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Lucifer_666
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 Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:08 pm Post subject: Paranormal Activity |
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This film sounds brilliant.  ..It was shown in the Slamdance Film Festival last weekend and still hasn't got a distributer yet..... but that won't be long coming going by all the reviews I've read ....
I'm really looking forward to seeing this now and I'd imagine it will appeal to some here on FilmFlicking too particularly you Honey seeing as you like this kind of stuff aswell and have gone to Haunted Houses and of course your old house too....
Anyway Paranormal Activity is a Horror/Thriller that uses the “found footage” framework to tell a ghost story that is described by some to be 'more effective than any remake of a Japanese ghost story that the studios have offered up in the last five years.'
Check out this review......
| Dreadcentral.com wrote: | While watching Paranormal Activity, dread was the one word that kept coming back to me over and over again. Every time the camera sat on its perch overlooking the lead couple's bed, I was gripped by an agonizing feeling of foreboding that what I was about to see was going to scare the pants off of me and bring me one step closer to not being able to sleep tonight. Which is why it's now 3:00 AM and I'm writing this review instead of resting comfortably in my own bed. I'm also pausing every few minutes to look over my shoulder in case someone -- or something -- might be lurking there. You are no doubt thinking, "Yeah, right. There's no way some no-budget, no-name docu-style flick is keeping ME up at night!" Well, my friends, I beg to differ. This here is the real deal. Simply put, Paranormal Activity is the most frightening ghost story of 2007. I'd bet cash money nobody can watch the entire thing without saying at least three or four times, "That's some fcuked up shit." Or, more accurately, "That's some seriously fcuked up shit."
So, exactly what is Paranormal Activity? To quote the film's website: "A young couple suspects that their house is haunted by a malevolent entity. They set up video surveillance to capture evidence of what happens at night as they sleep. Their surveillance and home videos have been edited into the 99-minute feature film." On the surface this is nothing we haven't seen a million times before. In fact, for the first 15 or 20 minutes, I was ready to write off Paranormal Activity as just another entry in the long line of pseudo cinéma vérité rubbish we've been subjected to during these last several post-Blair Witch years. But then our couple, Katie and Micah, started to grow on me and editor Peli began gradually increasing the tension as each new paranormal event grew in strength over the course of their three-week ordeal, and I was hooked. All the action takes place in one location, Katie and Micah's San Diego house, predominantly in their "haunted" bedroom. Katie is convinced the entity is authentic as she has had similar experiences at various times and in numerous places over the course of her life. Micah, on the other hand, treats it like a joke and recklessly taunts the spirit despite warnings that doing so will merely serve to increase its hostility and strength. But he does truly love Katie and is only trying to help her, no matter how misguided his efforts may turn out to be.
The chemistry between these two is remarkable, and their dialogue never seems forced or scripted. They seem as real as you and I, especially when Micah does the exact stupid things you'd expect someone in his situation with no connection to the spiritual realm to do. Katie probably shouldn't have put up with his arrogant, macho behavior for as long as she does, but that, too, is plausible considering her fear and uncertainty as to the best course of action under such trying circumstances. Katie is onscreen for about 99% of the time and does an amazing job of carrying the film as well as the audience's trust and confidence. Had she ever struck a false note, the whole thing would have gone up in smoke, but luckily for us, she is 100% believable and sympathetic.
Peli uses an absolute minimalist approach to evoke that feeling of dread I mentioned earlier. There is no soundtrack or special effects -- the sound design, which incorporates some chilling EVP, and one single hand-held video camera alone tell the tale, often utilizing time-lapse photography with an ominous time code stamp to inform the viewer of how much time has passed. One wouldn't think that scenes of two people sleeping could be utterly terrifying; yet, here in Peli's hands they are. And those of when they are awakened in the middle of the night are even worse. Or should I say better? Because if you are a fan of ghost stories who has felt disappointed and short-changed by the lack of quality material in that subgenre over the past several years, then you should be as pleased with Paranormal Activity as I was. It's a bite-your-nails, squirm-in-your-seat bonanza of spookiness with a healthy dose of holy-shit-I-can't-believe-that-just-happened thrown in for good measure. In short, it's effective as hell and is a prime example of how to win an audience over and keep their attention in a highly constrained, claustrophobic atmosphere in the most unpretentious way possible.
Paranormal Activity is one of those films that as soon as you're done watching it makes you want to call up your friends to talk about. It'll keep you glued to the screen and wondering what will happen next, particularly when that damn bedroom cam kicks on again. Although I did have an inkling as to how things might wind up for our troubled young lovers, the actual ending turned out to be even more unsettling than I could have ever imagined. But don't take my word for it; see this one for yourselves. Something this good won't stay undiscovered for long. |
Here's the trailer from Slamdance
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Catnapper
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:21 pm Post subject: |
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That's the kind of film I like too......it looks brill! I hope it goes to DVD soon if they can't get a distributor, cause I'll buy it!
I hope the camera doesn't keep going off all the time........that'd be annoying after a while I bet, but it didn't spoil it for the audience from the sounds of it! |
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Lucifer_666
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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I hope they get no wimps babe in like the Cloverfield audience ...running out after twenty minutes 
It looks class doesn't it ......I tried to see could I download it but no luck there either  I thought somebody might get a copy in the film festival
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Madamhoney
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 3:59 pm Post subject: |
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I know someone who's been to a preview of Cloverfield and he said there were a few people in the audience who were sick! But that was from motion sickness with the cameras being all over the place, he advised taking sea-sickness tablets - lol (and he was serious  )
That sounds REALLY cool!!!! I would rather watch it at home actually as I think there would be more atmosphere, sitting alone in the dark!!! 
Last edited by Madamhoney on Wed Jan 30, 2008 4:07 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Lucifer_666
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 4:01 pm Post subject: |
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Yep Cat was saying that in another post the other day Honey ....though whose bright idea was it to take sea sickness tablets? madness
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Lucifer_666
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 5:16 pm Post subject: |
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I just read that DreamWorks has acquired all domestic and remake rights to Slamdance Fest entry "Paranormal Activity,"
The film likely will be released in the U.S. direct to DVD, but IM Global picked up all international rights; the pic will be included on its upcoming Berlin slate.
The two deals are pegged at nearly seven figures.
An Israeli émigré, Peli arrived in the United States at age 19 and pursued a career as a videogame programmer.
Peli shot the film over one week with a high-def camera in his own house with two unknown actors, Katie Featherstone and Micah Sloat, who manned the camera much of the time.
Jason Blum will produce, and Steven Schneider will executive produce the new film. DreamWorks' Ashley Brooks will oversee the film and its remake for president of production Adam Goodman.
So it looks like it will be given the big budget remake treatment ...I'd still like to see the one already made though 
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Catnapper
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 8:52 pm Post subject: |
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| So there'll be 2 versions.....the original straight to DVD and a big budget remake? That seems strange, I don't think I've heard of that before |
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Lucifer_666
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 2:19 am Post subject: |
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Yeah I suppose they reckon that they can get the idea sold in America with more of a bigger budget remake offering ..it was strange I thought that myself I have to admit...you would think that the whole amateur low budget feel would add to the film....I still want to see the original more than any remake I can tell you
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Madamhoney
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 10:13 am Post subject: |
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| I'd rather see the original, bloody fools!!! |
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Lucifer_666
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:43 pm Post subject: |
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I just hope they don't try and create this 'real event' thing around it like the Blair Witch (making people think it really happened) because I think that may just be seen as gimmicky and by all reports it doesn't need it.
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