FOR THE CRITICS AND THOSE THAT DON'T LIKE PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
December 7th 2009 23:22
It was inevitable that the movie would receive mixed reviews. Fair enough, the acting isn’t anything amazing, there’s a grain of salt that has to be consumed (that Micah continues to video long after anyone in their right mind would do so) for such a movie to work, but for what it sets out to do it does it very, very well. I’m disappointed with Australian film critics who have slammed the movie for reasons unwarranted. David Stratton (ABC’s At the Movies) gave the movie 1-and-a-half stars and called it “extremely unthrilling, very obvious, and very clichéd”, Sandra Hall (Sydney Morning Herald) gave it 1 star and described it as a lame Hollywood con job, and Tom Ryan (The Sun-Herald) gave it 3/10 in a vacuous spit, except to wonder “… I guess it worked for somebody.”
Paranormal Activity is clever filmmaking. And not just because of its economy; writer/director Oren Peli made the movie for $US15,000, half of what The Blair Witch Project (1999) cost. Both movies will be forever compared, since they both use a very similar tactic – exhibiting the movie as “found footage” – which is a deliberate conceit, and gives the movie its edge of “authenticity”. The movie shouldn’t be criticized for this staged reality, if it convinces an audience then hats off to the filmmakers, for one of the most basic elements of a horror movie is to engulf the viewer in the movie’s atmosphere so that you feel the fear in a palpable way. The Blair Witch Project did this superbly, and Paranormal Activity does it too.
As much as I champion Paranormal Activity to be seen in the cinemas, part of me wishes it had never been hyped the way it has, so that it could be this unknown DVD release that I’m telling all my friends to rent. That way no one would’ve seen the posters and trailers riddled with critics’ superlatives. Hype can be such an ironically damaging beast.
Still, the movie is doing phenomenal box office down under; it is now the biggest horror movie of the decade. To quote clueless Tom Ryan: “I guess it worked for somebody.”
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Comment by Catherine Stebbins
Cinema Enthusiast
Thoughts from a Cinephile
Thoughts from a TV Watcher
Oh, question. Have you seen Silent Night, Deadly Night and if so; thoughts? I watched it last night and...oh boy was it interesting.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Yeah, to be honest I thought the guy complaining to Lars Von Trier was just a shit-stirrer, but I think he was genuinely pissed off. Bizarre.
Comment by Matt Shea
20/20 Filmsight
Comment by crobar
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Where the Wild Things Are?! Obviously you're pulling my chain now. I have yet to see Spike Jonze movie, and I've been making judgment calls on it which is probably a little unfair. I don't like the trailer at all. And how on earth can you say it's better made than Paranormal Activity?? Completely different style of filmmaking and intent. For what it is Paranormal is one of the best made movies in years. You may not like it, and that's your loss, but I've seen enough movies to know what's well made (for a $15g first feature) and what isn't.
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
For a flick made for 15k it's pretty good (though I assume this was the budget BEFORE Spielberg shot the new ending and did more post work on it?), but Bryn is correct that it's also a victim of its own hype in a way.
It had a few genuinely creepy moments but to be promoted as the scariest movie ever made is just flat out false advertising. Not even close. And the ending makes me want to punch both Spielberg and the Peli for giving in to him.
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Original ending had Katie go downstairs and Micah follow and is murdered off-screen, then Katie comes back up to the bedroom holding bloodied kitchen knife and she stands by the bed in a trance whilst the hours roll by on the in-camera screen, some 48 hours or so she stands lolling back and forth and eventually the police arrive and arrest her. Something like that.
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
as i just wrote over on Morgan's blog, i really had an issue with the ending as it refused to explain anything which to me indicates that the writer had backed themselves into a corner. it's one thing to intentionally withhold things from your audience. quite another not to know the answers yourself.
i see the original ending isn't really satisfying either, though it does explain why they set up those kitchen knives in the early scenes...
Comment by JESUS
What's Love?
This movie kicked ass and I love that you felt the need to bit back at the critics
lets get married
Comment by Linh
Celluloid Fun
I totally agree that 'Paranormal Activity' was hyped up to its eyeballs that people had such high expectations of it being scary.
I think David Stratton was much fairer on this film by giving it 1 and a half stars, instead of his usual half a star for films he disliked. He did miss the point of this film's intent. It's not meant to look like or be a polished feature, but made to look like an authentic home video filmed by ordinary people.
I enjoyed it for its ability to make the unknown and the unseen seem scary. I also like the suspense and ocassional humour.
Cheers!