Paranormal Activity -- just hype or is it really good?

Aike · October 2 2009, 04:27 PM

Has anyone seen the new horror movie Paranormal Activity?
Apparently, it only cost 15.000 dollars but is really good, according to the first reviews and IMDB.

I hadn´t heard of it until today, but LA Times believes it could be the next Blair Witch Project. Read about it here.

The trailer is here.

mimic · October 2 2009, 04:43 PM

A couple of my friends saw it. The one wrote this on his facebook:

Holy hell! Paranormal activity was the scariest movie I've seen in a long time. Guess I'm not sleeping tonight. For those interested, here's the rundown. If you didn't like Blair witch, you won't like this. There will be a lo...t of time you're watching it's just like watching home videos, so expect filler. And the movie is very quiet, so if you have annoying bitches whispering (like we did) you'll hear everything. Otherwise, fucking amazing! Damn! I'm still scared, and apologies to those I texted right after the movie but I was FREAKING OUT and needed someone to talk to.

My other friend was a little less ebullient.

broberfett · October 2 2009, 05:37 PM

I haven't seen it, but It looks like ultra-hype.

Lonemagpie · October 2 2009, 05:53 PM

Looking at the trailer, comes over as Ghostwatch with prettier faces and without the frisson of being (or appearing) live. Colour me totally unimpressed. So you're probably better off just getting the GhostWatch DVD

Obiwanshinobi · October 5 2009, 05:00 AM

i dunno, i saw it. i thought it was pretty damn scary. And movies dont scare me all that easily. The production value was pretty low budget, but the execution of the "recorded paranormal footage" especially towards the end was pretty freakin scary. gets you on a cerebral level. im kind of wondering if the ending was reshot though. those who have also seen this movie will know what im talkin about. this was by far scarier than the Blair Witch Project among countless of other hollywood flicks.

The Badger · October 5 2009, 09:03 PM

Lonemagpie wrote:

So you're probably better off just getting the GhostWatch DVD

That scared the hell out of me and I knew it was a drama. I can imagine what it was like for those who thought it was for real.

Didn't the wife of an ex-para try to sue the BBC for the laundry bills after he soiled his trousers watching it?

Admiral_Young · October 5 2009, 10:12 PM

I didn't even hear about it until about a week or so ago. I'll probably check it out if it makes it to DVD.

trekkier · October 5 2009, 10:49 PM

where are people seeing this? its only playing in a handful of theaters!

Obiwanshinobi · October 5 2009, 11:55 PM

Wide release is Oct 9th I believe, but yeah it is only playing in select cities, most college towns. Here in seattle it's only playing at one theater at one showing at midnight

Spaceman Spiff · October 6 2009, 01:56 AM

Looks like it'll be playing near me this weekend. I'll check it out.

JacksonArcher · October 6 2009, 02:51 AM

I'm seeing it this Friday so I guess I'll determine that then.

Mike Farley · October 6 2009, 03:25 AM

It's a good $15,000 movie. The actors are good and the movie makes it's micro-budget a virtue. just don't go into it thinking you're going to see the Scariest Movie Ever, because it's not...not even close. the scares are effective, but they are primarily of the cheap "BOO!" variety and mostly telegraphed.

It had a better ending than BLAIR WITCH but mostly lacked BW's creepy factor.

And, to answer another post, yes I believe the ending was changed. Apparently the current ending was suggested by Steven Spielberg.

Temis the Vorta · October 6 2009, 04:14 AM

I'm a wuss, I scare easily. I still haven't been able to sit through The Exorcist. This is scarier than that, right?

Mike Farley · October 6 2009, 05:07 PM

Temis the Friendly Ghost wrote:

I'm a wuss, I scare easily. I still haven't been able to sit through The Exorcist. This is scarier than that, right?

Paranormal Activity is nowhere close to being as scary as The Exorcist. Not in the same ballpark, not even playing the same game.

October 2 2009, 04:27 PM	#1
Aike Commander	Paranormal Activity -- just hype or is it really good? Has anyone seen the new horror movie Paranormal Activity? Apparently, it only cost 15.000 dollars but is really good, according to the first reviews and IMDB. I hadn´t heard of it until today, but LA Times believes it could be the next Blair Witch Project. Read about it here. The trailer is here.

October 2 2009, 05:37 PM	#3
broberfett Vice Admiral Location: Relaxing in Slave I listening to Holy Diver	Re: Paranormal Activity -- just hype or is it really good? I haven't seen it, but It looks like ultra-hype. __________________ sometimes in real life a villain will burn your house to the ground, kill your family, rape your wife, and shoot your dog and then laugh because he liked it. Some people are just assholes.

October 2 2009, 05:53 PM	#4
Lonemagpie Writer Location: Yorkshire	Re: Paranormal Activity -- just hype or is it really good? Looking at the trailer, comes over as Ghostwatch with prettier faces and without the frisson of being (or appearing) live. Colour me totally unimpressed. So you're probably better off just getting the GhostWatch DVD __________________ "I got two modes with people- Bite, and Avoid" Reading: Mystery Man (Colin Bateman) Blog- http://lonemagpie.livejournal.com

October 5 2009, 05:00 AM	#5
Obiwanshinobi Rear Admiral Location: ObiWanShinobi	Re: Paranormal Activity -- just hype or is it really good? i dunno, i saw it. i thought it was pretty damn scary. And movies dont scare me all that easily. The production value was pretty low budget, but the execution of the "recorded paranormal footage" especially towards the end was pretty freakin scary. gets you on a cerebral level. im kind of wondering if the ending was reshot though. those who have also seen this movie will know what im talkin about. this was by far scarier than the Blair Witch Project among countless of other hollywood flicks.

October 5 2009, 10:12 PM	#7
Admiral_Young Fleet Admiral Location: Metropolis	Re: Paranormal Activity -- just hype or is it really good? I didn't even hear about it until about a week or so ago. I'll probably check it out if it makes it to DVD. __________________ Admiral Young Chief of Operations Ignoring the The Last Stand since 2011.

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October 5 2009, 10:49 PM	#8
trekkier Lieutenant Commander Location: outpost 41	Re: Paranormal Activity -- just hype or is it really good? where are people seeing this? its only playing in a handful of theaters! __________________ Evil will always triumph, because good is dumb.

October 5 2009, 11:55 PM	#9
Obiwanshinobi Rear Admiral Location: ObiWanShinobi	Re: Paranormal Activity -- just hype or is it really good? Wide release is Oct 9th I believe, but yeah it is only playing in select cities, most college towns. Here in seattle it's only playing at one theater at one showing at midnight

October 6 2009, 01:56 AM	#10
Spaceman Spiff Intrepid Explorer	Re: Paranormal Activity -- just hype or is it really good? Looks like it'll be playing near me this weekend. I'll check it out. __________________ "Love means never having to say you're ugly." - Dr. Phibes

October 6 2009, 02:51 AM	#11
JacksonArcher Vice Admiral	Re: Paranormal Activity -- just hype or is it really good? I'm seeing it this Friday so I guess I'll determine that then. __________________ Bane: "When Gotham is ashes... you have my permission to die." - The Dark Knight Rises

October 6 2009, 03:25 AM	#12
Mike Farley Commodore Location: Lost Vegas	Re: Paranormal Activity -- just hype or is it really good? It's a good $15,000 movie. The actors are good and the movie makes it's micro-budget a virtue. just don't go into it thinking you're going to see the Scariest Movie Ever, because it's not...not even close. the scares are effective, but they are primarily of the cheap "BOO!" variety and mostly telegraphed. It had a better ending than BLAIR WITCH but mostly lacked BW's creepy factor. And, to answer another post, yes I believe the ending was changed. Apparently the current ending was suggested by Steven Spielberg.

October 6 2009, 04:14 AM	#13
Temis the Vorta Fleet Admiral Location: Tatoinne	Re: Paranormal Activity -- just hype or is it really good? I'm a wuss, I scare easily. I still haven't been able to sit through The Exorcist. This is scarier than that, right?