Paranormal Activity

[fozfan33]

so i managed to see this film over the weekend. my firends and i drove to the only theatre around that had it, there were sold out showings all weekend and they hype is insane. i for one understand now what all of the hype is about.

i just wanted to say i would love to see a full discussion by the guys on this film because i think there is a lot to talk about, hype, marketing, journey to release, different screened endings, feeling coming out of the film...

any chance of a "special" where they have a permanent spoiler cam up and talk about the entire film spoilers and all?

my carload couldnt stop talking from the time we left the theatre and it continued through texts the entire next day, im insanly curious if people are all having the same experience.

[blacksymbiote]

I've been hearing a lot of whispers about this for the past few weeks. I'm really not sure what it's about other than "paranormal activity" but all the positive buzz from people who've actually seen it is making me want to really find a way to check it out.

[cashbailey]

This picture has been on my radar for about two years. Ever since I first heard the reports coming out of the festival circuit and of certain website critics I trust being reduced to gibbering wrecks by this film.

Now it has made nearly $8 million on merely 160 screens!! And with Paramount now deciding to open it wide hopefully the word-of-mouth will be strong enough to carry it onto a BLAIR WITCH-sized hit.

But considering Oren Peli and his team spent a mere $11,000 on this film I think it has already crossed over to the super-blockbuster realm, whether mainstream goons know it or not.

[fozfan33]

much different experience then Blair Witch, i remember most of the theatre walking out of Blair Witch going, "really? thats what all this hype was about?" including myself...

Paranormal Activity is really one of those experiences that you only have rarely in a theatre with other people. The last film i saw that had the whole theatre this scared was The Ring.

[stubadub]

I think I made a mistake in how I viewed this film. I went to the local multiplex on Friday and saw it over lunch. It's playing on two screens and each started within half an hour of each other. While the midnight screenings have been selling out the last couple of weeks, the lunch time screening I saw only had 4 other people. While I felt a certain amount of tension during the film, I did not have the fear of the rest of the audience feeding my own fear. I definitely wish I'd have shown patience and waited until for a later showing to view it with a packed house.

Still, I appreciated the movie. The Blair Witch comparison is apt, though I think this is a better, more effective film. Blair Witch didn't get creepy until near the end, and if you had the misfortune of seeing it after the hype had built disappointment was hard to avoid. This film gets creepy much earlier, and continues to build over the course of the film.

[krypt]

This thing is a fucking hype MACHINE. Still debating whether or not I'm going to see it.

[inkwell]

I saw a midnight showing of this and the theater was packed. It definitely wasn't as scary as a thought it would be, but I still enjoyed it. I'm mixed about the ending though. It felt very... hollywood. If that makes any sense. They nailed the whole documentary style and the acting seemed very natural. This made the ending seem a little odd.

I decided to look up the movie to see what kind of budget it had, but noticed the tidbit about alternate endings. I honestly don't know which of the endings seems the best. The one in theaters now is kind of a "fun" scary ending. Although I don't feel it necessarily fits the movie, it seemed somewhat appropriate given the build-up throughout the entire movie. The other endings sound like they fit the movie better, but may seem a little anti-climactic. Sorry for being kind of vague, but I don't want to spoil anything.

If you are on the fence about seeing this, I suggest you go. I feel that it might not meet a lot of people's expectations because of the massive hype around it though. Just know this. It is very much like The Blair Witch Project, but done better. It's not all scary noises and events happening off camera. You actually get to see things happening. That's about the simplest I can describe it.

[cybersuchus]

I saw it two weeks ago, and I feel it is easily the scariest movie of the year. In fact it is one of the scariest movies I have ever watched (and I like scary films). It's a psychological style of fear, so there are no real jump scare moments; just creepy stuff happening.

The ending I saw was the Hollywood ending (the one that, I think, Spielberg suggested). I thought it worked real well, and really added to the climax of the film.

If one can find it, I definitely recommend watching it.

[fozfan33]

yeah the ending was hollywood all the way which to me is a shame... i had all kinds of crazy things going on in my head wondering what was coming up the stairs, the "police" ending sounds the most interesting to me but ive read that there were tons of different endings and only three got screened.

hopefully the home release will include a bunch of them.

i thought the movie was in trouble at the beginning being so "normal" with the haunting stuff but the build was pretty epic, i left being undoubtedly disturbed.

[masterevilace]

The movie should have been better, from the reaction people are giving. I loved the mostly lack of CGI. The movie took a bit long to 'start up'.. but the comedic portions were done to success. The ending felt satisfying, but it happened so quick. I would have loved for that ending to have just been the climax... But it just ended there.

The fact that it takes place only in the house is a real turn off and kind of kills some realism.
It was a good movie, and it was done right.. but I think it was over hyped

[blacksymbiote]

Tried to go see this yesterday around 10:30pm but it totally sold out when we were only 2 people away from the ticket counter. I really hope I'm not over hyping myself. Time to throw some water on the fire before I head off to see it again. The last thing I want is to end up being really let down.

[tsmith15]

Anyone else mix this up with The Fourth Kind? Terrible timing in my opinion. Anyway, how come all this hype never ends up on cheap movies that aren't horror/thrillers? I'd like to see like a mega-low budget action or comedy go Blair Witch on the box office charts.

[Bret]

I have heard a lot of people say that this movie works best with a packed theater. I have to strongly disagree. This movie is all about building tension, and if you have ANYTHING pull you out of that (for example, immature teenagers who laugh at the slightest of MOVEMENTS) then it turns into just boring. If your home alone or with a few people then it would work much better at being frightening. I laughed at a lot, some of the humor works very well but i wasn't scared at all. I will be honest and saw the last couple of night scenes had me nervous and it was fun getting a thrill like that, but this is definitely not the scariest movie ever made and i would recommend you watch it at home with the lights off in your bedroom, i can only imagine how much more scared i would have been if i did that.

[maz420]

I saw this movie today, and I have to say it was a complete let down. I have never felt so cheated out of my money. Maybe I was expecting too much. But, I saw it in a packed theater and if it hadn't been for the screaming tweens I would have fallen asleep. I felt the most suspense came from the middle of the movie and felt like I had just been raped by the ending. Again, this is my opinion, but I think the hype killed this movie for me. I was wanting so much more than what I got.

[cashbailey]

Well, it's an $11,000 movie that has been on the radar of horror fans for a few years now.

And despite all worries of it being released DTV, it has made almost $34 million. With the per-screen average being TRIPLE what the next movie in line is.

Well done to Oren Peli and the marketing chimps at Paramount

[mcdiesel]

Fun movie, but if I had watched this at home alone I'd have been bored to tears. Half the fun was vibing off everyone else getting edgy and scared. I really wish I had not seen the trailer before seeing the movie as well. I also thought the very very end was rather hokey.

[cashbailey]

Be sure to not spoil the ending becasue I haven't seen it. But apparently the ending that's on the film now is Spielberg's idea.

When the film was bought there were big discussions about the ending and everyone put forward their ideas. And oddly enough, the one Oren Peli chose was Senor Spielbergo's.

[cashbailey]

I just watched the 'original' version of the film that did the festival rounds over the last few years. The ending of that particular version is extremely intense and very poignant.

This movie officially comes out in December in Australia so I haven't seen the theatrical, Spielberg-mandated ending yet that has garnered this movie almost $50 million in box office.

But I've heard of what the 'new' ending was and it sound like pure cheese.

[blacksymbiote]

Sounds like I'll be attempting to see this movie tomorrow. Several more friends are coming this time, I hope it lives up to all the hype I've heard, but I really try to not let hype get to me. I'll come back with some impressions, if we manage to get in this time! :p

[khaynu]

Saw the movie tonight in a packed theater. I went in expecting, at the very least, a good movie and purposely didn't let the hype of "scariest movie ever" take hold. As a result, I wasn't disappointed! I definitely don't think its the scariest movie, but I would say one of the creepiest I've seen. If you go in with that idea of it, you won't be disappointed. What it does really well is build suspense, and with the camera work, really puts a sense of realism to all the crazy actives. Even my girlfriend, who usually HATES scary movies, liked it a lot due how creepy it was to see it all happening in what is seemingly "reality".

I don't know if anyone here has ever watched a series on Discovery called "A Haunting"? Even though a skeptic, those shows are entertaining for what they are, and I would say this movie is kinda like seeing one of those episodes played out as it happens (of course to more of an extreme). Since most people have seen shows like this, that claim to have really happened, or heard stories from friends and family, that a lot of people are sucked into the mythos that this particular movie bases its premise on pretty easily. And this is why I think a lot of people are digging this movie, causing all the hype.

Quick note on its comparison to Blair Witch. I did like Blair witch, but find this movie to be better over all, as it has a better script, is better paced, and shows some actual onscreen scares caused by the antagonist.

Everyone in the theater was really buzzing at the end. I would recommend it, as it is a good movie to fit the Halloween season.

[bboysno]

I definitely don't think its the scariest movie, but I would say one of the creepiest I've seen. If you go in with that idea of it, you won't be disappointed. What it does really well is build suspense, and with the camera work, really puts a sense of realism to all the crazy actives.

I agree completely. Though I was a bit disappointed, because my expectations were higher, partly because of Jeff's enthusiastic endorsement of it being really scary, the viral hype, and the high score on Rotten Tomatoes. But to me it was mainly just kind of entertaining, mildly scary, with episodes of gets-your-heart-racing suspense. The friends I went with pretty much agreed with me. But I was impressed with how effective it was with the suspense considering how minimalist it was.

It was fun watching the audience get giddy with suspense and react to some of the scenes, though some people laughed at some of them. I guess if i had a more scared crowd or louder sound system in the theater it could have been a bit better maybe.

I guess if you really enjoy ghost stories or semi-believe in certain ones, maybe you'll really get scared by it from the sense of realism, but for me it was just entertaining, suspenseful, creepy, and just something different to see. I'd recommend it, but only for theater viewing, and don't go in with very high expectations.

Oh, and no Dan-like night terrors for me. Just a slightly increased awareness of normal nighttime sounds.

[phil-mize]

I feel like this was a well made movie. The tactics used to get inside your head were great. I wouldn't say it was very scary but more of creepy. Sad thing is though, the hype seems like it killed this movie. All my close friends are movie buffs and loved it. But the more casual movie goer may not enjoy it so much. I've got a lot of friends who thought it was complete crap.

[blacksymbiote]

Just got back and it's all fresh in my mind. I would say it falls into the "totally creepy" category. The characters feel very real. And I love how you get such a good feeling for how the house is laid out. You really know where things are, and your imagination can add to what's going on with that knowledge. I think anyone who strongly believes in ghosts or demons and perhaps more religious people will find this extremely scary. I definitely enjoyed it, but I think The Exorcism of Emily Rose is scarier.

[stubadub]

Sad thing is though, the hype seems like it killed this movie.

This movie is on pace to surpass Blair Witch with the biggest dollar earned per dollar spent in Hollywood history. Hype has been as kind as possible towards this film. It's really amazing how effectively they were able to harness hype to power a picture this low budget and minimalist into the phenomenon it's become.

[blacksymbiote]

When I went to see it last night, there was still a long line up to get into the theater, and the theater was nearly full, even after all these weeks since it's wide release. I'd say it's doing very well, with no signs of sales slowing down anytime soon.

[giggleloop]

Saw this last weekend when it finally opened here in St. Louis. Although I do agree that it was well made & pretty creepy, I wasn't as terrified as I thought I'd be (especially since ghost stories are the horror movies that scare me the most).

I think that although the hype is responsible for making this movie as successful as it is, unfortunately I think it affected my movie-going experience and left me letdown by the end. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't had such high expectations going in. And as others have said, I wasn't crazy about the ending. I would be interested to see the alternate ones, which I'm sure I will when this comes out on DVD because I know my hubby will buy it. :)

Also, I was unknowingly spoiled for the ending by the episode of the MMO Report from, I think, 3 weeks ago..? The first episode of October. So if you don't want to know about the ending, DON'T WATCH THAT EPISODE! :) I didn't realize at the time that that was going to spoil me, so I was kinda peeved. But whatever, I still don't think I could have gotten the same movie going experience out of it that so many people seem to be getting.

I do think however that if you haven't really heard too much about this movie, or been subjected to the media onslaught (commercials every 5 minutes on TV, etc), maybe you'll enjoy it more. And definitely, if you wanted to wait for the DVD & watch it at home in the dark with your friends, it might be MUCH scarier.

Yep. :)

[blacksymbiote]

With very little searching, you can find descriptions of the other endings. Up until recently you could even view one of the alternate endings online, but it seems to have been taken down for copyright reasons. I won't describe anything from them so as not to spoil anything. But if you really want to know what they are, you can certainly find things on them.

[cashbailey]

the hype seems like it killed this movie.

Only if you buy into it.

Go into it with an open mind and you'll see and immaculately crafted, low-key spook story.

If you're some mouth-breather who wants gore and jump scares the just sneak into the theatre next door where the latest SAW retard-magnet is showing.

[az0madman]

Saw the movie this weekend and it wasn't as scary as I've heard so many people say it is. Early on, I was even starting to be disappointed with the movie because of so much downtime, but it picked up and I at least enjoyed myself because of the audience reactions. I wasn't expecting the ending, though apparently it was shown in the trailer, which luckily wasn't fresh in my mind. So avoid the trailer if you haven't seen the movie yet.

I think I would've liked the original ending more now that I've read it, though everyone was already guessing that that's what was going to happen so it caught most people off guard.

Had a good time overall. Definitely more fun to see it with others.

[giggleloop]

Looks like the link for the one alternate ending was taken down, but you can read descriptions of two of them here (http://daveguzman.blogspot.com/2009/08/endings-of-paranormal-activity.html). Both of them sound super creepy, which kind of annoys me even more so that they chose the ending that they did. *shrug*

[rottnkorpse]

I know this thread is quite old and I shouldn't probably be posting it but I HATE this movie so much that I have to.

I actually saw this movie in the cinema and no I have no idea why I never posted about it.

I consider this series the worst piece of <censored> film-making I have ever seen.

I have not seen Paranormal Activity 2 but I never will because of the first one being such as piece of <censored> <censored> that I had to fight myself from not watching TRS ever again. I can ignore Jeff's view of the movie due to his anti-trailer thing but anyone who saw the trailer for this and liked it...I don't think they know what a good movie is.

This movie is NOT the best in the last decade...it isn't the best at anytime...I wouldn't even give it credit to say it is the best of the worst...it is just a TERRIBLE movie.

It was NOT scary even for the only 5 minutes where it tried to be scary.

I hate scary movies because I don't watch them much and because of that I am normally easily jumpy while watching scary movies especially movies that are metal scary rather than gory...yet somehow this movie managed to bore the hell out of me. It was so awful that at the end of the movie I stood up and yelled "What a piece of <censored>ing <censored> movie!". I normally keep my opinions to myself while still in the cinema to not ruin it for people who are in the lobby or whatever and that was one movie I couldn't...I yelled to everyone in the lobby to not waste their money on such a god awful movie.

I yelled to the lobby "Who is here to see Paranormal Activity?" and some people cheered back to which I replied "Don't! If you saw the trailer then you saw the movie...it literally is just the trailer with worthless boring filler for 2 hours"

The movie famed as "one of the scariest in the past decade" was not scary for 99% of the movie and was more of a comedy due to the male lead cracking jokes and stuff. The only parts that could even be remotely considered "scary parts" were ALL in the <censored>ING TRAILER!

This movie was one of the worst movies I've ever seen!

-----

I saw the video of the alternate ending and it was terrible more so than the rest of the movie...so at least they chose the least awful of the two.

[primedawg]

it wasn't the greatest but it wasn't the worse either

have you seen the recent remakes of Friday the 13th or Halloween by Rob Zombie

it had its moments I avoided the trailers at all cost I try not to see trailers anymore as a general rule since alot of movies of late have been ruined by them.

i wait for the reviews if the reviews are positive it usually means its safe to see the trailer if its negative usually means the best parts are in the trailer

[jtv]

I liked the first one, but despised the second. My mini-review from another forum I post at (spoilers I guess):

Paranormal Activity 2 - Terrible. I really liked the first but this was just awful. The acting was bad. Plus it was just confusing. At first I thought it was a sequel, which didn't seem right because the couple from the first movie was still alive. Then they mention it's a prequel, but that doesn't make sense either because then why in the first movie do they not mention anything that happens in the second? Like "Hey honey, you know what's even weirder about our house being haunted is that my sister's house was haunted just a week ago". On top of all that there were dumb mistakes. It's supposed to take place in 2006 but at one point the husband says "Release the kraken". I guess that line could be in the original Clash but we all know what he's quoting and that shit wasn't out in 2006. Then they're watching tv and there's a Dunkin Donuts commercial with the slogan "America runs on Dunkin". I don't think that slogan has been around for 5 years. Ugh.

As for Rob Zombie, I actually really liked The Devil's Rejects.

[primedawg]

I liked the first one, but despised the second. My mini-review from another forum I post at (spoilers I guess):

Paranormal Activity 2 - Terrible. I really liked the first but this was just awful. The acting was bad. Plus it was just confusing. At first I thought it was a sequel, which didn't seem right because the couple from the first movie was still alive. Then they mention it's a prequel, but that doesn't make sense either because then why in the first movie do they not mention anything that happens in the second? Like "Hey honey, you know what's even weirder about our house being haunted is that my sister's house was haunted just a week ago". On top of all that there were dumb mistakes. It's supposed to take place in 2006 but at one point the husband says "Release the kraken". I guess that line could be in the original Clash but we all know what he's quoting and that shit wasn't out in 2006. Then they're watching tv and there's a Dunkin Donuts commercial with the slogan "America runs on Dunkin". I don't think that slogan has been around for 5 years. Ugh.

As for Rob Zombie, I actually really liked The Devil's Rejects.

too much gore for me I haven seen the devils rejects but I did see H-ween

gore is not even scary its just gross

[jtv]

Yeah, Devil's Rejects is very gory, and very offensive (sexually, violently, language, just about every way possible). Don't watch it if those kinds of things bother you.

If not though, I think it's a very decent flick, and my favorite of his movies. It reminds me of the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

[damnedeyez]

"Release the kraken".
"America runs on Dunkin".

america runs on Dunkin was introduced in April 2006.

Release the Kraken...is the main line that's been quoted from the original for the decades since...it HAD to be in the remake because of that (and the story, obviously)


Edit: and I kind of liked the Friday the 13th remake...and this coming from someone who was a fan of the original series during the 80s... The Devil's Rejects was just allright, but i liked House of 1000 Corpses better.

[jtv]

I'm not saying you're wrong, but when I hear Release The Kraken I immediately visualize Liam Neeson saying it.

I'm 35 and watched the original quite a lot back in the day, but would never think of that as a memorable line.

Anyway, in a movie I was enjoying that point probably would have just flown by, but given that I wasn't enjoying PA2 it stuck out as another nitpicky thing that annoyed me.

[damnedeyez]

I'm not saying you're wrong, but when I hear Release The Kraken I immediately visualize Liam Neeson saying it.

I'm 35 and watched the original quite a lot back in the day, but would never think of that as a memorable line.

Anyway, in a movie I was enjoying that point probably would have just flown by, but given that I wasn't enjoying PA2 it stuck out as another nitpicky thing that annoyed me.


It's the only line from the original I can remember...otherwise it's just bits and pieces of of visuals. I was even saying it often during the fight in God of War 2. Liam saying it in the trailer is memorable to me mostly because it is the line that sticks out (it's said a few times).

But you are right, it's a nitpick and a good movie would have to looking over it.

[primedawg]

release the krakken is one of the most used lines in pop culture

http://thestir.cafemom.com/entertainment/101596/_release_the_kraken_again

just rented paranormal activity 2 yeah its crap it just takes so long for the shite to actually start

the whole time i kept thinking the dad bought this crazy surveillance system everyone keeps going on about how crazy things are happening and he doesnt look at the video

then the one time the daughter is practically crying because she got locked out of the house with the baby inside she asked the dad too look at the video and he refuses?!?!?!?