Paranormal Activity may not be the scariest movie ever, but it will haunt you long after the final scene ends (and in large part because of it).
In hopes of figuring out what has been going bump in the night, Micah (Micah Sloat) decides to use a video camera to catch these random occurrences, which have been plaguing his girlfriend Katie (Katie Featherston) since she was a child. At first, some slightly disturbing things happen, from minor door movements to the sound of footsteps on the stairs outside their bedroom. All creepy events in their own right, sure, but nothing to contact the local exorcist about. However, as the slow build continues and the nights progress, this entity seems to want more, moving from the realm of “Hey! Notice me!” to “I am going to use your blood to paint a mural on the wall! Wanna see?” Now it’s time to start panicking.
Though the majority of the action happens while the couple sleeps, it is clear that its affect on the two is just as strong during the day. In the beginning, Micah and Katie seem as if this is going to be a fun little investigation to take part in, with Micah being especially enthusiastic with his brand new toy. The footage of the two as they banter with each other, poke fun and generally have a great time is hilarious, but when things start to spiral out of control their tempers begin to wear thin. Micah continues to depend on the camera, often thinking of it first before his girlfriend when things start to go down, and Katie starts to get fed up, and rightfully so. Even after its clear that the entity is probably not something to prod and jab with a stick, Micah continues to do so, taking the stubborn (but protective in his own way), macho man role a little too seriously, all the while failing to understand Katie’s obviously overwhelming fear.
On it’s own, this “case study” isn’t really one of the scariest things ever made because the majority of the footage doesn’t actually involve the demonic activity. Instead, it is devoted to the daily lives of the two, though trivial at first, it actually creates a foreboding feeling. This feeling of impending doom amplifies everything that happens at night, and the anticipation and fear begins to build among the audience. This is furthered through the use of the camera’s POV, which creates a mirroring of the desperate feelings of hopelessness and of not being in control that the couple feels within the audience. There is a constant question about what is just outside the frame of the camera, and not knowing this is terrifying. In other words, the footage was creepy, but it is the feeling of not having control in a scary situation like this that really has an affect on the audience. But more so than anything else, the reason that this film is as scary as it is has nothing to do with what is shown, because when you get down to it the film doesn't really get that scary till the very end (depending on how easily frightened you are). What really gets you is when you get home and lay down that night to go to bed. Every noise and every shadow is questionable, and you begin to wonder if there is some truth to what the movie is playing with. I am not ashamed to admit that I slept with my trusted guard dog tight at my side and with the TV on that night for light and noise to drown out everything else. Basically, I was scared.
Depending on who you are and what you believe, Paranormal Activity might just be another horror film to you. But if you have even the slightest inclination towards believing in ghosts and goblins, then be prepared to go to bed a little bit more paranoid after seeing this film.
Final Grade: B+/A-
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