Paranormal Activity (2007)

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 HALLOWEEN REVIEWS 2023

Writer/Director: Oren Peli

Stars: Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Mark Friedrichs, Amber Armstrong, Ashley Palmer



When a supernatural presence begins to plague a young couple (Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat), they decide to capture their experience on video. 



This film purports to be assembled from their recordings. 



This movie really benefits from the found footage approach taken by writer/director Oren Peli. 



In fact, this film would not be scary at all if it were shot in a more conventional fashion, since for most of its length the paranormal activity is confined to events such as moving doors and chandeliers and bumps in the night.

 


The video format, however, gives the story an immediacy and a verisimilitude that puts the viewer right into the story.

 


Events build slowly and culminate in one supremely creepy evening.

 


This film stayed with me longer than more spectacularly gory offerings.


Spoiler alert!!! End of the movie!!










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