When a horror film is done right, when it hits exactly all the right notes, it is the best movie going experience. Fear is such a powerful emotion, it is fascinating to experience it. Films like The Exorcist, The Haunting, or The Texas Chain Saw Massacre can bring out a stronger emotional reaction from an audience than just about any other movie, period. Unfortunately, films like those come around maybe 3 or 4 times a decade, if we're lucky. The vast majority of horror films are simply made up of copious gore and jump moments. This decade especially has been devoid of any real classic horror films, with studios opting instead to remake every horror film imaginable. So when a little film called Paranormal Activity popped in out of nowhere, I took notice. It seemed to rely more on atmosphere than violence, something that goes a long way in a good horror film. Still, a film that derives scares from loud noises and lights flickering has to be exceptionally well done to avoid looking very silly. It's not an easy thing to pull off, especially on such a low budget. Thankfully, Paranormal Activity doesn't look silly at all. Indeed, it is downright terrifying.The film, as you have probably heard, owes a lot to The Blair Witch Project. Like that film, it's a low budget indie film that some friends decided to make over a week. It's shot as if it is found footage from a couple who decided to look for paranormal activity in their house. You have to get into the right mindset for this kind of film, or else it won't work on you. However, if you can embrace it, it will frighten you like few other films have. It follows the couple as they realize that their house is haunted not by a ghost, but by a demon. One might wonder: why not leave the house then? That is answered in such a simple, logical, and terrifying way that it makes you feel almost as helpless as the characters in the film. There is no escape for the characters, and thus, none for the audience as well.
The film is basically a series of tension building scenes that just become more and more unbearable as the film progresses. At first we see doors open and close or hear loud stomping coming from the hallway, but these things become more and more intrusive and dangerous. There are so many moments that stand out as utterly scary, that it becomes useless to list them. One that I will mention is when the demon decides to grab somebody and take them with him down the hall. We've assumed up until this point that the demon will only interact with the object in the house, not the people. So when it happens, this moment comes seemingly out of nowhere and hits you very hard. And it's only the tip of the iceberg. While the demon in question is never seen, its presence it palpable. The filmmakers used very trick they could think of to make this thing feel so menacing, and it pays off.
I can honestly say I've never been this scared by a movie before. It took me by complete surprise. The way it draws you into the experience, it becomes overpowering at times. The screams from audience members were constant throughout the film, and people were physically shaking after it was over. Given how many horrible horror films we've had the last decade, I think a lot of people have forgotten just what it's like to be genuinely scared by a movie. I'm not talking about things jumping out at you and making you jump in your seat. This film creates honest dread in you as you watch it, and it is hard to shake once it's over. It's not the most eloquently put together movie, but as a horror film, it stands out to me as one of the most effective - if not the most effective - that I have ever seen. If you care at all about horror films, you owe it to yourself to see this movie. Because, honestly, who knows when we'll ever get something quite this scary again.
