MOVIE REVIEW … PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

MOVIE REVIEW … PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

To be scared requires little effort and in the world of movies horror can be made on a shoestring. They don't get much smaller than Paranormal Activity with its tiny $15,000 budget reaping millions. It's the sort of film producers wish for and judging by its enthusiastic response it has filled their coffers at a screaming rate. Whether it is actually memorable is open to question, although like Halloween and The Blair Witch Project, the hype ensures the easily scared will enhance its spooky reputation. Recently discovered by the police, a video emerges of newly engaged couple Micah (Micah Sloat) and Katie (Katie Featherston). Charting several days, it contains footage of their fight against a poltergeist. After conversing with a psychic, they decided to film what they believed was an evil spirit. Paying particular attention to Katie, the ghost kept them awake with its increasingly savage actions. Gamely battling it, the couple's fate became beholden to the deadly night phantom. Despite amateurish acting and leaden pacing, Paranormal Activity is a fair genre addition. Audiences see these films to be scared and it mostly succeeds. It's admirable that the film-makers have created much from very little as its minimalism forces them to be inventive. This can be felt in the soundtrack with every creak and slamming door increasing the foreboding atmosphere. It's this sense of anticipation keeping the viewer on edge, as it's always more terrifying imagining what may lurk in the shadows than actually seeing anything. Those with an aversion to shaky camera-work may find viewing a chore. Certainly the moments in between scares are so badly performed that it's difficult to feel any empathy for the leads. To be invested in their lives there has to be a connection reaching from the screen which sadly fails to materialise. Whilst it's interesting watching their relationship struggle through the terror, the lack of ability from the duo is palatable. However it’s main plus is the sometimes very frightening sequences where people's fear of the dark is well exploited. Free of the pyrotechnics bogging down more modestly budgeted films, Paranormal Activity conjures a reasonable amount of frights from virtually nothing. If you can ignore the shoddy acting and survive the hazy photography, the screams escaping the lips should be one of fear than mirth. Movie Review Rating 5 / 10 Movie Review by Patrick Moore PARANORMAL ACTIVITY released in Australia on Thursday 3rd December 2009. If you have any comments to make about this Movie Review, then please use the comment box, titling your comments with Movie Review PARANORMAL ACTIVITY Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at current movie releases in Australia. Official HomePage click HERE