Paranormal Activity

Paranormal Activity is an independent horror film made in 2007, winning awards in 2008, and got limited release in theatres in 2009. It was filmed with a claimed budget of 15,000 dollars.

Paranormal Activity centers around a new couple, moving into a new house. From those words only you might already be thinking "wow, cliche horror film". The couple is experiencing bizarre happenings... the girl feels that something paranormal is going on. The guy is dismissive and even mocking of it. At some point the guy walks up into a pitch black attic despite it being obvious he should not do this. A "paranormal expert" is called in, the word "demonologist" is said.
If you're thinking this sounds like a cliche wrapped in a trope, then you share the perspective I had when I went to watch this movie.

Now here's the kicker... you almost never notice. It's brilliant, despite going through all the paces of a b-movie rip-off of the Blair Witch Project, like all those other Sci-fi channel (SyFy) "ghost stories", it manages to circumvent all of it and come across as an original and chilling film.

I said Blair Witch Project rip off and for good reason.
The Blair Witch Project was an interesting idea. It sold itself as being a "true story", it gave the appearance of being a bunch of footage filmed by a bunch of teens out experiencing spooky shit. Now, as a caveat, I take issue with the Blair Witch Project. Mostly because those teenagers are retarded and pretty unbelievable. Not because of the horror but because those dudes were dumbasses.
Paranormal Activity takes the same route, meaning it is a bunch of footage filmed by the people experiencing the spooky stuff. Bad camera work, grainy footage... the works.
But Paranormal Activity does the homemade movie feel so... so so so SO much better than Blair it isn't even fair to compare them. And the couple in Paranormal Activity are very believable.

The good in PA? Here's the laundrylist.
1. The pacing.
The movie builds and builds. It doesn't rush into the horror, it develops its characters and the atmosphere perfectly.
2. The suspense.
The pacing plays into this but it deserves a separate point. Every time the film goes into showing the couple sleeping... you are literally on edge. I noticed that, everytime those scenes ended, my legs were brought up off the floor and my shoulders were hunched... I was clenched into a ball. The brilliant thing about it though? There were no sudden jumps, flashes of blood or teeth, it's almost as if nothing happened. And yet, I was scared.
3. The character development.
I cared for these people. The husband was lovable and I shared every feeling they had. When they started doing cliche horror moves, like going into dark rooms, I didn't feel it was forced or stupid. I felt like they were doing the right thing.

Now, I obviously really enjoyed this film, but that doesn't mean I don't have anything bad to say about it...
I said it manages to avoid being obviously cliche... but that's not entirely true.
Here's the bad laundry list.
1. A paranormal expert.
At some point the couple decides to consult a dude who specializes in the occult. When I heard this I rolled my eyes. The dude shows up and says a bunch of spooky shit with a completely straight face and, honestly? it just seemed silly. However, this is the most minor of offenses. It's offset by the husbands clear mockery of the "expert".
2. The rationalization.
Of course, the movie decides to make some attempt at rationalizing the haunting they are getting. (strictly speaking, it isn't a haunting. But whatever)
The rationalization is pretty mediocre and forced and I didn't care for it. It's cliche too. Luckily, it's given very little attention in the film.
3. A Ouija Board
A fucking ouija board.
What.
Why did you include this?
It gets close to undermining all of the believability the film had built up. I had to shut out its existence, it was so offensive. It moves at one point and spells out something, then lights afire.
I put my hand up to my eyes, not because it was scary... but because I just didn't want to see this dumbass scene take place.

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Nevertheless, the film does a fantastic job. Despite some hiccups, it never really loses its believability and suspense. It has a great vibe and is kept to a good length. You really fall for the characters and the bedroom scenes are spooky as hell.
And when the shit finally hits the fan? I was terrified.

What I appreciate about Paranormal Activity is that it appeals to horror film junkies and regular people alike. A horror film junkie can watch it and see all of the cliches, yet still appreciate it for the way it makes them believable. A regular viewer can watch it and see an original and chilling piece of fiction.

It definitely doesn't break boundaries or redefine the genre, but it plays the cards its dealt very, very well. Definitely something I would recommend watching. And if you have friends who aren't into the horror genre, take them to see this.

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The thing I appreciated the most? The entire film plays the "real footage" trope to the very end... until, of course, it reaches the end. At the very end, the demon destroys the camera. There were no survivors. It leaves a very eerie impression. The existence of the footage itself is... paranormal, that you are watching something that was touched by a demon. I appreciated that touch a lot, that it turns the "real footage" trope on its head.

And that scream at the end. Oh God. That is going to haunt me for a long, long time. One of the best screams I've heard in a horror film.