Paranormal Activity Review

All you future movie makers out there take note. Paranormal Activity is a lesson in marketing. This movie reportedly cost only $15,000 to produce, and I'm sure by this point has made its money back off one screen through its explosive advertisement campaign. The micro-budget thriller premiered back in 2007 and has been building buzz on college campuses and small film festivals. Paramount finally picked up the movie in 2008 and slated it for limited release. The movie centers around a couple Mica and Katie, a young couple haunted by demon that has been following Katie since she was eight years old. Sceptic Mica buys top of the line video gear to try and catch the malevolent spirit on tape. What this movie does, which so few do today, is not show you the monster. There is no over the top special effect creature you see five minutes into the opening credits. This movie is that thing in the dark you're afraid of. What it does best is built the intensity of each scare. Each time you know something is coming, just not what. It's not fair to say this is a perfect horror film, or even close. The whole concept of the film is nothing new. The single camera movie was done better in Rec, and even the American version Quarantine. And the whole time during the film, I kept feeling like this was some sort of Blair Witch take off, especially towards the end. Over all though, I will admit this movie did genuinely scare me, and I'll give it an 8.5/10. This movie has definitely got me ready for the Halloween Season.