Paranormal Activity Blu-ray: Review By Bawnian©-Dexeus

Paranormal Activity is a 2007 American supernatural horror film.

Directed by: Oren Peli

A suburban couple is haunted by what they believe to be a ghost.

For those of you who don't know, I already reviewed this movie a while back ago in 2009, and I am not particularly proud of that. It's not strictly a review and more like a poor excuse of literature. My professors would hang me if ever they lay their eyes upon it. And so, while I wait for part three of this current series of film, I would like to retry my hand at critiquing this movie the way I should have until I can get an official stamp (whenever that will be) and move this back to the original.

Originally, this movie was never to be released in my area. I was living in Puerto Rico at the time. Commercials were flying around the net and the television about this horror movie released by Paramount Pictures that was genuinely scaring the audience in the select screenings. The event generated a large group of interested people that a viral website was created for this interest in their select locations around the nation to have the movie play in their area. You wouldn't believe how many hispanics I had to get to vote for the movie to be released in P.R. I was glad to see the posters for the movie a month later in the Big Mall theater back home and was truly excited. I never get excited to see a horror movie, I simply gain an interest to a production that might have a chance of scaring me. To be fare, I've yet to get scared to the point I have to walk out of the theater, however, if the movie can make me jump a few times, it's doing it's job famously.

We follow to regular joes Micha and Katie, who move into their new house if I remember correctly and begin to have disturbances happening around their house at night that seem to target the female of the two. Since they both suspect it might be a ghost, and they are convinced their house is haunted, Michael lulls out his digital camcorder and records their room while they sleep. First few nights we see the lights in the house turning on and off and some bumps here and there. Then the couple start hearing footsteps, objects Dow stairs being moved from their original places and of course, the cherry on top, a hellish scream and a pretty dark shadow among the wall. If I haven't mentioned it already, this movie was done with a single camera, and a budget of $15,000 dollars. Well then, holy crap! And this title addition to the horror genre generated nearly $200,000,000 dollars at the box-office. Can I get an "OMG"? You'd be right.

I had a smile on my face throughout the movie because of how well the director utilized sound, filters, I'm guessing Adobe After Effects and the "actors" to display almost realistic emotions and reaction to their haunting. I was in a packed auditorium and I nearly lost my hearing. Sone of you might not find anything scary about this movie, but the people around me at that time would disagree. But hey, to each his own. For those whom have already seen this one and it's sequel, the transition of the female lead, Katie from her average persona to this troubled and eventually possessed person was pretty cool. They later realize it's not a ghost but a demon on the lose. But demons don't just enter our world on their one free will, they have to brought out by a deal or a ritual...at least that's what the so called experts and the Vatican say. We are given a small detail on how and why but that part of the movie is never really hashed out visually.

Leasing up the final moments, which is the best, after watching Katie walk around like a zombie for a few nights, she finally snaps, screams for her life, Micha, at this point, like the fool he is, runs to her, screams for his life and well, I don't have to tell you what happens next......

The Director:

Sets the bar pretty high on how to make a movie, and the horror genre. It happens before with Blair Witch, generating a lot of money mind you, more than this one, but still on a small budget, where this movie accomplishes the same goal, but on an even small budget. I tip my hat to Oren Peli for an achievement, and I say it not as a critic but as a media arts major.

The Visuals:

Like I already said, what one can do with sound, wires and filters can go a long way. The footsteps for the demon were amazing and well crafted into the shot. And the make up artist for the bite, bravo.

Overall:

A quality horror film that can create a family horror festival each Halloween. So while this review isn't for the disc copy, Incan say the replay value is a must each year for an October time.

Written by: Bawnian©-Dexeus.