Paranormal Activity (Oren Peli, 2007)

[PrayforMojo]

Couldn't find a thread for this, which surprised me as it's being hyped as the scariest horror film in years. It was filmed over one weekend at the director's house for just over $11k. It sat in distribution limbo for a couple of years before Paramount's DreamWorks studio picked it up, altered a few things, including changing the end (allegedly at Steven Spielberg's behest) and it's been a massive hit in the US as a result. It's another shaky-cam job so comparisons with The Blair Witch Project are unavoidable, and I imagine it will probably divide audiences in a similar manner. Personally, I loved the Blair Witch Project. It made feel something I hadn't experienced since I was a child - fear! The kind of fear that makes you want to seek refuge under the bed covers, but if the trailer for Paranormal Activity is anything to go by, hiding under the covers is no longer an option.



I've been told there's a DVD screener OUT THERE, but it's the original version, and I think these kind of films play better with a big crowd in a dark theatre with a booming sound system so personally I'm gonna wait. Just a shame that it's not being released in time for Halloween in the UK. It's due for release on the 27th November.

[Family Fry]

Ahh glad this has a UK release date, last time I checked it was just a "demand this" link.
Watched little bit of trailer then stopped as didnt wanna spoil any genuine scary moments.

[abigsmurf]

Will have to go a long way to beat Noroi which is probably the best low budget fake docu horror I've seen (strongly recommend this, it's a slow burner but damn it's gripping towards the end). A lot of hype is building for this though (possiby calculated managed hype) .

[NemesiS]

I've been told there's a DVD screener OUT THERE

There is. I watched it last night. What an utter pile of sh*t

Don't get me wrong smurf, i'm not thread spoiling, i love horrors but as i mentioned in the Drag me to Hell thread, horror films have just just gotten worse over the years. Who the hell reviews horrors these days???

I had read a lot of positive press about this film, very similar to the Blair Witch hysteria a few years back and thought maybe it would be decent. Christ on a bike, what a yawnathon. Its just....... rubbish. I can accept it cost about 55p to make, so didn't expect any great effects, but even so; it was just plain boring.

You really have to question the American mentality to be frightened by dross like this or the Blair Witch for that matter which was equally crap. Watching the trailers of the US audiences screaming is just laughable and i refuse to believe that the Brits are quite so gullible to be taken in by such garbage. I quite simply cannot remember the last time a film made me jump let alone give me any feeling of fear. The Evil Dead possibly when i was about 11

Maybe i just expect to much from a horror film nowadays or am immune to them. Either way, i thought this was complete crap.

See what other forumers think.

[abigsmurf]

There is good horror, it just tends to be marketed as something else. Pans Labyrinth is arguably a horror and is an excellent film. Lots of horror gets categorised as action or comedy.

There's creative and messed up stuff around but you have to look hard for it. Evil Dead, Brain Dead, reanimator etc. were all pretty obscure, low budget films. They may be popular now.

There are future prospects, Del Toro has a Moutains of Madness adaptation lined up (someone has to do a good, faithful lovecraft adaptation at some point). Human centipede looks all kinds of messed up, true revultion horror. The fourth Kind could be good if it can replicate the scariness of stuff like fire in the sky.

Not got much hope for the Nightmare on Elm street remake. The trailer indicates that it's reusing a number of scenes from the first (and first remake). Hell raiser remake has potential if they don't shy away from the S&M themes of the first two.

[SuperBeatBoy]

I thought it wasn't bad for what it is. Will definetly check it out in the cinema if it gets shown where i am. Really want to see Rec2, anyone have an idea when its out over here?

[NemesiS]

Pans Labyrinth.. Now your talking. An absolute stellar film although i wouldn't class it a horror, more of a dark fantasy, through the looking glass-esque film. One of my favourite movies tho of thew last few years.

Braindead was ok but it was basically a comedy gorefest. Re-animator was excellent when i first saw it but it hasn't aged well. I did like the two Demons films by dario Argento years ago.

Lovecraft has written some great stuff and Del Torro is a good bet for a decent adaption if Pans is anything to go by. Some of Clive Barkers books of blood stories would make good films as well if you have read them. I didn't know they were remaking Hellraiser. I've no interest in the new Nightmare on Elm St as i hated the original.

REC 2.. When was that announced. I thought the first was great. Pity the yanks totally ruined the "remake" with Quarantine which again was given "the scariest film ever" hysteria treatment in the US and ended up being total arse.

[SuperBeatBoy]

I think it only just came out in Spain. Heres a trailer.



Never watched the american remake, not a big fan of that chick from dexter.

Golly, i seriously need to pick up the original rec on bluray at some point.

[abigsmurf]

Was going to check out paranormal activity but scanning some of the comments has shown that it was pretty much universally hated. Incidentally, the ending on the DVD screener version differs from the theatrical version. There's lots of strong hints that the screener was deliberately leaked to build hype.

[charlesr]

Blair Witch was the least scary thing ever. And the most boring. If this is like that, then I'll pass. I watched the trailer.... Good acting, but does nothing to change my mind.

[PrayforMojo]

I know this film is going to be hated on. I know people are gonna tear it to pieces, saying it's boring, nothing happens, you don't see anything, it's illogical, why would anyone carry on filming, etc, because I heard the same complaints about Blair Witch. Yet I liked that so much I watched it twice at the cinema and countless times again at home, and my opinion of it has never changed. I still think it's one of the most chilling psychological horror films I've ever seen. I don't even believe in the supernatural, but I know I would soil myself on the spot if I was out camping in the woods and I heard the sound of children laughing in the dead of night. Given the choice, I'd rather be confronted by a pack of werewolves or an army of the undead than have to deal with that. At least you can see them and come up with a plan to deal with the situation, but when it's something you can't see, something you don't understand...well, that's just terrifying to me.

You shouldn't ever prejudge a film, shouldn't really prejudge anything, but you always have a rough idea of what you like and what you don't, and I already know I'm going to like Paranormal Activity, even though I will probably be seriously traumatised by it. I'm just easily susceptible to this kind of thing. All it takes is a few strange noises and my imagination runs wild, and what you don't see can be a hell of a lot scarier than what you can. Imagination can be a wonderful thing but it can also be your own worst enemy. I mean, who hasn't woken up during night, creeped down stairs for a snack and thought what if something reached out and grabbed me, then cursed themselves for having such a thought.

But there is something shown in the trailer that irks me. Why, oh why, do they keep their bedroom door open?

[NemesiS]

You shouldn't ever prejudge a film, shouldn't really prejudge anything

But you are as you have said you will like it without seeing it. How can you know???

I'm not pre-judging the film, Pfm. I had the misfortune to watch it on Friday night. Imo, its absolutely terrible. The budget constraints meant it had to deliver on atmosphere and stellar acting, neither of which it does. A few sounds, bangs, bumps, doors opening and closing and stuff moving etc etc, is just plain ridiculous. Again i have to question the Yanks mentality!!

It looks and feels like a student film. In fact the missus who is frightened of her own shadow and won't entertain anything remotely horror/scary got that bored watching it, she got her knitting out

Don't even start me on the Blair Witch nonsense. I have never ever been so disappointed by a film which has had such hysterical critical acclaim heaped on it. I turned it off halfway through when i watched it as i was nodding off

Just my opinion tho, and maybe i'm old fashioned, but I prefer my horrors to be a bit more visceral with a more tangible monster/Baddie/Demon etc.

[Spatial]

But there is something shown in the trailer that irks me. Why, oh why, do they keep their bedroom door open?

I don't think having it closed would save you

[abigsmurf]

I actually liked the Blair Witch Project. Thought it was smart subtle and atmospheric.

[charlesr]

Don't even start me on the Blair Witch nonsense. ... I turned it off halfway through when i watched it as i was nodding off

One of the girls I watched it with fell asleep. In the cinema.