Oren Peli has never directed a movie before. But now, with just under 100 minutes of experience, the man is about to go down as one of the most creative and masterfully clever horror directors in the history of the genre.
The movie, Paranormal Activity, tells the story of one couple that becomes increasingly disturbed by a supernatural presence, which seems to be lurking in their suburban home. Wanting to catch the perpetrator in the act, Katie and Micah decide to set up a camera in their bedroom, trying to prove the existence of the 'demon' that has been haunting Katie since she was eight years old. The footage, recovered from their home in 2006, is all that is left to tell their haunting story.
Playing up the 'reality' factor of the film, Paramount kindly thanks the family of the two actors, as well as the San Diego Police Department, for their corporation and support with the film. It is a bit cheesy, an over-the-top way to proclaim its attempt at authenticity, but in the nature of good fun, I will accept the act in good faith.
Thankfully, the opening text was the only thing that I didn't agree with in the entire film. Granted it wasn't the scariest shit that I had ever seen, and I wasn't looking over my shoulder as I slowly made the long trek back to my car, but the film has stayed with me, making me think as I sit here alone writing this.
Unlike other horror films of this decade, Paranormal Activity doesn't rely on the jump scene tactics that weigh down other decent stories. Instead, it focuses in on the psyche of the person watching, using their mind against them as they anticipate the next movement - and believe me, you will be straining to find a trend in all the madness.
Covering a set number of days, (to reveal the exact number would ruin the whole experience), the film is featured much like The Blair Witch Project. Only showing footage shot by the pupils themselves, the film allows for a limited viewpoint on all that is going on within the four walls of their home. The effect is impressive, and they pull it off brilliantly, creating an additional layer of anticipation as you sit and wait for what will happen next - because we all know it isn't going to be good.
Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat do an amazing job carrying the film, working with director Oren Peli brilliantly, and capturing the raw emotion and helpless desires for understanding with flawless perfection. The psychological being is what makes the film so intense, and the fact that the 'demon' cannot be seen gives the film that rough edge that so few films possess these days.
In the end, the hype is all well deserved, even if the film didn't leave me paranoid immediately after. I jumped on several occasions throughout the film, and the final sequence is not only great, it is brilliant! Oren Peli solidifies himself as a master of psychological horror, setting himself up for a solid career within the genre. But don't go in expecting to see the typical blood, guts, and gore - there is hardly any. What you can expect is to be freaked out of your mind, wanting nothing more than to be around a big group of people as you close your eyes and drift off into what you hope will be a deep sleep.
