I first watched Paranormal Activity shortly after it was released in 2009. As I was just a kid then, my opinions may have been skewed by my young mind and lack of experience with the horror genre, but I genuinely hated the film. I disliked the characters, and basically the whole premise of the movie, and I did not find it scary. Flash forward to 2017- watching this film again for class gave me a new appreciation for the film, though it is still not one of my favorites (as I have a bias towards horror films that use the disability trope, and this film does not).
This film, in a found footage style similar to The Blair Witch Project, follows a couple, Katie and Micah, in their new suburban home, as they are terrorized by a sort of supernatural presence, and decide to film it. There is a brief backstory on Katie, and it is revealed that she has been haunted since she was 8 years old, but otherwise, the story is simple, and builds tension as the demon’s presence gets bolder, and eventually (spoiler alert) possesses Katie and kills Micah. This story argues for demonic haunting as well as the consequences that come when you antagonize demons. There is subtext in the film as well, relying on the idea that ghosts and demons are real, as it plays of the idea that many people believe in hauntings, and have experienced similar things happen to them. I would say that in the beginning of the film the argument is successful as the events that take place are like those seen in other found-footage videos, but it loses it in the end as the demon story line is less believable. The entire premise of the movie also makes it controversial, as ghost stories are controversial at their core. In addition, the marketing through social media also greatly hyped up the movie, and there is still some controversy about whether or not it deserves its title of “one of the scariest movies of all time” given by well known horror site Bloody Disgusting.
This movie was originally released as an independent feature at various film festivals, and when it found success there, it was acquired by Paramount Pictures, given a new ending with the thoughts already of future sequels, and given a limited release in the U.S. Internet users were then encouraged to “demand” where the film was shown next, and through this it gained a lot of hype. When it was again successful, it was released nationwide, and earned over a million in box office sales. Because of this style of marketing, and the plot of the movie, this films’ audience is young adults in an age of emerging technology who enjoy a good haunting. As this was released around the time most people had a camera phone, this movie was able to connect with a younger demographic of horror fans who enjoy ghost stories and would probably do the same thing in Katie and Micah’s situation- film it.
As the movie is filmed in a found footage style, the budget for the film was low, so the director and producers had to rely on subtle special effects and the actors acting chops. While I personally did not care for the actors, they did a good job in representing the two types of audience members: those who believe in hauntings like Katie, and those who do not believe and make fun of, like Micah. The style of this film also allows the audience to feel like this could be real, seen in strategies like the messages at the beginning and end of the film as you would see in a documentary, and the shakiness of a home movie. The style of the film rolling at night was also a successful strategy for this movie, as the story relies on imagination more than jump scares. When the timestamp at the bottom of the video at night slows down, the audience knows that something is coming, adding to the tension that this film relies on.
Overall, while this film is not my cup of tea, I can understand why it generated so much buzz at its release. This film is not the kind of film that terrifies you with jumps scares and gore, but the real terror comes when you are back in the comfort of your own home and you remember that this is the exact situation that Katie and Micah were in when the demon came for them. Considering the low budget and the origins of this film compared to the success that this film has had, garnering multiple sequel movies, I would say that this is a worthwhile horror film. If you are a believer in ghosts and demons, or even if you are a bit skeptical, this film is an enjoyable experience that builds tension throughout and leaves you with the lights on at night, wanting more (though the sequel’s do not provide). 7/10 from me.
Ali Scarlett is a Communication Sciences and Disorders student at the University of Texas. Other than being a student, she does not do much. Kind of like a platypus. Except not really. She mostly enjoys cool weather, good books, painting, and pretending that she is not getting closer and closer to having real responsibilities.
Rhetoric of Horror 