PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
Official Site:
Cast: Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat Rating: M for Supernatural Themes and Coarse Language. Tagline: What Happens When You Sleep? Theatrical Release: December 3, 2009 DVD Release: TBA BOX OFFICE: The film made the weekend before it's release as a one-night only preview screening which turned into a week), and grossed $71,883 at 75 sites. Official opening weekend, it became the 2nd horror film this year to grace the top of the Aussie box office, with a gross of $2,678,502. Averaging $10,145 at 264 sites, the unusually wide release (for a horror film) was over-hyped, which would've garnered majority of the gross. The film will go on to become the biggest horror grosser this year, already toppling majority of grosses of released films (bar "The Final Destination 3D", which it's gross will soon surpass). I'm expecting a semi-huge fall next weekend. I was right, only a 39% fall 2nd weekend, and already got $5.7 pulled in. With a gross of $1,644,039 the film averages $6,204 at 265 sites. 3rd weekend has a 54% decrease, with the film grossing $749,259. 66% decrease in 4th weekend led the films 258 sites to average $1,000 exactly each. Special Features: * Theatrical and Extended Version * Alternate Ending * Audio Commentery * "Fans" featurette * Trailer |
Plot Synopsis, Review
After a young, middle class couple moves into a suburban 'starter' tract house, they become increasingly disturbed by a presence that may or may not be somehow demonic but is certainly most active in the middle of the night. Especially when they sleep. Or try to
Hyped. This film was so hyped, and that somerwhat made me a little less excited to see the film, because I would have hopes so high that it wouldn't live up to my expectations. To be perfectly honest, the film is pretty boring for the first 45 minutes (Majority of the movie), but when it finally gets into the real freaky stuff, your really expecting it and your heart is pumping, but when it happens you can't help but feel terrified. There was only two moments where I actually was scared out-of-my-mind, only because I would never expect for it to happen. The last 30 seconds of the film is the most frightening part of the movie, because it's so in-your-face and unexpected. One girl in the cinema vomited, and two others were crying at the end.... and they screamed at nearly every 2am scene (there was alot of them). The film isn't as good as the hype suggests, and why people are calling it "the best horror film in years" and "the scariest movie of all time" is beyond me, because it's neither. As a die-hard horror fan, I can tell you bluntly that the film which is "real footage" doesn't live up to mine, or my friends expectations because it was so over-hyped which can ruin a film for ANYONE. Next time I see the words "scariest movie ever" on a poster, I'll shrug my shoulders and know deep down it's not that great.
The plot is what is stated as "real footage", but since two ending's have circulated, which don't makes sense put together (if it were actually real). It's a short take on the devil sub-genre, focusing more on character work than getting beyond the motive, which actually makes it seem more realistic. There is no doubt in my mind that people will get the shit scared out of them from this film (I know plenty who have), but I really didn't think it was anything special, with the last 45 seconds being the only part of the film to wait for.
Overall "Paranormal Activity" has one burst of terrifying moments at the end, but doesn't live up to the hype. My rating is 2.5/5
Hyped. This film was so hyped, and that somerwhat made me a little less excited to see the film, because I would have hopes so high that it wouldn't live up to my expectations. To be perfectly honest, the film is pretty boring for the first 45 minutes (Majority of the movie), but when it finally gets into the real freaky stuff, your really expecting it and your heart is pumping, but when it happens you can't help but feel terrified. There was only two moments where I actually was scared out-of-my-mind, only because I would never expect for it to happen. The last 30 seconds of the film is the most frightening part of the movie, because it's so in-your-face and unexpected. One girl in the cinema vomited, and two others were crying at the end.... and they screamed at nearly every 2am scene (there was alot of them). The film isn't as good as the hype suggests, and why people are calling it "the best horror film in years" and "the scariest movie of all time" is beyond me, because it's neither. As a die-hard horror fan, I can tell you bluntly that the film which is "real footage" doesn't live up to mine, or my friends expectations because it was so over-hyped which can ruin a film for ANYONE. Next time I see the words "scariest movie ever" on a poster, I'll shrug my shoulders and know deep down it's not that great.
The plot is what is stated as "real footage", but since two ending's have circulated, which don't makes sense put together (if it were actually real). It's a short take on the devil sub-genre, focusing more on character work than getting beyond the motive, which actually makes it seem more realistic. There is no doubt in my mind that people will get the shit scared out of them from this film (I know plenty who have), but I really didn't think it was anything special, with the last 45 seconds being the only part of the film to wait for.
Overall "Paranormal Activity" has one burst of terrifying moments at the end, but doesn't live up to the hype. My rating is 2.5/5