served to enhance the scary moments–and there were many! This intimacy reminded me a lot of Ringu (the original Ring), in which the climax takes place in the main character’s small living room. Very scary.
It was great to see this film in a theater with an active audience. There was no shortage of screamers, much to our delight. The thrills were well-placed and memorable.
While I will admit there are a couple things the film could have done differently to better serve the story, I thought Paranormal Activity was extremely involving and entertaining. For $11,000, it can’t get much better.
– Excerpted from personal blog.