Justin_S
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2001
- Messages
- 3,581
I saw it this past Friday after having followed it since well before the hype. The backlash that comes with hyped movies is practically inevitable, but I've never let it bother me. I still consider Blair Witch one of the best horror films I've seen due to it's effect on me, and no amount of bashing will convince me otherwise. For me personally, it is one of the rare films that actually lived up to all of it's hype, and frankly, so is this one. Anyway, my review that I posted elsewhere:
Okay, I was at the Dallas screening this morning. It was a real pain in the ass having to drive up to Dallas at midnight, but at least I can say it was worth the effort. For a film I've been following for close to two years, it lived up to all the hype I'd built up in my head. Not an easy task. It is exactly what I've been looking for this past decade. Ten years ago, The Blair Witch Project managed to scare me like no film before it. Since then, I've been waiting for another film to make me feel that way again, and Paranormal Activity is a case of better late than never.
Despite some light-hearted, occasionally comedic banter in the early half of the film, the feeling of dread and unease is present from the very first frame. It only worsens as the film goes on, the night scenes pushing the tension to the highest levels. The acting is strong, especially on the part of Katie Featherston, who is actually from my home away from home, Arlington, TX. The most unnerving part for me was when
Katie stands over Micah as he sleeps, just staring at him for hours on end.
That really got to me, though it's just one of many chilling moments present here. As for the ending, it worked for the most part, though I feel that the original ending WOULD have been stronger and a more appropriate fit. For those who don't know, Paramount had them change the ending. There were actually three different ones, but the original is the one I feel would have ended things on the best possible note.
It is definitely a case of less is more, which is usually the type of horror that I find most effective on a strictly frightening level. The theater was packed, and yet I haven't felt this creeped out while watching a film in years. That feeling also stayed with me long after the screening had ended. As a hardened horror fan, it is incredibly refreshing to find that a film still has the power to scare me. It doesn't happen often. In fact, it is exceedingly rare, but this one got the job done. I will need to let it sink in for a while, but this is potentially going to be horror film of the decade for me when all is said and done.
Okay, I was at the Dallas screening this morning. It was a real pain in the ass having to drive up to Dallas at midnight, but at least I can say it was worth the effort. For a film I've been following for close to two years, it lived up to all the hype I'd built up in my head. Not an easy task. It is exactly what I've been looking for this past decade. Ten years ago, The Blair Witch Project managed to scare me like no film before it. Since then, I've been waiting for another film to make me feel that way again, and Paranormal Activity is a case of better late than never.
Despite some light-hearted, occasionally comedic banter in the early half of the film, the feeling of dread and unease is present from the very first frame. It only worsens as the film goes on, the night scenes pushing the tension to the highest levels. The acting is strong, especially on the part of Katie Featherston, who is actually from my home away from home, Arlington, TX. The most unnerving part for me was when
Katie stands over Micah as he sleeps, just staring at him for hours on end.
That really got to me, though it's just one of many chilling moments present here. As for the ending, it worked for the most part, though I feel that the original ending WOULD have been stronger and a more appropriate fit. For those who don't know, Paramount had them change the ending. There were actually three different ones, but the original is the one I feel would have ended things on the best possible note.
It is definitely a case of less is more, which is usually the type of horror that I find most effective on a strictly frightening level. The theater was packed, and yet I haven't felt this creeped out while watching a film in years. That feeling also stayed with me long after the screening had ended. As a hardened horror fan, it is incredibly refreshing to find that a film still has the power to scare me. It doesn't happen often. In fact, it is exceedingly rare, but this one got the job done. I will need to let it sink in for a while, but this is potentially going to be horror film of the decade for me when all is said and done.
