Paranormal Activity (2007,2009)

Lets redefine FEAR, in a SIMPLE way!!!

Written and Directed by Oren Pali

Starring: Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat

Shiny silver sheets cover a sleeping couple seen on their personal camera sitting on the tripod in the other end of the room. Fast forward as time comes nearer. Play mode again and a shadow barely makes an appearance on the open door, continued by a THUD. Swallow that fear because it is just beginning. Ofcourse you don't see what caused the shadow. Thats because writer has done his homework making this bone chilling sci-fi horror film Paranormal Activity (PA).

Homework that probably involved a Steven Speilberg interview about JAWS (1975). In which he mentions the sharks were not available as per schedule so he shot some footage with water movements while the cast on ship freaks out. Speilberg goes on to add that those 'unseen demon' segments pulled another big chunk of revenue and the anticipation part helped spread the word. The PA director' homework probably also involved a viewing of The Blair Witch Project (1999). With the hand held shaky camera recreating the home video feeling being attached to a horror theme. Not to forget the 'real' disclaimer in the begining, furthur pushing it. Coens invented it in Fargo (1996). Homework perhaps could have also included the psychological development of the real and unreal characters and attachment to the audience, seen in New Age Hollywood's The Exorcist (1973). But most improtantly the director's homework involved the following-the-theme-from-start-till-end-with-no-divergence. This adherence to theme is no longer seen after the demise of silent film genre. The best example of adherence to theme is seen in German Expressionism classic Das Cabinet des Dr Caligari (1920), arguably with the best twist ending ever. This adherence part of the homework is what makes this film an extraordinary form of art and the primary reason being PA has audience and critical acclaim. The same reason while although premiered at ScreamFest in 2007 PA eventually became a Paramount distributed film in 2009. Do read about the 'Demand It' campaign.

All these pieces of homework came together in inception and writing while the screen test of a natural performance by Katie Featherton and Micah Sloat got themselves under the skin of their respective characters. Especially Katie. One of the best debut performances as a female lead. Not trying to push the agenda by pulling overwhelmingly real faces. Just plain natural. But still the director deserves the accomplishment for making the most profitable movie till date. (33 Million Rev to 15,000 budget). Accomplishment for not just filming sounds and images with a 'still' camera but bulding the tension and terror to the peak. A psychologically haunting climax (not the current theatre ending, but the original ending) pushes you off that terror peak into a mental storm.

This movie gives a reason to celebrate the film as a medium of art for a well focussed theme that will keep audience screaming and begging for a breath. Fear has never been so much fun ever. Ever. This makes Paranormal Activity a beautiful film.

My Rating: 9/10