Paranormal Activity
Director: Oren Peli
Starring: Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Mark Fredrichs
Details: US/86mins (15A)
Budgeted at a paltry $15,000, Paranormal Activity has gone on to rake in the kind of money that makes careers for the talent involved, and ensures promotions for the executives that bought it. While ridiculously billed as the most terrifying movie of all time, this is still well written and suspenseful stuff that takes its time before escalating into some hugely effective but subtle scares. Those horror fans that are used to the immediate satisfaction of the recent glut of gore-porn titles will find little here to quench their bloodlust, though.
Micah and Katie are a young couple living together for the first time. We first meet them through a camera that Micah is manning himself, and soon learn that Katie has been having issues of the supernatural variety. Micah has purchased the expensive camera in order to film them while they sleep, so that they might catch whatever has been whispering into Katie's ear at night. What they find is truly terrifying and only gets worse the more they try to find a solution. It seems they're attempting to capture the Sean Penn of demons, as both throw hissy fits of epic proportions when caught on camera.
This is a thriller that works primarily because of the patient build-up. Writer/director Oren Peli is smart enough to realise that the peril these characters are in is what is truly frightening. If we like them, then we buy the setup and become enthralled in their extreme predicament, which is where the movie would live or die. With the lack of budget and therefore suitable sound and visual effects, a lot rests on the shoulders of the actors, and both of them are really marvellous and deserve credit.
Peli's execution is what really makes this worthwhile, though. Shot entirely on camcorder, he knows how to build tension, and it'd be interesting to see what he does with a heftier budget. Hugely atmospheric and creepy stuff, just don't expect a continual barrage of scares, this is something else entirely.
Review by Mike Sheridan : Agree/Disagree? Write a review... and win Cinema tickets!
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Your Reviews
Muck - nyc152
Patient build up my foot, it takes up until the last scene for anything to kick off in this sleep inducing joke of a thriller, almost as bad as "The Village" (whats the village you ask? point... MORE
Review Published 23 January 2010
Star Rating: 
WORTH A GANDER! - HSP
This is one of those movies that I very nearly walked out of after 20 minutes but I am glad I didn't. At the start of proceedings we see Micah (the hubby) show Katie (the wife) the new expensive... MORE
Review Published 12 January 2010
Star Rating: 
worth a watch - DaveP
It's been a few years since [REC], Cloverfield, and Diary of the Dead and it seemed that '07/'08 signalled the height and demise of that sporadic genre, the first-person shocker. But, when we least... MORE
Review Published 09 January 2010
Star Rating: 
excellent - spelltris
im in to horrors so dont get scared easily but after watching this film i slept with light and tv on . it left so much to the imagination through the whole film and u just couldnt wait for them to go... MORE
Review Published 07 January 2010
Star Rating:
Paranormal ... No Activity?!? - Keith
What a load of poo. I went with my sister, and we were so syked to see it, hearing the multitude of critics praises we had to see for ourselves. However, what we saw on-screen was total bull. For... MORE
Review Published 03 January 2010
Star Rating:
A nice nap! - cosmogirl
I have to say, this film has got very mixed reviews. It's either said to be terrifying or rubbish, so I went to see it myself to make my mind up and I'm really easily pleased but not with this!! ... MORE
Review Published 28 December 2009
Star Rating:
What A Load Of S**t.!!! - filmlover
OMG i cannot believe how shockingly s**t Paranormal Activity is..! Been waiting to watch this for ages so i downloaded it (gud job least i didnt waste 2 4 1 tickets wiv orange) and i am disgusted.!!... MORE
Review Published 21 December 2009
Star Rating:
AMAZING - Ally
WOW this film is fantastic, its so scary and you dontt expect anythingto happen, i ws jumpin out of my seat watching this... A must see film
Review Published 21 December 2009
Star Rating: 
Subnormal Creativity - pandabat
Repetitive, Annoying & Boring: just 3 of the words that you'll have time to think about while the same scene plays out around 10 times on-screen in "Paranormal Activity". Inspired by films such... MORE
Review Published 21 December 2009
Star Rating:
Worst film ever. - Kbramone
This is by far the worst film i've ever seen.No story,terrible acting and what was scary in this.Ridiculous ghost hunting shows on Sky digital are more scary than this crap and them shows are on in... MORE
Review Published 20 December 2009
Star Rating:
This was exceptional. - Gavin
This is a really good film, and I think its one of the only genuinely scary horror films of the last decade, as all the "greats" are from the 70's-early 80's period. The reason why all the "found... MORE
Review Published 19 December 2009
Star Rating:
BRILLIANT - i-hate-popcorn
Just go see it.. its so good! I wasn't expecting much after all the hype but it certainly lives up to it.. Just go with low expectations like i did and you'll be well impressed!
Review Published 18 December 2009
Star Rating:
Surprisingly good - seamyfox
Heard loads of banter about this film and had a look for myself and nearly crapped my pants.
Review Published 14 December 2009
Star Rating:
Very Scary stuff. Des Kelly won't like it though. - Clars
I just got back from seeing this at the cinema,and thoroughly enjoyed it. the storyline is built up well, establishing the cute couple and their happiness while all the time the sinister undertones... MORE
Review Published 14 December 2009
Star Rating:
Overhyped, but entertaining - Keith R
It seems the fate of every contemporary horror film worth its salt to be heralded as "the scariest thing ever", and so it has been with Paranormal Activity. Unfortunately - and, pretty much,... MORE
Review Published 13 December 2009
Star Rating:
paranormal - baybee
hi i jus wanted to know how long the film is going to be out for? will it still be out on satuirday 19th december?
Review Published 12 December 2009
Star Rating:
great, if you don't like sleeping? - patrick
I saw two trailers for this movie and knew I wanted to see it, in hinesight I wish I hadn't seen any as I would have been more frightened, this movie is great in the way it plays on your inner... MORE
Review Published 07 December 2009
Star Rating:
Awful - tweetypietwink23
Firstly i work in a cinema parttime as im still at college,so i have gotten too basically see the vast majority of films that have been released this year.This by far as to be one of the most... MORE
Review Published 07 December 2009
Star Rating:
Paranormal Activity - donna
This movie is with out doubt the worst movie I have seem in a long time and one of the best.
Review Published 07 December 2009
Star Rating:
Surprisingly good - Patrick
Ok, admittedly, for the first half an hour virtually nothing happened. I found myself thinking: "8.50 for a home movie?" On the first night we hear a distant thud. The next morning, her keys are on... MORE
Review Published 06 December 2009
Star Rating:
scary - eva
This movie is the freakiest movie I have ever seen.Its is a must see but if you don't like scary movies like I do than don't go and see it.
Review Published 06 December 2009
Star Rating:
Paranormal Activity - donone
This movie is with out doubt the worst movie I have seem in a long time. Completely predictable and not one bit scary. I want the 86 minutes of my life back, not to mention the 8.50 euro it cost me... MORE
Review Published 05 December 2009
Star Rating:
stunnah no mata wat - smexii bbe
DIIZ ERE MOVIE A WEE STUNNAH AND I FNK ITS JUST PRE GAWJ LMFAOOOOOOOOOO..........creamy cracker> ;) wheres my cake?
Review Published 04 December 2009
Star Rating:
Not scary. Looooong and duuulllllll...............BOO!! - sr
Blair witch was a great scary movie with a great original idea. This movie is very similar, which means we've seen it all before. 60 minutes pass with the two lead roles going to bed, brushing their... MORE
Review Published 04 December 2009
Star Rating: 
Not scary - but well made - Sarahkk
This is not a bad effort at this sort of film. I was wary of it at first as people were comparing it to The Blair Witch Project. Thankfully it's a lot better than that drivel. The story had some... MORE
Review Published 03 December 2009
Star Rating:
Not really that scary - Paula
Very hyped up, however there are elements of pure entertainment albeit adrenlaine soaked fear. I was far more entertained by the cinema audience reactions to the film than the film itself. There was... MORE
Review Published 03 December 2009
Star Rating:
Terrible - andrew
This movie is terrible, it is in no way scary its just stupid. There is no real story to it, it is just 90 minutes of them slepping and 10 minutes of banging noises. The actors are just really... MORE
Review Published 02 December 2009
Star Rating:
brill but not scary - alex
i went to watch this last night at 10pm and i was ready to be scared out of my mind but i was upset at how unscary this flim is and i believe in gosts and demons. i was surprised at the fact i wasnt... MORE
Review Published 30 November 2009
Star Rating:
Verry Very Scary. - JustLizzie
I Really liked this film , i thought it was reali scary. Has to be one of the scaryest film out there. Its Reaali good but it does take a while to get into
Review Published 29 November 2009
Star Rating:
terrifying - Hazel
My expectations for this movie were not sky high i thought oh another scary film..but was i wrong,it was truly gripping and horrifying.Everytime it turned to night in the film i was terrified as i... MORE
Review Published 29 November 2009
Star Rating:
Me = Freaked! - GaryORLFC
Just came back from watching Paranormal Activity there, well worth the money? No BUT the only reason I said no is because I couldn't watch the last 40 minutes of it because I was freaked. So yes, in... MORE
Review Published 28 November 2009
Star Rating:
hmm? - Shauna ;)
i havent saw it yet..tonight... :O scary?
Review Published 27 November 2009
Star Rating:
Pretty good - kevo
much better acted and executed than Blair Witch but similiar nonetheless, they don't try and shove the' this actually happened' bit down the audiences throats as much as Blair Witch.
Review Published 27 November 2009
Star Rating:
Ok - thought it was a true movie - Bernie Og
I was scared to go into the bedroom after this movie and listened for all the sounds around the house but I was sure it was a true movie as it was film like so. It was short and to the point - glad... MORE
Review Published 26 November 2009
Star Rating:
worst horror ever - christopher buckley
not another shaky camera movie like cloverfield i mean why do they make these crappy movies no one likes them and i have to admit it is worse then clovefield and the recent but none shaky camera... MORE
Review Published 26 November 2009
Star Rating:
Thrilling ! - jade x x x
In my opinion, one of the scariest thrillers ive ever seen... watched it last night for the first time and I was that petrified , I didn't sleep with the light of..well worth watching! 9/10
Review Published 25 November 2009
Star Rating:
now im sure - dale
well this is posably the best horror movie to come out in the last couple of years, didnt listen to the hype, so had no expetations.
Review Published 24 November 2009
Star Rating:
A Great Great Horror Film - SineadOD
I saw this. Scared the life out of me and my boyfriend. We had to watch a bit of Toy Story afterwards before going to sleep. His suggestion, not mine! It takes a good 30 - 40 mins to get going but... MORE
Review Published 30 October 2009
Star Rating:
Paranormal Activity - Tay
this movie is the best movie i have ever seen. it is so scary i love it. whoever dont like it is purty much stupid. it outbeats the craft and the blair witch project by a lot. no comparison.
Review Published 30 October 2009
Star Rating:
not sure - dale
not to sure about this one, same kind of hype as the blair witch. not a great result for that flim. fingers crossed on this one. would be nice to see the trailer with out the easly frightend... MORE
Review Published 20 October 2009
Star Rating:
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