PARANORMAL ACTIVITIES - MY REVIEW

Hi Guyzzz I read in a forum about a movie called "PARANORMAL ACTIVITIES" which is supposed to be one of the scariest movies of recent times... When that article came there were only a few who had watched that movie even though it was shot during 2007 and was supposed to release in 2007.Those who had the opportunity to watch it during screenings/Limited shows/film festivals were all having good words about the movie.So after reading that article I searched the net to find out if any copy is available online..but no luck.So I have been waiting for the movie to be out in theaters or DVDs and atlast my wait came to an end day before yesterday when I managed to download a DVD-screener from the net (The movie got released last week I suppose - its a HALLOWEEN special competing against SAW-VI).


Since I am a horror movie fan and have watched almost all the recent horror pictures(PROM NIGHT,MY BLOODY VALENTINE,TRICK R TREAT,DRAG ME TO HELL,LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT,THE TRIBE etc)..I didnt get too much scared after watching "PARANORMAL ACTIVITIES" but I shud also add that still I feel a chill when sleeping alone in my flat thinking abt the movie.Like all horror movies this also shud be watched alone in the dark without interruption to feel the horror.I watched it alone and during some scenes I had goose bumps all over the body...the real beauty of the movie is that there is not much violence (none to be frank) or blood or flesh but still it manages to scare the shit out of us...


The movie just has 4 characters (+2 cops who appears in the climax) and out of that 4 only 2 are shown thru out the movie (the other 2 has just 2 scenes each).The movie is completely shot using a handicam and shot as a documentary/live footage.The story is about a gal who has been followed by a spirit from the day she was a toddler.Now she is 20 and is staying with her boyfriend in a villa and she feels that the spirit is following her even now and also that the presence is becoming more intense.She hears foot steps,whispers etc and she tells this to her boy friend who doesnt believe her fully.He suggests that they use a handicam and record their daytoday life and to check if the tape records anything unusual.Meanwhile Katie (the gal) consults a psychic/spiritual counsellor and he says that she is followed by a demon and not the spirit of a human being and only a demonologist can help her.Micah (The boy) wasn’t happy with this suggestion and he didn’t take the advice seriously and they continued shooting with the handycam (which according to the counsellor's opinion can anger the demon and can result in violent reactions).One morning when they play the tape they ntices that their bedroom door closes and opens automatically even though there is no wind…and another occasion they hear foot steps (someone running up and down the stairs)…and next day Micah spreads white flour (or some white poder) on the floor and corridor to findout if the spirit is leaving any foot prints and tho their horror they see that foot marks appears in the floor as if someone is walking…..over the days many such occurances happens and Katie decided to call the demonologist but he was out of station so they calls the councellor again and as soon as he enters the house he feels some strong negative presence and he says that the spirit I very angry and its not safe for him to saty there any longer and he ran out.Over the days many unexplained things takes place in the house and 1 or 2 occassions Micah starts walking in the sleep and the next morning she doesn’t have any recollection of what happened the previous night….so what happenes in the end is what the story is about…


My opinion

1) The movie is excellent and not a bit boring….it keeps the suspense till the end…

2) Some scenes will scare u badly…the scene which haunts me still is the nite when Micah wakes up (or may be still asleep and it’s the subconscious which is alert) in the middle of the night and just stands near the bed watching her boyfriend sleep (she stands in the same place for 3 hrs without even moving)..that scene is really spooky….

3) This movie will satisy the Halloween crowd….

4) Our indian directors shud take a leaf out of their book and try something creative rather than complaining that HOLLYWOOD got a mega budget and wider audience…..this movie wudntve cost anything more than shooting a wedding/wedding reception…it doesn’t have any mind blowing GRAFIX sequence…it doesn’t have a stellar star cast..nor does it show Fleash to lure the teenagers..its a horror movie aimed at scaring us and it succeeds to a great extent….