Day Eleven: Paranormal Activity

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

Starring:
-Katie Featherston
-Micah Sloat

Directed by: Oren Peli

Screenplay Credits: Oren Peli

MPAA Rating: R - language

Okay, I’m not going to spoil the fun for everybody by giving this one away. I will tell you that I watched this one twice; once in the wee hours of the morning with a skittish friend, then again just after nightfall with my equally skittish brother and his fiancé.

Here’s the deal: You’re either going to hate this one or love it. There really is no middle ground here that I can see. I’ll go ahead and tell you, the main device this movie relies on is the old make-the-audience-sit-in-silence-for-like-fifteen-minutes-then-catch-them-off-guard-with-a-loud-bang-and-an-ethereal-scream bit. Works every time.

One thing that excites me about this film is that when you first watch it, you have no idea where to look on the screen. You find yourself sitting up on the edge of your seat, your whole body is tense and your eyes are darting around the screen trying to take everything in. I was desperate not to miss something.

I did get annoyed with the lead actress’ constant cries of “Meeeee-kahhh! Meeee-kahh!” If that doesn’t make you want to see this chick overcome by a demonic spirit, then nothing will.

I’ll cut to the chase. If you’re going to sit there and be a movie snob, comparing this film to everything that’s come before it and mocking the premise, you won’t get anything out of the experience. Basically, if you come at it with this attitude, you’re going to waste 86 minutes of your life and be really, really disappointed.

But, if you let yourself get into that creepy groove and put yourself into either Micah or Katie’s shoes, you’re libel to wind up with the same anxious, unsettled, good suspense movie feeling that I wound up with.

Is this one perfect? Not by any stretch of the imagination, no. But it’s not bad for a first time writer/director on a budget of $15,000. Ask yourself if you could do any better with such a miniscule budget.

Fun facts: Filming was completed in ten days, and the entire film was shot in the director’s own home.

Final grade: C+