Paranormal Activity

[INPEFESS]

I just finished watching Paranormal Activity a few hours ago.

It is by far the scariest, freakiest movie I have ever seen; my entire body was covered in chills long after the movie was over. Despite the fact that the whole audience was screaming so loud throughout the movie I sometimes couldn't hear what was going on, when it finished, I was so riveted to the seat I didn't want to move.

Has anyone else seen it?

[BrevisVir55]

Is it really that frightening? I love a good scare but most movies just can't do it unfortunately...I'll have to see it!

[INPEFESS]

Is it really that frightening? I love a good scare but most movies just can't do it unfortunately...I'll have to see it!

Yes, it is. But make sure you see it in theaters - it's scarier that way. Typically, movies don't scare me that much either, but this one felt real. Not all the parts were as scary as others, but there were some absolutely freaky parts that had my hair standing on end.

[PeterII]

The movie is going in general release next week, and now I am definitely looking forward to it.  How is it as a date movie? 

[Herr_Mannelig]

The movie is going in general release next week, and now I am definitely looking forward to it.  How is it as a date movie? 

Depends on the date. Let her pick the movie.

[INPEFESS]

The movie is going in general release next week, and now I am definitely looking forward to it.  How is it as a date movie? 

It was released in several cities across the country and advertised to all the public. I'm not sure what determines the difference between a general release and private release given the circumstances. Does a "private release" mean that is only featured in certain cities? I purchased a ticket in Columbus for an AMC theater and the theater was packed. It was by far the best horror movie I've ever seen. The audience was screaming at some parts and getting so disturbed I think I missed some of the lower dialogue, but it was worth the money (and time). There were a few parts where my entire body went completely cold and I couldn't look away from the screen. Not many movies have that effect on me.

I must admit though, I like first-person films. There is a presence of reality which isn't often found in your typical cookie-cutter hollywood film. Considering this was a first person film, it drew me into the movie very quickly. You begin to feel as if you're actually there witnessing these events live. Perhaps that is why it seemed to be so effective to me.

As a date movie - it depends. There were many younger girls there (early-to-mid 20s), but they were the primary distraction. It depends on your date. Does she like horror movies? If so, you don't get much better than this. If she's scared easily, definately not. Some guys say they like to bring their dates to scary movies because then she cuddles with you the whole time. I don't know, but many people are reportedly having problems going into their rooms at night alone after watching this movie. I don't know if it's true, but your date might not like that feeling of insecurity too well. 

[Walty]

DUDE!!!  I'm so pumped for this movie.

I never get scared at movies either and I haven't heard one bad review.  Everyone says it is terrifying. 

It is getting a nationwide release this upcoming Friday and I think the website said they were announcing every theater it would be at on Tuesday or Wednesday.  I have to admit that I'll be spending the weekend at the theater with this and Where the Wild Things Are coming out.

[StrictCatholicGirl]

I watched the trailer and read all the reviews and I know the ending (I read spoilers when I know I won't go and see the film - and this one I WON'T see!). If I did see it, however, I think it would be scarier watching it at home on a DVD. The difference with this movie is as follows:

1. It does not use Hollywood cliches and lots of blood and violence. It relies on suspense and the mounting sense of dread.

2. It is in the same category of Blair Witch Project with the "is this really happening?" phenomenon. Everything is viewed on a home camera and the film crosses the lines of reality. Only this movie is much scarier than Blair Witch.

3. (and this is why I won't see it). When the movie is over is when the real nightmare begins. If you got scared watching Blair Witch, you just didn't go into the woods anymore. If you got scared watching Jaws, you just didn't go into the ocean anymore. If you got scared watching Psycho, you just took baths instead of showers.

BUT WHO CAN AVOID SLEEPING IN THEIR OWN BEDROOM AT NIGHT? The film will make you wonder what the hell happens while you're sleeping?!!! I can just see all the movie-goers running out and buying a tripod and a video cam recorder to put up in their bedrooms ... just to see if there's any......... paranormal activity!!!   

[Walty]

2. It is in the same category of Blair Witch Project with the "is this really happening?" phenomenon. Everything is viewed on a home camera and the film crosses the lines of reality. Only this movie is much scarier than Blair Witch.

This is, in my opinion, the genre of film with by far the most potential. 

[INPEFESS]

2. It is in the same category of Blair Witch Project with the "is this really happening?" phenomenon. Everything is viewed on a home camera and the film crosses the lines of reality. Only this movie is much scarier than Blair Witch.

This is, in my opinion, the genre of film with by far the most potential. 

I agree. While a lot of people didn't like The Blair Witch Project, I thought it was incredibly effective because that mounting sense of dread just kept getting worse. Just when you thought it couldn't get any more intense, it did. It then it drops you, right there, wondering what on earth just happened. But that's the point. You are the characters so you know just as much as they do. I might add that you feel as freaked out as they do, too.

It is the same with Paranormal Activity.

Ordinarily, I don't like to hype movies up before people have seen them because it only leads to unreasonable expections. So I apologize if this will contribute to unmatched expectations. That happens to me a lot; someone rants and raves about how good a certain movie is such that you develop unreasonable expectations of the film. I don't want it these impossible-to-meet expectations let you down or disappoint you. It is just a movie so don't go in expecting it to be more than that.

[StrictCatholicGirl]

2. It is in the same category of Blair Witch Project with the "is this really happening?" phenomenon. Everything is viewed on a home camera and the film crosses the lines of reality. Only this movie is much scarier than Blair Witch.

This is, in my opinion, the genre of film with by far the most potential. 

Yes, but how far can you push something like that? It's like rollercoasters that constantly try to UP the fear factor, by making them bigger, badder, faster, and higher. I imagine future movies will go too far in blurring lines between reality and fantasy...like you're at the end of the film and King Kong comes crashing through the movie screen and terrorizes the audience. My mother told me that back in the 50s when 3-D first came out, they were watching a monster movie and some man came running down the aisle of the theater dressed in a gorilla suit. Suddenly the place exploded in screams and flying popcorn. To this day she doesn't know if it was staged or just some nut getting his jollies. 

[INPEFESS]

I watched the trailer and read all the reviews and I know the ending (I read spoilers when I know I won't go and see the film - and this one I WON'T see!). If I did see it, however, I think it would be scarier watching it at home on a DVD. The difference with this movie is as follows:

1. It does not use Hollywood cliches and lots of blood and violence. It relies on suspense and the mounting sense of dread.

2. It is in the same category of Blair Witch Project with the "is this really happening?" phenomenon. Everything is viewed on a home camera and the film crosses the lines of reality. Only this movie is much scarier than Blair Witch.

3. (and this is why I won't see it). When the movie is over is when the real nightmare begins. If you got scared watching Blair Witch, you just didn't go into the woods anymore. If you got scared watching Jaws, you just didn't go into the ocean anymore. If you got scared watching Psycho, you just took baths instead of showers.

BUT WHO CAN AVOID SLEEPING IN THEIR OWN BEDROOM AT NIGHT? The film will make you wonder what the hell happens while you're sleeping?!!! I can just see all the movie-goers running out and buying a tripod and a video cam recorder to put up in their bedrooms ... just to see if there's any......... paranormal activity!!!   

Lisa, based on what you've said in the past concerning your experiences with horror movies, it is a very good decision that you are not going to watch the movie. As a connoisseur of horror movies, there are only a handful (see my horror movie thread) that I consider "scary" or "creepy". And I must admit, this movie freaked me out because of the real subject matter with which it was dealing and the effective method in which it was presented. Unlike most horror movies, it doesn't seem like deception on a screen; it feels like you're really seeing supernatural evil in front of you - no strings attached.

Knowing how real these things are, I must admit that being alone in the dark room and walking through the dark house that night was more than a little unsettling. The "sympathetic system" of my brain was on watch for quite some time that night. The problem is that it isn't just a movie; these sorts of things can happen.

One thing's for certain, you won't want to lose your state of grace.

[Walty]

2. It is in the same category of Blair Witch Project with the "is this really happening?" phenomenon. Everything is viewed on a home camera and the film crosses the lines of reality. Only this movie is much scarier than Blair Witch.

This is, in my opinion, the genre of film with by far the most potential. 

I agree. While a lot of people didn't like The Blair Witch Project, I thought it was incredibly effective because that mounting sense of dread just kept getting worse. Just when you thought it couldn't get any more intense, it did. It then it drops you, right there, wondering what on earth just happened. But that's the point. You are the characters so you know just as much as they do. I might add that you feel as freaked out as they do, too.

It is the same with Paranormal Activity.

Ordinarily, I don't like to hype movies up before people have seen them because it only leads to unreasonable expections. So I apologize if this will contribute to unmatched expectations. That happens to me a lot; someone rants and raves about how good a certain movie is such that you develop unreasonable expectations of the film. I don't want it these impossible-to-meet expectations let you down or disappoint you. It is just a movie so don't go in expecting it to be more than that.

Haha no.  I build it up for myself already.  The last I was this excited for was Cloverfield which was the same docudrama genre.

[INPEFESS]

2. It is in the same category of Blair Witch Project with the "is this really happening?" phenomenon. Everything is viewed on a home camera and the film crosses the lines of reality. Only this movie is much scarier than Blair Witch.

This is, in my opinion, the genre of film with by far the most potential. 

I agree. While a lot of people didn't like The Blair Witch Project, I thought it was incredibly effective because that mounting sense of dread just kept getting worse. Just when you thought it couldn't get any more intense, it did. It then it drops you, right there, wondering what on earth just happened. But that's the point. You are the characters so you know just as much as they do. I might add that you feel as freaked out as they do, too.

It is the same with Paranormal Activity.

Ordinarily, I don't like to hype movies up before people have seen them because it only leads to unreasonable expections. So I apologize if this will contribute to unmatched expectations. That happens to me a lot; someone rants and raves about how good a certain movie is such that you develop unreasonable expectations of the film. I don't want it these impossible-to-meet expectations let you down or disappoint you. It is just a movie so don't go in expecting it to be more than that.

Haha no.  I build it up for myself already.  The last I was this excited for was Cloverfield which was the same docudrama genre.

I found Cloverfield highly entertaining, but that's largely because I had no clue what it was about, and I didn't want to. When I saw it, I was so surprised by the feeling of reality that I bought it right away. The only drawback to the movie is the excessiveness with which they take God's name in vain. It has to be close to 100 times. I don't like watching movies where God is offended every time it is played.

Afraid that I would "over-anticipate" Paranormal Activity, I read only one "review" and refused to watch the preview. Someone next to me was watching the preview, but I wouldn't look because I didn't want to have any expectations that might become unreasonably high. Perhaps that's why I liked it so well.

[StrictCatholicGirl]

Lisa, based on what you've said in the past concerning your experiences with horror movies, it is a very good decision that you are not going to watch the movie.

You know me well.   

Knowing how real these things are, I must admit that being alone in the dark room and walking through the dark house that night was more than a little unsettling. The "sympathetic system" of my brain was on watch for quite some time that night. The problem is that it isn't just a movie; these sorts of things can happen.

One thing's for certain, you won't want to lose your state of grace.

Right.. and I will not be seeing this movie because I am a hypervisual, sensitive soul.. and a believer! I don't want to spoil it for the others, but feel free to PM me if you want to talk about it some more.