A True Filmmaking Treat

MOVIE REVIEW: From time to time as if nature intended it, a film lands in our lap that redefines a genre or a style of filmmaking and resets all the monotonous, overdone "efforts" Hollywood has been endlessly bombarding us. Oren Peli's ingeniously frightening Paranormal Activity is nothing short of phenomenal.

The movie documents the story of a 30-ish couple (Katie and Micah) who recently purchased a starter home in suburban San Diego but soon discovers that they might be sharing their new home with something evil. Micah, the boyfriend, decides to use his video camera in hopes of capturing any evidence of the menacing force that tends to be active when the couple's asleep at night. What is recorded in skipped timeline will scare you like nothing else in decades.

While the pace of the movie is slow, it must be understood that you are not watching a normal movie but a highly-planned psychological game between the visuals and the audience's imagination and individual belief of what supernatural is.

I was often telling myself that this film was done by an amateur filmmaker with a shoestring budget. Yet to see how it never lets go of you once it gets you is really something to admire and be inspired by.

The disturbing images (and they are good) slowly builds up the fear in you until the very end when the movie falsely comforts you into thinking that the entity has reached the limits of its abilities.

However, there is a mild level of absurdity with how the characters interact with one another and how they initially tried to deal with the problem. But if you think that facing a demonic presence is dumber than standing up to a huge chainsaw-weilding maniac with a screwdriver, then you probably are more intelligent than this movie.

While the film isn't based on any actual events, Paranormal Activity has been all too real to some viewers leaving them feeling unsettled during and long after seeing it. Sure, the fear effect of the film is debatable. But, you can't deny the bold creativity and heart of Peli's imagination.

Paranormal Activity isn't for anyone who isn't comfortable with using their imagination and abandoning any of their expectations. Just allow yourself be taken by the movie. You won't regret it. But make sure you have a nightlight handy before going to bed.

Paranormal Activity (2009) (Paramount Pictures). MPAA rating: R for language and disturbing images. Running Time: 1 hour, 39 minutes. Now Playing. Currently #1 at the box office (10/25/09) with a weekend gross of $33,171,743.

SCARE FACTOR: A

FUN FACTOR: A

STORY: C+
ORIGINALITY: A+
ACTING: B
STUPID LEVEL: 2/10
VERDICT: Sleep tight. If you can.