By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.6
Director: Oren Peli
Starring: Amber Armstrong | atie Featherstone | Mark Fredrichs | Micah Sloat
Country: united_states
Year: 2009
Running time: 86
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1179904/
Scot says: “This is one of those *borderline* Chlotrudis films. It did release slowly enough to qualify, but in its fifth week, it went to 1,945 screens. So… do we penalize a film because it was distributed to win big? Or do we celebrate it because it was made for $15,000?
“And there is no doubt in my mind that this film was made on that shoestring budget. According to reports I’ve read, the two main actors were paid $500 each for the (director imposed) one week shoot. So that leaves $14k for a camera rental, crew, editing, studio time, and craft services. I’m thinking that craft services may be one of the biggest budget lines, and that’s as it should be.
“I was immediately taken with the actors in this film. Since it jumps in without any kind of exposition (Micah starts the film with the video camera he bought to document the unusual events that follow his girlfriend Katie), we quickly learn what pulls the two protagonists together. And in due time, we learn what tears them apart.
“The plot involves a young couple who have recently moved in together. Micah is intent on capturing on video the paranormal activities that supposedly occur while his girlfriend Katie sleeps. This is no ordinary haunting, because the entity has been with her since she was 8 years old. The entity seems to feed on negative energy, so as the couple’s relationship is strained by the events of the film, the malevolent force seems to grow stronger.
“The supernatural plot is not anything special, but the actors, performing extemporaneously from a non-scripted episodic scenario, create a real world that makes the freaky sounds that happen in the night even more effective. I’m considering a best actor nod for Micah Sloat and I could be convinced to include one for Katie Featherston if others were into it.
“What makes the film work is not its copying of BLAIR WITCH verite techniques, but rather the honing and perfection of the experiments Myrick & Sánchez introduced. The ‘video diary’ crap that we are so used to now on television is gone. Sure, there’s a bit of camera talking, but over all, the camera acts as a passive observer, which does *wonders* for the suspense heightening in the film. I’m a relatively big horror fan and this tame film had me covering my eyes at least a couple times. (Don’t worry. There is no gore.) But over all, I’m really impressed with the general plotting of the film and how the actors created real moments. Oh, don’t forget. This film was shot out of sequence, unlike BLAIR WITCH.
“And of course, there are [spoiler] multiple endings to the film. I saw the theatrical release ending, which I think is appropriate. Without spoiling it, the ending I saw packs the most ‘ummph’ that a creepy ghost story deserves. The other endings seem to either deal more with the legacy of the event, or wtih some emotional connection to one character. IMHO, horror films are all about *us*. Our fears and reactions. I love the theatrical ending. 4 cats”
Kate says: “I couldn’t agree more with Scot’s review and suggestion that this film be considered eligible for nominations.
“Reading the anecdotal stories I’ve found on how this film was made for practically nothing, managed to catch the eye of Steven Spielberg who offered the director notes on some minor changes (as per Scot’s comments about the change to the theatrical release ending), and that when Katie Featherstone won her award at ScreamFest, she didn’t attend the awards ceremony because she couldn’t get time off work from her waitressing job that night …. all of it amuses and amazes me.
“I think that the use of unknowns (just as in BLAIR WITCH PROJECT) made this film what it is. Had even one actor been recognizable to the audience, the ability to suspend one’s disbelief and accept the idea that this was found footage of a true event would have been spoiled. The credits, or lack thereof, were a small stroke of genius. <grin> The two main characters were such ‘ordinary people’ — Katie was pretty enough and slightly plump, Micah was not your typical Hollywood hunk with ripped abs and perfectly tousled hair; their conversations seemed fresh, spontaneous and credible for a young couple with a history that is hinted at, without playing to the camera in order to make sure all dialog is absolutely understood by the audience. 4 cats, for scaring the crap out of me (I DO believe in spooks, and I have had more than one fright in the night since watching P.A.)
“I’d nominate both of the actors, and the director — this was a favorite film of mine this year, along with DISTRICT 9, which was also a dark horse (industry-newcomer) entry that boomed at the box office, but I assume is not eligible due to the $30 million budget.”
Thom says: “I gave this film 3 1/2 cats mainly because the ending supplied the needed scares. For a film that costs $15,000 and made $107,000,000 that’s an impressive figure. Had I liked the two leads better I probably would have given it the same rating you did.”
Diane says: “I watched it with the lights on.
“Isn’t film great? Even though this movie looks homemade by the bedeviled principals, you’re obviously watching more than what they filmed, and it’s been edited after the fact. (Sorry! Did I spoil it?) But as the time stamp in the corner of the video flies by on fast-forward and then suddenly slows down to ‘play’ speed, you sit in a paralysis of dread watching the seconds change, uncertain whether to stare at their bedroom door or avert your eyes…. PARANORMAL is a great example of how visual media can manipulate our minds.
“I just don’t know how to judge this film. It’s hokey yet absorbing, the actors are good, the method is clever, the meaning is zip… Perhaps 3 cats.”