This low budget horror film seems to have been marketed using the same hype technique as The Blair Witch Project, so the reviews were almost guaranteed to be mixed and I'm sure a lot of people had made their opinions before even watching it. Well, I went into this film with an open mind and I'm glad to say that it DOES live up to the hype. In fact, it's quite simply one of the scariest films I've seen in a long time.
The film revolves around a couple (played impressively by Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat)who move into a new Suburban home only to discover a possibly demonic presence is at work in the house. Soon they realise it is only happening after dark and they both struggle to block it from their minds when they go to bed each night. (These scenes are performed in such a fantastically natural way, that it's quite easy to get so sucked in you forget you are actually watching a film!) Katie admits early on in the film that she has been a victim of possession since the age of eight, though Micah is doubtful and decides to set up a video camera in their bedroom in the hope of capturing something whilst they sleep.
Paranormal Activity moves at a particularly quick space for a film of it's type and great use is made of director Oren Peli's house. (in which the entire film was shot) Also, Katie's gradual breakdown at the hands of the "activity" should go down in horror film history as it starts to feel all too real as the film goes on.
Not really an easy film to assess as such, as anything shot on hand held digital camera post Blair Witch/Last Broadcast/Open Water is going to be an acquired taste. Paranormal Activity is no exception. I personally thought it was excellent and was left feeling like I had watched something quite special. I watched this with three others who all shared my opinion, including my girlfriend who didn't seem too happy about shutting the bedroom door that night.
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