"Paranormal Activity" (R)
Grade: B
Without a doubt, “Paranormal Activity” follows the trail blazed by “The Blair Witch Project.” However, it does it well, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I had nightmares about the movie tonight.
The movie follows the girlfriend and boyfriend Katie and Micah as they buy a camera and attempt to document weird, well, you guessed it, paranormal activity in their house.
What makes the movie so successful is the juxtaposition between the setting and the movie’s subject matter. It’s set in San Diego, in some cozy suburb that probably has a stupid name (like Willow’s Ridge or something like that) in a house with nice hardwood floors and leather furniture. The only thing scary is probably their religious views.
Then, before you know it, doors are slamming, lights are turning themselves on and off, and footsteps are making their way down the halls. In doing this, the film essentially cuts the crap and goes straight for the most terrifying thing it can: the fear that something is coming for you in your sleep. Not much more can be said about the scares here without giving the movie away.
The “Blair Witch” formula is what makes this movie fun, but it’s also what keeps it from attaining greatness. The characters follow the same paths as those in “Blair Witch,” and the plot even targets individual characters in the same ways. However, “Paranormal Activity” does not quite have the “love it or hate it” quality “Blair Witch” did, as it actually shows viewers the terrifying happenings. This doesn’t necessarily make the movie better or worse, but merely different.
This one will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. If you are comfortable in your bed at home and can handle the nightmares, check this one out. It’s worth a couple bucks.
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