Paranormal Activity

Lookingglassman · October 12 2009, 05:07 PM

It looks like a rip-off of the Blair Witch Project. Basically a wife is haunted by a demon and her and her husband film their experiences in their house.

Has anybody seen this movie? It has been released in a limited run and if you want to see it in your area you have to go to a website and request it. If you have seen it is it any good?

Mike Farley · October 12 2009, 05:10 PM

It was okay. Pretty good for a movie that only cost around $15,000. It's not as creepy or compelling as BLAIR WITCH, but it does pay off better.

Awesome Possum · October 12 2009, 08:31 PM

It's getting a wide release now, I'm looking forward to see it.

sithlord · October 14 2009, 11:12 AM

Just saw it tonight. It's fun, especially if you're into ghost stories. The scares are cool and mostly in camera. The build up and atmosphere are great.

I will say it is difficult to be at home alone tonight, as I can't stop thinking about the movie. Just a little while ago, I'm sitting reading some web sites, with my cat on my lap and a loud noise goes off behind me. Just turned out to be an empty box I had precariously stacked on some other stuff, but DAMN, creeped me the hell out.

JacksonArcher · October 14 2009, 12:13 PM

I saw the movie last weekend. An extremely effective albeit overhyped horror movie, it stays with you far after the movie is over. My friend that I saw it with has been paranoid all week hearing noises and apparently seeing odd lights, and the night we saw the movie apparently his garage was robbed, which either happened whilst we were away or while we were at his house, except there was no sign of forced entry.

All in all, the experience and feeling you have after seeing the movie is probably more effective than the movie itself, but that is merely a backhanded compliment since clearly in order to be affected so the film had to do something, and Paranormal Activity will definitely stay with you far after the movie has ended. To me, that's the mark of a damn fine horror flick.

The Mirrorball Man · October 14 2009, 01:02 PM

JacksonArcher wrote:

I saw the movie last weekend. An extremely effective albeit overhyped horror movie, it stays with you far after the movie is over.

How can a genuinely frightening horror movie be overhyped? It doesn't happen that often.

JacksonArcher · October 15 2009, 05:47 AM

The movie takes a while to get going and isn't actually that scary itself. It's the feeling you get after watching it which is the most unsettling, if that makes any sense.

Ryan · October 15 2009, 07:39 AM

I found it very disappointing. I know a few people who had to sleep with the lights on after watching it. I went home, watched an episode of The Big Bang Theory, and promptly forgot all about the movie before my head even hit the pillow.

The insane amount of hype going into this really amplified the plot problems and pacing issues. The psychic exists only to keep the couple isolated and alone in the house and does a completely unconvincing job of it. They just sorta do what he says because, you know, things are working out so well for them.

We also have huge lengths of time where nothing happens. For a second it looked like the Ouija board might signal a ramping up of activity in other locations in the house but nope. The movie went right back to everything happening in the bedroom punctuated by long periods of nothing happening anywhere else.

When Micah went into the attic I was reminded how much better a film [Rec] was in the same "recovered footage" horror genre.

roguephoenix · October 16 2009, 08:12 AM

WORST THING YOU WILL EVER SEE! they should have called it Paranormal Craptivity. that would be a more accurate title. NOTHING HAPPENS. the trailer IS the movie. i have been on a campaign telling people about this crap. watch the trailer and you've seen everything there is to see in the movie.

Capt_Piett · October 17 2009, 06:53 AM

Blair Witch was crap. This movie I haven't heard much critical reviews of, so for individuals, it's probably going to be hit or miss. Though I'd imagine if you HAVE had a paranormal experience personally, you might view the movie slightly differently....

The Evil Dead · October 17 2009, 04:39 PM

I saw it last night, I enjoyed it but I think I'd have liked it a lot more seeing it in an intimate environment. Watching it with a girlfriend or a few friends in a basement den or something would be a great experience. I find with any horror movie by the time I get back out on to the street the "vibe" from the movie, no matter how creepy, just washes away and I become my usual cynical self again.

Very good film for an aspiring filmmaker to see what you can do with 10 000 dollars and a neat little premise.

bigdaddy · October 17 2009, 05:00 PM

Mike Farley wrote:

It was okay. Pretty good for a movie that only cost around $15,000. It's not as creepy or compelling as BLAIR WITCH, but it does pay off better.

Oh Jesus it's worst that Blaire Witch!

I don't bother with "horror" movies anymore because they aren't at all scary and just gore. However I know several friends that have seen it and they say it's this generations Blaire Witch.

ExcaliburZeta · October 20 2009, 05:10 AM

I just saw it today with a bunch of friends and I thought it was rather overhyped. The movie had a creepy/eerie feeling to it, and the buildup was good, but I felt as if the payoff at the end was just a big letdown. By the end of the movie the characters were annoying me and I really didn't get scared once during the whole movie.

I liked where it was going and it did have the creepiness factor down, but I don't see where people were calling it one of the scariest movies out there.

Mr Nighttime · October 20 2009, 06:51 AM

Capt_Piett wrote:

Blair Witch was crap.

Quoted for truth.

Cutter John · October 20 2009, 05:28 PM

Not a big fan of standard ghost movies (prefer Lovecraftian style horror) but I'll probably pick up the dvd, since I personally enjoyed Blair Witch a lot.

I like those few and far between horror films that work on your imagination rather than just waving a bloody machete in front of the camera or having a guy in a latex mask or CGI monster jump out and yell 'Boo!'. (unless its a zombie movie of course. In which case sign me up!)

Though from the sound of things, I'd better prepare for a few sleepless nights.

October 12 2009, 05:07 PM	#1
Lookingglassman Admiral Location: America	Paranormal Activity It looks like a rip-off of the Blair Witch Project. Basically a wife is haunted by a demon and her and her husband film their experiences in their house. Has anybody seen this movie? It has been released in a limited run and if you want to see it in your area you have to go to a website and request it. If you have seen it is it any good?

October 12 2009, 05:10 PM	#2
Mike Farley Commodore Location: Lost Vegas	Re: Paranormal Activity It was okay. Pretty good for a movie that only cost around $15,000. It's not as creepy or compelling as BLAIR WITCH, but it does pay off better.

October 12 2009, 08:31 PM	#3
Awesome Possum Herald of the Ponies Location: Jewel HQ	Re: Paranormal Activity It's getting a wide release now, I'm looking forward to see it. __________________ I am at heart a propagandist, a tremendous hater, a tiresome nag, complacently positive that there is no human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise. -Gore Vidal

October 14 2009, 11:12 AM	#4
sithlord Lieutenant Commander Location: Long Beach, CA, USA	Re: Paranormal Activity Just saw it tonight. It's fun, especially if you're into ghost stories. The scares are cool and mostly in camera. The build up and atmosphere are great. I will say it is difficult to be at home alone tonight, as I can't stop thinking about the movie. Just a little while ago, I'm sitting reading some web sites, with my cat on my lap and a loud noise goes off behind me. Just turned out to be an empty box I had precariously stacked on some other stuff, but DAMN, creeped me the hell out.

October 14 2009, 12:13 PM	#5
JacksonArcher Vice Admiral	Re: Paranormal Activity I saw the movie last weekend. An extremely effective albeit overhyped horror movie, it stays with you far after the movie is over. My friend that I saw it with has been paranoid all week hearing noises and apparently seeing odd lights, and the night we saw the movie apparently his garage was robbed, which either happened whilst we were away or while we were at his house, except there was no sign of forced entry. All in all, the experience and feeling you have after seeing the movie is probably more effective than the movie itself, but that is merely a backhanded compliment since clearly in order to be affected so the film had to do something, and Paranormal Activity will definitely stay with you far after the movie has ended. To me, that's the mark of a damn fine horror flick. __________________ Bane: "When Gotham is ashes... you have my permission to die." - The Dark Knight Rises

STAR TREK

CSI

ABOUT US

October 15 2009, 05:47 AM	#7
JacksonArcher Vice Admiral	Re: Paranormal Activity The movie takes a while to get going and isn't actually that scary itself. It's the feeling you get after watching it which is the most unsettling, if that makes any sense. __________________ Bane: "When Gotham is ashes... you have my permission to die." - The Dark Knight Rises

October 15 2009, 07:39 AM	#8
Ryan Commodore Location: Lincoln, NE	Re: Paranormal Activity I found it very disappointing. I know a few people who had to sleep with the lights on after watching it. I went home, watched an episode of The Big Bang Theory, and promptly forgot all about the movie before my head even hit the pillow. The insane amount of hype going into this really amplified the plot problems and pacing issues. The psychic exists only to keep the couple isolated and alone in the house and does a completely unconvincing job of it. They just sorta do what he says because, you know, things are working out so well for them. We also have huge lengths of time where nothing happens. For a second it looked like the Ouija board might signal a ramping up of activity in other locations in the house but nope. The movie went right back to everything happening in the bedroom punctuated by long periods of nothing happening anywhere else. When Micah went into the attic I was reminded how much better a film [Rec] was in the same "recovered footage" horror genre.

October 16 2009, 08:12 AM	#9
roguephoenix Captain	Re: Paranormal Activity WORST THING YOU WILL EVER SEE! they should have called it Paranormal Craptivity. that would be a more accurate title. NOTHING HAPPENS. the trailer IS the movie. i have been on a campaign telling people about this crap. watch the trailer and you've seen everything there is to see in the movie. __________________ Please have mercy! No more Wolvercrap! Or Twitlight! (yes that's how it should be spelled)

October 17 2009, 06:53 AM	#10
Capt_Piett Rear Admiral Location: Bremerton, Washington	Re: Paranormal Activity Blair Witch was crap. This movie I haven't heard much critical reviews of, so for individuals, it's probably going to be hit or miss. Though I'd imagine if you HAVE had a paranormal experience personally, you might view the movie slightly differently.... __________________ "We childproofed our homes, but they are still getting in..."

October 17 2009, 04:39 PM	#11
The Evil Dead Vice Admiral Location: 1123, 6536, 5321	Re: Paranormal Activity I saw it last night, I enjoyed it but I think I'd have liked it a lot more seeing it in an intimate environment. Watching it with a girlfriend or a few friends in a basement den or something would be a great experience. I find with any horror movie by the time I get back out on to the street the "vibe" from the movie, no matter how creepy, just washes away and I become my usual cynical self again. Very good film for an aspiring filmmaker to see what you can do with 10 000 dollars and a neat little premise. __________________ "I want to see gamma rays, I want to hear X-rays, and I want to smell dark matter. I’m a machine and I could know much more." - Cavil, Battlestar Galactica

October 20 2009, 05:10 AM	#13
ExcaliburZeta Ensign Location: Cold Connecticut	Re: Paranormal Activity I just saw it today with a bunch of friends and I thought it was rather overhyped. The movie had a creepy/eerie feeling to it, and the buildup was good, but I felt as if the payoff at the end was just a big letdown. By the end of the movie the characters were annoying me and I really didn't get scared once during the whole movie. I liked where it was going and it did have the creepiness factor down, but I don't see where people were calling it one of the scariest movies out there. __________________ "Everybody seeks happiness! Not me, though! That's the difference between me and the rest of the world. Happiness isn't good enough for me! I demand euphoria!" -Calvin and Hobbes

October 20 2009, 05:28 PM	#15
Cutter John Rear Admiral Location: Beyond the wall of sleep, just south of Seattle.	Re: Paranormal Activity Not a big fan of standard ghost movies (prefer Lovecraftian style horror) but I'll probably pick up the dvd, since I personally enjoyed Blair Witch a lot. I like those few and far between horror films that work on your imagination rather than just waving a bloody machete in front of the camera or having a guy in a latex mask or CGI monster jump out and yell 'Boo!'. (unless its a zombie movie of course. In which case sign me up!) Though from the sound of things, I'd better prepare for a few sleepless nights. __________________ "The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don't always soften the bad things. But vice versa, the bad things don't necessarily spoil the good things or make them unimportant."