Paranormal Activity has the potential to be the horror flick of the decade. Prepare to be freaked out of your mind by a truly frightening supernatural thriller. This low budget Indie film is the real deal when it comes to scaring the bajeebies out of you.
Last night I had the opportunity to see an advance screening of Paranormal Activity at Studio 35 with fellow writer and movie buff, Kelly Gingery (aka the “Mix Flick Chick” on Mix 107.9 FM). This flick sent chills down my spine and made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. In fact, after the movie was over you really just have to sit there while you get your wits about you before you can get up and leave the theater.
The basic plot is a couple living together that have been experiencing paranormal presence inside their home. They decide to try and catch the activity on tape with a night vision camera and see if they can figure out how to get rid of it. The footage from these home videos is what makes up the film, and as the movie progresses you become more and more gripped by what the couple is going through. There is no suspenseful music which makes it that much more chilling. By the end of the movie you are ready to come out of your skin.
Take a look at the trailer with crowd reaction and decide for yourself.
Paranormal Activity is only being screened in 13 cities for 2 weekends and luckily Columbus is one of them. Studio 35 will be showing Paranormal Activity this weekend and next for 5 viewings. FRI 9/25 & SAT 9/26 @ MIDNITE and TH 10/1, FR 10/2 & SAT 10/3 @ MIDNITE. After that, it’s gone…..at least until the much hoped-for positive word of mouth and internet buzz kicks in and the film gets a wider release. It could be back for a longer run as soon as late October.
The film, made on a budget of slightly over $10,000, was written and directed by Oren Peli, an Israeli-born video game designer who had no formal film training. It was shot in a week with a no-name cast, a crew of several San Diego friends and a hand-held video camera. The filmmakers began to make the rounds, looking for theatrical distribution and entered it in some film festivals. Originally thought to have been interesting but too cheaply made, Dreamworks eventually bought the rights to remake the movie on a much higher budget.
The inexperienced, yet shrewd filmmakers, knowing that their movie played much better in a theater with a large audience than on a TV set, wrote into their deal that DreamWorks had to hold one Paranormal Activity test screening before starting the remake. Let’s just say….the phenomenal audience reaction at that screening was a game-changer, and now audiences all over will be seeing the movie as it was originally filmed.
In addition to the 13 college towns that are doing the initial limited screenings, other cities also have a chance to see the film in their town in a web Demand It contest. I highly recommend you try and see this true Indie film before they decide to remake it.
Check out the video below of the “Mix Flick Chick” Kelly Gingery reviewing Paranormal Activity (AND the new Fame remake), this morning during her Friday “New In Theaters” segment with DJ Mark Danzter on Mix 107.9 FM.
Yep, she was just as freaked out as I was.
Fantastic Fest Review Paranormal Activity
Paranormal Activity on MovieSet
Haunted ‘Paranormal Activity’ Screener Left Steven Spielberg Terrified
Paranormal Activity on Fandango
The Haunted history of Paranormal Activity LA Times
Thriller on tour lets fans decide next stop – New York Times
Paranormal Activity Midnight screening across the country – Entertainment Weekly
