'Paranormal Activity'

'Paranormal Activity' (R) ***

Writer and Director: Oren Peli
Starring: Micah Sloat, Katie Featherston

Someone was listening to me these past years on the state of horror movies. Director Oren Peli must have thought the same thing because he has made a simply scary and effective horror movie without blood and ugliness. Shot on a very low budget in Peli's house over a week with two unknown actors "Paranormal Activity" has already made back it's money in a few weeks starting out at midnight shows in a few select theatres. The word spread as it was released in more theatres at a full schedule. I knew people were hungry for good scares as opposed to blood and gimmicks. This is a very well done and clever thriller which knows that simple things scare people like doors slamming, bumps in the night and strange noises. What happens when we go to sleep at night? The clever premise of this movie has the two main characters set up a camera in their room as they film themselves sleeping. They wake up in the morning to check it out and as the days pile on more interesting things start to happen. This is genius because it becomes more suspenseful and scary as the movie progresses and then climaxes in an explosive and scary ending that made the people I saw this with jump and then let out big laughs after. That is what good and effective horror movies do. I don't mind gory movies if the story is good but I love movies like "Paranormal Activity". This is a fun and scary movie that knows to create very scary movies you don't need tricks, a complicated story or blood. You need characters you like and identify with and the couple in this film are likable, normal and funny. The two actors playing these characters are natural and do a good job. You also need a building of suspense and a simply eerie mood and simple scares and this movie has it. It is not groundbreaking or a masterpiece but it is fun and effective and really knows what scares people. This is a great date movie where you can grab your date, jump in their arms and have a good laugh after.