Suspense is the scariest part of the film “Paranormal Activity,” which follows the supernatural happenings of a young couple.
Katie Featherston has been haunted since she was 8 years old but recently noticed an increase in strange nighttime activity. Micah, her boyfriend, proposes they film the commotion to get a better look at what is actually happening. Needless to say, the couple notices eerie things on the film, which escalate over time.
A quarter of the way into the film, the couple calls a psychic who reveals their problems are not with a ghost, but with a demon.
With this realization comes the movie’s biggest issue: the viewer’s willingness to suspend disbelief. The film, at the beginning, claims to be authentic and maintains this charade until the end when a disclaimer states the film is fictional.
The movie also lacks proper opening and ending credits, which add to the film’s authentic feel.
However, those who cannot suspend their disbelief for the course of the film will be bored and annoyed with the film’s supernatural themes.
Some of the effects are low budget and corny, but may either startle or turn off the viewer depending on his or her willingness to believe what’s happening in the film. However, with the strongest effects, such as flying bodies or mystery footprints, the film shines and scares the audience.
Another solid sell of the film is the acting. While not Oscar-worthy, it is appropriate for the setting. The main players are no-name actors who embody the comfortable life of suburbia unsettled by the supernatural. Both actors, by the end of the film, have devolved into screaming and shrill personas of themselves. This transformation seems right for individuals in their present situation. Really, the two don’t act as much as they react to the horrors unfolding around them. This sort of acting is the kind desired by reality shows but is seldom reached, and the two cannot be commended enough for their performance.
For those who grew up on suspenseful films like “The Exorcist” or “Aliens,” the suspense of the film will be welcome and drag viewers to the edges of their seats. In fact, the demon never makes a real appearance and lurks in the shadows much in the same manner of villains like “Dracula” and “The Heart of Darkness.” For those who prefer gore fests like “Saw” or “Hostel,” the movie’s lack of blood and sexual scenes may bore them.
However, even the most hardcore fans can expect more traditional scares in the latter half of the film. Several times during the movie, viewers screamed out loud during the film’s most intense moments, which is a good indicator of the film’s horror level.
Ultimately, the film relies on the preferences of the viewer. Should the audience care for the demon mythos and be able to suspend its disbelief, it will find “Paranormal Activity” to be the best scary film to watch this Halloween.
*“Paranormal Activity”
Now Showing
Rated R
B *
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