Movie Review: Paranormal Activity (2009, Directed by Oren Peli)

I am afraid of things that go bump in the night. Graphic violence, bizarre creatures, and visible physical threats have no real psychological impact on me as a filmgoer. However, I cry like a baby at the thought of those threats I cannot see.

Paranormal Activity, the new ultra low-budget blockbuster horror pic, worked its magic on me. I trembled through the dark semi-dark streets after the screening, keeping diligent track of every stray sound and movement in the shadows on my way to the subway. At home, I woke up in the night three times, even getting out of bed to check on some bizarre noises in the hallway. Sure, that banging noise overhead was probably some twigs falling on the roof in the windy night. Yes, the high-pitched screeching noise was probably the infant in the apartment next door. But … logical explanations do not always grip the rational mind in the dead of night.

Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat play a young suburban San Diego couple with a paranormal problem. Katie has had strange noises and movements following her for a good part of her life. It seems to be getting worse lately. Who can logically explain the slamming of a door in the night or shrieking sounds downstairs? Micah decides to start filming some of the paranormal activity. If only the young couple can create a visual record of the weirdness, they might be better able to fix the problem. However, Micah’s use of the technology seems to tick off these unknown forces even more.

Supposedly, the audience of Paranormal Activity is watching the “found footage” the couple makes, in the manner of Blair Witch Project. There are no opening or closing credits to remind the viewer that it’s indeed “only a movie.” For the most part, the film’s central gimmick works. The picture’s pretense of reality raises the fright factor quite a bit.

One’s reaction to a film like Paranormal Activity is completely subjective. About half the people I have talked to who have seen the picture admit to being genuinely terrified. The other half feel that the film is phony and fails miserably at its intent to truly frighten the audience. All I can say is it worked for me. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I heard a slamming door in the bedroom. In the words of Robert DeNiro in Taxi Driver, “I’m the only one here.” Hmm …