Everyone has been startled by a bump in the night, quickly explained away as the house settling or air in the pipes, but some sounds are a bit more frightening. Oren Peli’s “Paranormal Activity” is a documentary-style film that tells the story of Micah and Katie, a young couple with a problem.
Katie, played by Katie Featherston, has been haunted by an unknown entity most of her life. From the time she was 8 years old, she has experienced phenomena that followed her everywhere she went and lurked in every residence.
Micah, portrayed by Micah Sloat, her live-in boyfriend of three years, has decided it is time to take matters into his own hands and figure out what this thing is once and for all.
He surprises Katie with a professional video camera and recording equipment meant to catch this menace on film. A skeptical Katie allows him to experiment by setting up the equipment to film overnight, and the subtle sounds and shadows progress to a full-fledged demonic haunting.
The film is set up as a documentary based on a true story. As many viewers know, it’s a low-budget film, costing only $11,000 including advertising, crew and actors’ salaries and everything else. Many viewers expected something akin to “The Blair Witch Project,” which, while being creepy, was just cheesy and melodramatic enough to leave viewers unconvinced and unafraid.
Unsuspecting audiences went in to see “Paranormal Activity” with overconfident attitudes. “I bet $10 that I don’t even jump once,” said Kyle Anger, a junior history major at Clarion. Anger did jump, along with everyone else. Even during his second viewing of the movie, he jumped. Who could blame him?
The film began with scenes of casual daily interaction between boyfriend and girlfriend making jokes and hearing the occasional bump. The bumps escalated, startling audiences with noises from the icemaker and a scream over a spider.
This cunningly lulled moviegoers into a false sense of security, but as the real suspense began to build, the mood of the room changed, and people inched toward the edges of their seats. The plot of this movie is so terrifying, and the performances of the actors so convincing, that at every bump and sound, seats could be heard squeaking. The squeaks were audible only if no one was screaming. The suspense took hold, and this movie really delivered.
Surprise twists and creepy noises sent even the bravest viewers to the fetal position in their seats, while those with less courage simply covered their eyes or walked right out. Even those experiencing “Paranormal” a second time agreed that it was just as unsettling on a repeat viewing. Comments following the movie revealed the audience’s reactions. “My electricity bill is going to be through the roof because I will never sleep with the lights off again.” “We are going to sleep in the same room tonight, OK?”
Hearing a grown man say that he needs a nightlight is probably enough to convince any thrill-seeker that this flick is definitely worth it. This thriller is definitely well-made and well-cast. Even with its low budget, simple effects and few actors, it leaves audiences looking over their shoulders well into the next day.
