Paranormal Activity (2009)
Director: Oren Peli
Starring:
Katie Featherston/Katie
Micah Sloat/Micah
Starring:
Katie Featherston/Katie
Micah Sloat/Micah
PLOT-CRUNCH
Some dude (Micah Sloat) and his babe (Katie Featherston) just moved into a pad in Diego. They think it’s haunted, so they plant a video camera around, hoping to catch some ghostly happenings; and unfortunately for them they do.
THE LOWDOWN
I missed the PARANORMAL ACTIVITY hype when it infected the continet. I was in Spain at the Sitges Film Festival at the time. Funnily enough the flick screened there and everybody told me it sucked Lama nuts to high hell. Then I got back to North America, people protesting me, spitting, calling me baby killer and all sorts of vile crap, and next thing you know, the flick is a fan/critic darling and a huge money maker. Shit you miss in 5 days man. Anyways, finally got around to spanking the bitch and here’s what she yelped.
I’m gonna say this once and then let it go: BLAIR WITCH PROJECT. Yup enough time has passed (10 years yo) since BWP and did its thing for PARANORMAL ACTIVITY to slam down the same card and make its shtick feel unique. Putting a story out and pretending that it’s real while using the DV format to bring us closer to the happening onscreen. It also had no name actors (who kept their real names in the film) that we’re supposed to believe are real folks while having scares that were of the less is more variety. And ya know what? Half the time it worked on my ass. The flick sported lots of moments where I BELIEVED that these two were a real couple (the often natural performances sure helped) dealing with real ghosts (or should I say demons). And when the spooks kicked in, yup, they creeped me the f*ck out. Kudos to the filmmakers for pulling off an infectious build-up and their supernatural shenanigans on camera hence augmenting the impact of them bits.I literally got chills traveling up my spine a couple of times. A wind machine can do wonders! In fact, one of the last demon attacks really got to me. Last time I was that frightened was when some dame told me she was pregnant (she wasn’t, thank Zeus).
Alas, as opposed to BLAIR WITCH PROJECT (okay I lied, I am mentioning twice, sue me) where I believed that these were real folks in a genuine macabre situation the whole way, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY didn’t always sell me. Some of the “every day life” interaction between the couple didn’t ring true to me. It felt like actors doing a scene i.e. the chemistry and the dialogue were forced. The same went when the plotline upped the ante as to its storyline with the whole possession thing. Eventually, it didn’t come across as realistic to me. You can make me believe that things go bump in the night, but possession? COME ON! They lost me there and the overall sad sack execution as to that subplot didn't help. And was I alone in getting annoyed by Micah after a while? I know they had to make him obsessed with his camera to justify the constant filming but it went so far that it became improbable. All I thought is how a healthy back-hand would set this dude straight. Take care of your woman fool and stop serving the plot!
Tag to that a handful of dumb moves by the characters and a subplot having to do with some psychic that was well built but then dropped in an improbable fashion quicker than I can spell over-hyped and you get a little indie with its dark heart in the right place but not all its sluts in a row. With that, when I got back from the theatres that night and went to bed, I wasn't feeling tip-top. I had to turn on the TV like a sissy (got haunted by an infomercial for a juicer…hey…I ordered it) just to fall asleep. So pat on the tush for the flick managing to stay with me after it was finito. Looking back PARANORMAL ACTIVITY was an honorable effort, but one filled with flaws right, left and up somebody's ass! PARANORMAL THIS!
I’m gonna say this once and then let it go: BLAIR WITCH PROJECT. Yup enough time has passed (10 years yo) since BWP and did its thing for PARANORMAL ACTIVITY to slam down the same card and make its shtick feel unique. Putting a story out and pretending that it’s real while using the DV format to bring us closer to the happening onscreen. It also had no name actors (who kept their real names in the film) that we’re supposed to believe are real folks while having scares that were of the less is more variety. And ya know what? Half the time it worked on my ass. The flick sported lots of moments where I BELIEVED that these two were a real couple (the often natural performances sure helped) dealing with real ghosts (or should I say demons). And when the spooks kicked in, yup, they creeped me the f*ck out. Kudos to the filmmakers for pulling off an infectious build-up and their supernatural shenanigans on camera hence augmenting the impact of them bits.I literally got chills traveling up my spine a couple of times. A wind machine can do wonders! In fact, one of the last demon attacks really got to me. Last time I was that frightened was when some dame told me she was pregnant (she wasn’t, thank Zeus).
Alas, as opposed to BLAIR WITCH PROJECT (okay I lied, I am mentioning twice, sue me) where I believed that these were real folks in a genuine macabre situation the whole way, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY didn’t always sell me. Some of the “every day life” interaction between the couple didn’t ring true to me. It felt like actors doing a scene i.e. the chemistry and the dialogue were forced. The same went when the plotline upped the ante as to its storyline with the whole possession thing. Eventually, it didn’t come across as realistic to me. You can make me believe that things go bump in the night, but possession? COME ON! They lost me there and the overall sad sack execution as to that subplot didn't help. And was I alone in getting annoyed by Micah after a while? I know they had to make him obsessed with his camera to justify the constant filming but it went so far that it became improbable. All I thought is how a healthy back-hand would set this dude straight. Take care of your woman fool and stop serving the plot!
Tag to that a handful of dumb moves by the characters and a subplot having to do with some psychic that was well built but then dropped in an improbable fashion quicker than I can spell over-hyped and you get a little indie with its dark heart in the right place but not all its sluts in a row. With that, when I got back from the theatres that night and went to bed, I wasn't feeling tip-top. I had to turn on the TV like a sissy (got haunted by an infomercial for a juicer…hey…I ordered it) just to fall asleep. So pat on the tush for the flick managing to stay with me after it was finito. Looking back PARANORMAL ACTIVITY was an honorable effort, but one filled with flaws right, left and up somebody's ass! PARANORMAL THIS!
GORE
Shoddy looking scars on a chicks face aside, nothing here. The film was not about that, it was suspense driven. Hey! ALL GOOD!
T & A
Katie Featherston in a night gown is the most we get. Wanna put my 2 cents out on this. Been reading some fan postings online about her being fat and how she shouldn’t be acting in films. WTF? Chick is a regular chick with meat on her bones, nothing wrong with that. Have we all been spoon-fed Hollywood rakes for so long that we can’t digest a REGULAR GIRL on film? F*cking sad. I’m done. Soapbox has been burned to a crisp. Oh and Katie Featherston! I'D NAIL YA!
BOTTOM LINE
I respect PARANORMAL ACTIVITY. It gave me a compelling story, two leads that I warmed up to on SOME LEVELS and managed to give me the willies - all that with a chump change budget. On the downside, I didn’t always buy the actors as real people, the plot shot itself in the crotch when it tried to do be too much, hence closer to a Hollywood horror film and farther from the reality it was shooting for and this couple did some reality stupid shit that I couldn’t forgive. A small movie that made mucho coin? Yes. Some potent frights at work? Oh yeah! The be and all of horror movie in 2009? Not for this jerk. Am surprised that they wanna do a sequel to it to be honest, guess the Studio doesn't remember the box office returns of Blair With 2.
BULL'S EYE
Oren Peli's next films are AREA 51 and PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2.
Micah Sloat was about to quit acting before he got the role in this film.
Katie Featherston had a role in the low budget 2006 horror film MUTATION.
The flick had another ending before Paramount picked it up. They re-shot the ending some say under the advice of Steven Spielberg.
Micah Sloat was about to quit acting before he got the role in this film.
Katie Featherston had a role in the low budget 2006 horror film MUTATION.
The flick had another ending before Paramount picked it up. They re-shot the ending some say under the advice of Steven Spielberg.
ARROW IN THE HEAD'S RATING SYSTEM
| I'D BUTCHER MY FAMILY TO SEE THIS AGAIN |
|---|---|
|
| HANG ME BUT I DUG IT A LOT |
|
| AN OK WAY TO KILL TWO HOURS |
|
| JUST SLING AN ARROW IN MY HEAD AND LET ME DIE IN PEACE |
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NOT A REMAKE AND BETTER THAN MOST REMAKES MADE THIS PAST DECADE
I mean to all who thought Micah was annoying, how could you not like the ending?
Not a masterpiece but it did give me chills.
I mean to all who thought Micah was annoying, how could you not like the ending?
Not a masterpiece but it did give me chills.
*
my bad. i tend to read posts of people who rate movies 4/4 a bit too hastily... no offense
my bad. i tend to read posts of people who rate movies 4/4 a bit too hastily... no offense
K
"The director should have listened imo"
Did you even understand what I said? The original ending was very good, but the director CHANGED IT because Spielberg asked a typical Hollywood ending for retarded cheap jump scares fans (which is probably the ending that you saw).
"The director should have listened imo"
Did you even understand what I said? The original ending was very good, but the director CHANGED IT because Spielberg asked a typical Hollywood ending for retarded cheap jump scares fans (which is probably the ending that you saw).
!
I hated it...
You can't expect to earn 1 whole point for 3 good moments (not even scenes in my book) on 86 minutes of footage.
It's cool that some people like it (a lot), but i just ain't one of them.
Nice to know the background info on the ending. The director should have listened imo.
I hated it...
You can't expect to earn 1 whole point for 3 good moments (not even scenes in my book) on 86 minutes of footage.
It's cool that some people like it (a lot), but i just ain't one of them.
Nice to know the background info on the ending. The director should have listened imo.
?
About the camera movement: No comment. You knew damn well that the camera movement was gonna be like that. Unless you expect any couple to have the filmmaking talents of a big director...
By the way, the theatrical ending is NOT the original ending. Spielberg asked the director to change it for dumb retards who prefer cheap jump scares over tension and suspense.
About the camera movement: No comment. You knew damn well that the camera movement was gonna be like that. Unless you expect any couple to have the filmmaking talents of a big director...
By the way, the theatrical ending is NOT the original ending. Spielberg asked the director to change it for dumb retards who prefer cheap jump scares over tension and suspense.
i want my money back!
Maybe if wasn't sick of watching this flick, i might have been able to appreciate the build up a bit more but in the end, this was just a total fraud. I mean, it took waaay too long before anything good actually happened. Those first nights you hardly got to see anything and
Maybe if wasn't sick of watching this flick, i might have been able to appreciate the build up a bit more but in the end, this was just a total fraud. I mean, it took waaay too long before anything good actually happened. Those first nights you hardly got to see anything and they then analyse for minutes on end about sth you already saw and didn't find interesting AT ALL!
Anything good about this one?
Well, the big bang while they were trying to listen if they heard a noise and shook up the entire theatre worked like a charm.
When she got dragged into the hallway, very nice.
When she creams in the end, it's like they're cutting her in pieces, nice lungs!
But that's where it ends. And it ends in a ridiculous fashion. Come on, the 'let me trick you scary e-mail ending'... so cheap.
So overall, i paid for something i didn't get to see. Fyi, i loved the BWP so it's not that i hate this genre.
I guess Martyrs remains untouched at my nr 1 spot of best movies.
Superb
LOVED IT
Oh and I'd totally nail Katie Featherston too so fuck the assholes who say she's "fat". I like a girl with some meat on her bones thanks!
Oh and I'd totally nail Katie Featherston too so fuck the assholes who say she's "fat". I like a girl with some meat on her bones thanks!
AH Arrow! Come on rate it higher!!!
Am I the only one?
Micah was just a d-bag. He really annoyed me through the whole movie. I'm assuming that was the whole point of his character, but it was a bit much. He made fun of his girl more than he helped her. Honestly, they're living together
Micah was just a d-bag. He really annoyed me through the whole movie. I'm assuming that was the whole point of his character, but it was a bit much. He made fun of his girl more than he helped her. Honestly, they're living together you'd think he'd have more respect for her than what he showed. At the very least, you'd think he'd "play along" with the fact that she was scared. This guy annoyed me to no end.
Another qualm I had with the movie was the fact that it just wasn't scary. Save for night 20 and the end, the movie didn't move along at all. I'm all for subtlety, but this movie really pushed past the line of subtlety and absolutely nothing happening...ever. There were a few of the haunted house tricks, but really nothing else.
As a character flick, this film really missed the beat too. The only interesting character was Katie and they really missed the ball with telling her story. There was so much potential there and they did nothing with it. Instead, she is pretty much shown as a weak character, both to Micah and to the demon.
This movie really didn't work for me, if that wasn't apparent already. Outside the final two nights, I really can't justify seeing this movie. And between the two nights, that may be 10 minutes of movie. The rest of the film is a snoozefest. There was no tension, no scares, nothing. It was really disappointing
Good Movie
AND THANK YOU for saying what you did about Katie. I've been getting SO pissed off at everyone calling her fat! I thought she was adorable as fuck and if i wasn't gay i'd rather have a girl like her than a girl like megan fox
AND THANK YOU for saying what you did about Katie. I've been getting SO pissed off at everyone calling her fat! I thought she was adorable as fuck and if i wasn't gay i'd rather have a girl like her than a girl like megan fox ANYDAY!
And speaking of, high five on
And speaking of, high five on your 2 cents of Katie. Just because she weighs more than girls like Megan Fox doesn't mean she isn't attractive or can't act. But most people who say that are really immature, and if they can't handle how hot she is, sucks to be them!
Good review
Not for impatient teenagers who need action every 5 minute and can't use their imagination.