*** Official PARANORMAL ACTIVITY Discussion Thread

There's a big hype around it but when it comes to horror and hype, there will eventually be a major backlash against it.  I'm curious to see it even though I read a story a couple nights ago where the filmmakers are claiming fifty people left a screening in NYC because they were so scared.  I'm not buying the publicity but I do look forward to seeing it.

You mentioned THE BLAIR WITCH but that's the perfect example and we can all see how horror fans treat that film today.

Yep. There's always a vocal minority in horror fans (a group that I proudly count myself among) that are really bitchy and hate everything that's popular or has some internet hype behind it.

I really don't know anything about this movie and I kind of tune out the hype so I'm looking forward to seeing it when/if it gets a wider release.

I too consider BLAIR WITCH a masterpiece but more often than not I'm left disappointed with all the hyped films.  I don't pay attention to the hype and quite often I'm not even aware of the hype but for some reason, after seeing the film, I leave being disappointed.  I hope this opens somewhere around me but the marketing ploy is going to cause a big backlash no matter how great it is, which is a downside of the fan base and why so many are overlooked.

I know what you mean. I try to ignore hype because the films usually don't live up to it but occasionally one will come along and excite me. That has more to do with the plot sounding right up my alley though as opposed to listening to the hype. Self-hype, if you will. Things like Inside, The Descent and Shaun of the Dead were hyped to the moon, but I found hardly anything to like in any of them.  As for this film's marketing ploy, I'm not particularly fond of it myself, especially in regards to the release strategy.

It looks exactly like Blair Witch, just indoors. And while Blair Witch was masterfully promoted the film it self was terrible. This looks to be just like that.

So, I was doing my weekly look through nearby theater schedules, and this is being released in Arlington this weekend on an all day rotation. That's much closer than Dallas and without the headache of a midnight showing. Go figure, but at least it appears to finally be expanding.

I thought Blair Witch was one of the worst, most overhyped films I've ever seen, so if this is in the same vein (as it looks to be), I'd have zero interest in it.

Todd, in the second ending

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) The original ending has
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Bumping this up as the spoilers are showing through on the main page.  I guess the hidden factor doesn't hide them from the main page. 

It appears the thing is playing all around me.  So much for the "we must get 1,000,000" votes scheme.

only in 159 theaters nationwide this weekend and manages to make more than 2 million on friday alone!

There must be more than 2 endings as what we saw tonight was different from either of the ones Justin mentioned.


Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

saw it fri. night and loved it. Packed house, 42nd st. audience was totally into it and screaming quite a bit. Lots of fun. What you don't see is 100X scarier than what you do imho...

Saw it last night with my wife and two friends. Our theatre was packed with a full house and everyone was getting into it, and I have to say that I got freaked out and felt fear and dread several times during this movie - and I'm someone who never really gets "scared" when watching horror films, and I personally do not even believe in the existence of ghosts or demons. There isn't anything in the way of story or plot here, but that's not the point ... the goal is to scare you, and the film certainly made good on that goal.

I think it's much to this movie's credit that the simplest means of scare tactics are the very best, and this low, low-budgeted film - with no blow-away makeup or CGI effects, no dazzling camera work (the scariest parts come with the camcorder completely still in one frame at night), and only a cast of two or three people, can be more effective than the most action-packed multi-million dollar blockbusters. You have to know HOW to make a subtle scary film where less is more, and this certainly accomplished that. It is a complete slap in the face to bloated Hollywood that an amateur project like this can trump all "traditional" horror movies of the last couple of decades when it comes to producing scares.

I thought I was getting tired of the "shot on home video" genre after THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT and CLOVERFIELD (both good films, I thought) but I'm wondering if the success of PARANORMAL ACTIVITY will keep revitalizing this approach. The technique is very strong in capturing the "reality" feel of a horrific situation. 

I saw PA this past weekend. I really like it we had a packed house with everyone screaming and having a good time. I have just a couple of comments.

1. All the previews give away too much. If you want a truely terrifyling experience go into the theater completely unaware what the movie is about.

2. I think this is the type of movie that is most effective at a theater during Halloween with a pack house of people that also havent seen it.

3. After reading about the original ending I wish they would have stuck with it. The orignal would have been much more effective. The one used in the movie is good, but to me it was the only time that i felt like I was watching a Hollywood movie. It spoiled the climax just a little.

Really? Most of the previews I've seen mostly show only night-vision shots of theater audiences jumping in their seats.

I'll spoiler this just in case someone that hasen't seen it reads this, even though this is a discussion thred.
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

That's all I've seen too. I'm perfectly happy going in blind to this movie.

The second ending (not the original) is on Youtube. Search for Paranormal Activity REAL Ending Night.

^^
Thanks for that! 

I saw this movie this weekend and thought it was really creepy and some parts had me jump out of my seat.  I'm not a big fan of horror movies because a lot of scary movies are just made to gross you out with all the gore.  I tend to like movies like the Grudge, etc which are more creepy than anything else.  To tell the truth if I was in their situation I'd be out of that house the first night.

They did say that the demon was following the girl so moving wouldn't help her. However, if I was the guy, one of us would be out the door on the first night. I guess that's callous but the movie would have had a happier ending if I was in it.

I saw this yesterday and it is pretty scary.  I'd rank it right up there with The Shining, Session 9 and The Changeling (my favorite creepy thrillers).  It's not Exorcist scary but it is very atmosphereic and subtle. 

Things that go "bump" in the night...

Shadows....

There is a palpable sense of dread throughout.

Yeah, you have the same idea I had Travis.  I'd be out of there and leave the girl behind. 

I just got back from watching it and thought it was great.  As a horror fan I've been buying hyped up movies for over two decades now and to me the majority of them turn out to be piss poor films.  That's certainly not the case here because all the hype I heard was actually right on target.  There were at least three sequences that had my blood turning ice cold. 

I didn't really like Blair Witch but I did enjoy this movie.  I have to admit, it scared me.  I'll be needing a light or two on tonight.