Paranormal Activity

With Halloween coming up, I decided to get in the "spirit" of things and go see this movie.

I have to admit, when I first saw the trailer I thought this movie would be about aliens - I was wrong. I don't want to spoil it for you, but it's more about the "paranormal" in the realm of films such as this one. Enough said.

This is definitely a documentary style type of film. It reminds me of the style of The Blair Witch Project - same concept and style. Though, just in a different setting. The entire movie takes place in one location - a house. Not a haunted house, but an ordinary house. What attracts the paranormal is not the home itself, but the inhabitants of the home.

If you plan to see this movie, I have to warn you - it's very slow. It's definitely not a big budget type of movie - not much action and no music whatsoever. However, if you enjoyed Blair Witch you might just enjoy this one as well.

The beginning sets the tone for the entire film. To me, it seems more like reality tv - you get to know the main characters and exactly what they are experiencing. Through their experiences, the story unfolds and builds up slowly - this is not an action movie.

Throughout the movie, you are given bits and pieces of the story. I really liked the way sound and lighting were used to set the tone and communicate feelings to the audience. And, little by little the "paranormal" makes an appearance. But, not in the way you expect. I don't want to ruin it for you but let's just say it asks the question "Is my mind playing tricks on me?"

To me, this is a movie you watch with a group of friends. It definitely has it's moments. In the beginning and up to the middle, it really had some comedic moments. I found myself (along with the people in the theater) laughing at some parts and commenting. Some parts in the beginning seemed scary to the main characters but not to the audience - it had more of a comedic effect. Let's just leave it at that.

However, towards the end it does get more serious and more scary. Since I saw this in the theater, I am glad I did. If I had watched this at home, it might have been more scarier for me since the film does take place in a home. (If you've seen the movie, you'll know what I'm talking about).

Was this a scary movie? Yes. Though, it it did not get scary until the end. To be honest, I don't recommend seeing this alone - it's more a movie to see in a group. And, if you get scared easily and it's hard for you to sleep after watching scary movies you might not want to see this at night. Let's just say the scary moments still were in my mind after seeing the film. And, I saw this late at night too!

I'd say this is a movie just in time for Halloween and for those who would like to get into the "spirit" of things. It's definitely low budget and not over the top spectacular. But, it's one of those films that does have an effect.

If you're in the mood for a horror type movie, you might just want to check this out!

(Note: Since the film resembles the documentary style of Blair Witch, the camera shakes a lot throughout the film. Personally, I was able to adjust to it though for some people it does make them dizzy).

Happy movie watching!



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