Paranormal Activity (2007) – A New Era for Horror Films
Director: Oren Peli
Writer: Oren Peli
Cast: Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat
Genre: Found Footage, Horror, Supernatural
Runtime: 86 minutes
Budget: $15,000
Box Office: Roughly $193 million
Synopsis
Paranormal Activity chronicles the frightening experience of a couple, Katie and Micah, who relocate to a house within San Diego. Katie has experienced paranormal activities since her childhood, but when her new home’s eerie nature reaches a new peak, Micah resolves to capture the events on a video camera in their new house.
Initially, the disturbances are creaking doors, odd noises throughout the home, and other sounds, but over time, things escalate to a higher degree of intensity. The entity appears to be particularly bonded with Katie, whilst Micah’s doubt results in him provoking it instead of helping her. With time, the entity started to become more aggressive with the couple pushing them to the verge of insanity. The film has a climax that is shocking and leaves the viewer’s brain harrowed long after the credits finish.
Production & Behind-The-Scenes
A High-Grossing, Low-Budget Low Down
The movie was filmed over a period of seven days in Oren Peli’s home with the addition of stationary and handheld cameras to further a sense of realism.
At the time, Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat were not famous, which allowed them to improvise their dialogues, adding to the movie’s authenticity.
To add to the tension, Peli implemented practical effects, moving the objects with fishing wires and manipulating the sound in a subtle way.
Paranormal Activity was filmed on a meager budget of $15,000 but went on to be one of the most profitable movies ever, grossing over $193 million.
The Alternate Endings
The movie has DVD bonus features that include some new endings, the original, and one which is darker than the rest. The original was more subdued, but after gaining Steve Spielberg’s attention, he made suggestions that eventually lead to the now infamous ‘shocking’ ending.
Cultural & Cinematic Significance
Reviving Found-Footage Horror
Unlike its predecessor, The Always Witch Document (1999) which created the found-footage horror genre, Paranormal Activity used a more relatable approach and toed a higher line. Instead of fleeing into the woods, the violent acts started happening inside a house, a place where people are considered safe.
A New Era of Minimalist Horror
The movie showcased the idea that sometimes less is more:
No gore–Suspense, sound and psychological tension is what makes this movie scary.
No CGI – The movie is created using practical effects which truly makes it feel raw.
No traditional score – The silence amplifies the realism and dread.
These aspects led to the creation of Paranormal Activity, influencing other modern horror films such as The Conjuring (2013) and The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016).
Critical Reception & Audience Response
Critics commended the film for its captivating fierce elements and realistic horror using minimal props and effects.
Roger Ebert ranked the movie 3.5 out of 4 stars as he emphasized that the movie was able to terrify the audience with little to no effort.
Many members of the audience claimed that the film’s pacing was rather slow and did not offer enough action, while others claimed that it was one of the most frightening movies produced.
Paranormal Activity quickly turned into a cultural phenomenon as it raised the discussion of whether the found-footage subgenre of horror was effective or overdone.
The Paranormal Activity Franchise
The original film’s tremendous success resulted in a franchise that further explored the lore of the entity, later named as Toby. The series includes:
Final Thoughts
Paranormal Activity is more than just another typical horror movie; it is an experience. Using the simple concept and everyday realism allows Paranormal Activity to tap into deep psychological fears regardless of if the viewer finds it terrifying or is overhyped. There is no doubt that it has made an impact on the genre.
Would you like me to provide some more recommendations for found footage horror movies or elaborate on the franchise’s lore?