Movie review: 'Paranormal Activity'

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Don’t believe the hype.

Paranormal Activity is a shifty little thriller that would have you believe suspense without pay-off is the only trick the horror genre has left. But the film ends up being a casualty of its own inspired marketing, which promised audiences the scariest movie since The Exorcist and further enticed them with a genuinely terrifying trailer that seemed to back up this wild claim.

But as it turns out, that grainy, handheld footage of the trailer was nothing more than a glorified highlight reel. If you’ve seen the trailer, you’ve seen the movie. Even the admittedly intense ending, which provides the only real scares in the entire film, is completely spoiled in the preview’s final seconds.

The movie explores the increasingly strained marriage of yuppie newlyweds Micah (Micah Sloat) and Katie (Katie Featherston). After enduring several nights of grotesque nightmares and disembodied moaning coming from the attic, Katie becomes convinced that a demonic presence has invaded their home.

Hoping to ease his wife’s hysteria, Micah sets up recording equipment in the couple’s bedroom to document any supernatural phenomena. Katie protests, saying the interference will only enrage the spirit. She’s right of course, and each night’s haunting seems more unsettling and aggressive than the last.

Unfortunately, these unsettling and aggressive occurrences mostly consist of doors suddenly slamming, chandeliers swaying slightly and lots of creepy shadows. Not exactly my definition of heart-stopping entertainment.

Yes, it’s great that Paranormal Activity, which was made two years ago for the micro-budget of $11,000, manages to do so much with so little. But, even though the claustrophobic atmosphere, mounting tension and effortlessly naturalistic performances seem masterful at first, the effect wears off fast when the viewer finally realizes that nothing frightening is actually going to happen.

Monotony is the kiss of death for a movie such as this. If you want minimalist horror done right, I’d point you to The Blair Witch Project, Cannibal Holocaust and the original, 1963 version of The Haunting.

Verdict: Two stars

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