Paranormal Activity

Paranormal Activity

Starring: Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Mark Friedrichs, Amber Armstrong, Ashley Palmer

Directed by: Oren Peli

Reviewed by: Conor Flynn







Paranormal Activity has been hyped like no other horror film in recent memory. Not since the highly overrated ‘The Blair Witch Project’ has a horror film generated such attention. Allegedly Steven Spielberg declared that a screener of the film he received was haunted! The question is; does the hype live up to the marketing?

Paranormal Activity relies heavily on audience anticipation. It turns the screw slowly. The film successfully wracks up tension through the use of static camera shots which force your eyes to dart around the screen in readiness for the next big fright. This is a film that oozes dread, supported by eerie sound effects specially designed to rattle the audience. The storyline is threadbare, concerning a couple stuck inside a house which is haunted by a demon. Basically, Paranormal Activity is an efficient frightener, but it does have a slew of problems which become more noticeable on a second viewing.

Much like the witching hour from midnight to 3am in which the demon haunts and disturbs the couple, the impact of this film depends completely on when and where you watch it. Watching the film during the daytime proves ineffectual upon leaving the theatre, whereas seeing it at night time is an unnerving experience. It’s also a bit of a shame that general audiences in Ireland and the UK are only allowed to see the film now, after October 31st, when the hoopla for Paranormal Activity is dying down.

There are other elements to the film which don’t play well on ether viewing, firstly an unintentionally funny moment involving the demon leaving a set of footprints inside the couple’s bedroom. Considering the aforementioned Spielberg connection with the film, it’s bemusing to note the uncanny similarity of the demons footprints to that of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Another part which doesn’t play well is the final shot of the film; re-shot at the behest of the bearded one. The alternate ending, which can be seen on YouTube, has its flaws, but is (literally) more grounded and gives an eerie closure to the film. The new ending feels like a cheaply set up cash-grab for a sequel. Another noticeable problem is the films lack of depth; the absence of real narrative is a serious hindrance with repeated viewing. Even the dreaded Blair Witch had a more engaging back story than this demon.

Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. Sadly this is an idiom that is applicable to Paranormal Activity. It is a bit of a novelty, but a highly effective one the first time round.