Paranormal Activity (2007)

After moving into a suburban home, a couple becomes increasingly disturbed by a nightly demonic presence.

Director:

Oren Peli

Writer:

Oren Peli

Stars:

Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Mark Fredrichs

3 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Katie Featherston	...	Katie
Micah Sloat	...	Micah
Mark Fredrichs	...	Psychic
Amber Armstrong	...	Amber
Ashley Palmer	...	Diane

Storyline

After a young, middle class couple moves into a suburban 'starter' tract house, they become increasingly disturbed by a presence that may or may not be somehow demonic but is certainly most active in the middle of the night. Especially when they sleep. Or try to.

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Plot Keywords:

night | house | entity | suburb | self mutilation | 

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Taglines:

Don't go alone (UK quad poster)

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 October 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Actividad paranormal

Filming Locations:

USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£3,593,762 (UK) (27 November 2009)

Gross:

$107,917,283 (USA) (15 January 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Blumhouse Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min 97 min (extended) 83 min (unrated)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The actors weren't given scripts but were given guidelines on how to behave or what to discuss in their scenes.

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Goofs

In the original Director's cut of the film, the name of the demonologist recommended by the psychic is Dr. Johan Abrams. In the Theatrical version, every time his name is mentioned it is noticeably re-dubbed as "Dr. Johan Averies".

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Quotes

Micah: I've been doing my research. I'm taking care of this. Nobody comes in my house, fucks with my girlfriend, and gets away with it.

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Crazy Credits

Fans who submitted their name on the official website during the film's theatrical run were treated with having their name listed in the film's ending credits on the DVD/Blu-ray release of the film as thanks from Paramount for making the film such a success.

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Connections

Spoofed in Completely Normal Activity (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Numb"
Written by Chester Bennington
Performed by Linkin Park

User Reviews

"Paranormal" is extra-ordinary

I was fortunate to see this film about a year ago, and have become curious as to why it still has not seen the light of day. A little research has indicated it still might.

The storytelling here is simple but also inspired. Young couple Katie and Micah plan to film their home at night while sleeping in hopes of capturing evidence of a ghost that seems to haunting them, or more precisely Katie, since this is not the first time she has experienced these type of visitations. We watch the footage of the young couple sleeping and gradually things do start to happen. Katie and Micah also film themselves discussing the situation, a visit from a spiritualist, and a few other random moments. Doesn't sound like much, right? Or that it could possibly be the slightest bit scary. Well, Oren Peli's little indie film is everything a scary movie should be. In other words, it is indeed very scary.

Peli accomplishes the improbable through utilizing tension, character and imagination. The found footage concept used in the movie, a la "Blair Witch", "Cloverfield" and the recent "Quarantine", is perhaps slightly more effective in this situation. It's usually a still camera with things sometimes occurring just beyond what we can see. The result is a heightened sense of reality and a greater sense of dread as to what those sounds could be. We've all been there. We here a noise out in the dark and are frightened by the unknown. Peli seems to understand this greatly and uses it to great effect. When the camera does move it is often done slowly, perhaps in an effort to avoid the shaky-cam effect, but it also helps create greater tension.

But perhaps the one element most important to this film's success is the performance by Katie Featherston. In the beginning we meet a sweet young woman who has concerns about what could be happening to her. Perhaps a metaphor for fears regarding her relationship with Micah and their new home. As we approach the final scenes, Katie has been reduced to a person on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and we are deeply concerned for her well being. Each night as our young couple goes off to sleep we experience a deeper and greater dread that something bad is going to happen, and we don't like it. It helps that Ms. Featherston is an unknown (it's difficult to imagine caring this way about a recognizable actor) but her ability to create a believable and sympathetic character is remarkable and turns an effective thriller into something extraordinary.

It's not often that a movie will truly have me on the edge of my seat. Watching it I was reminded of those days long ago when I first saw "The Exorcist", "Halloween" and "Alien"; movies that have stayed with me over time as moments spent in a theatre genuinely frightened. It doesn't happen that often anymore, movies are either too gimmicky or too unbelievable or too music video flashy to get to me. But a little movie made with no money and no special effects did. To the cast and crew of "Paranormal Activity" - Thank you!

p.s. with regards to the future of this movie, the latest news is that it will be released and not remade as earlier planned. No idea when that will happen, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this special little film doesn't get left on a shelf.