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Did anyone else see PARANORMAL ACTIVITY over the weekend? I caught a midnight screening in State College, PA, and the theater claimed to be the only one in the entire northeast playing it so you probably didn't but if you get the chance you definitely should because it's completely awesome!
The film uses the same found footage/ cinema verite conceit from THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT but is superior to that film in every single way and is totally the film that BLAIR WITCH wanted to be. While BLAIR WITCH had a couple of effective scenes it was ultimately cheap looking and sounding and, in the end, a cheat.
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY is well made, well acted, and delivers in the end. As I was walking out of the theater a guy behind me proclaimed, "That was the best movie I have ever seen!" It's supposed to be coming to more theaters in the weeks to come, and is playing in State College again this weekend, and everyone should definitely see it.
— matt323
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Even though this is a website for kindertraumas I thought I'd mention my grown up one. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY is one of the most terrifying movies I've ever seen in my entire life. If the EXORCIST and THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT had a child it would be this film. It left this imprint on my brain and after viewing it I didn't find myself actually asleep until 5am!
I don't want to give too much away but the scene where…(EDITED due to a lil' spoiler-UNK)… is one of the most horrific things I've ever heard!!! It's an amazing film and I hope everyone demands it! I can't wait to see it again!
— Ema R.
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Aunt John & Unkle Lancifer,
I just got back from seeing PARANORMAL ACTIVITY and I think I am now experiencing some kind of adult kindertrauma symptoms. Make sure you see this one if it comes to your town. I'm going to be sleeping with the lights on tonight, something I haven't done since I was a kid.
— Matt L.
UNK SEZ: Wow, three adult traumafessions in one week concerning PARANORMAL ACTIVITY! I missed my chance to see it this past weekend (sold out!), but I will hopefully get another chance this weekend and get back to you guys with a review.
In the meantime, are there any more readers out there traumatized by this movie? We'd love to hear from you in the comments section or send us an email via kindertrauma@gmail.com. It's not every day that a movie traumatizes the big kids, color us dying in anticipation.
Either this is a truly scary movie, or the most elaborately planned whisper campaigns of recent memory. I'm not quite buying into the hype just yet…
I can't remember when I've ever seen a movie that so effectively holds the audience in the grip of ever-escalating tension (The Exorcist?). My 9:30 Monday night showing wasn't sold out, but it was comfortably full. About 30 minutes into the picture and you become aware of this pin-drop silence, as everyone is so intently staring at the screen, looking for something. When the fur started flying, we were gobsmacked, like being inches away from a bomb when it explodes.
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The trip home was a 90 minute drive through the lonely wilds of Wisconsin, and then home alone to my apartment. Oh yeah, it did a number on me…I need to get the full review up on my blog!
Senski,Â
Unk, you just made my day, week and month. I can't think of anyone whose compliment would please me more! Thanks!
How the heck was Blair Witch a cheat?
This comment about how the trailer is a criminal act of spoilage might itself be kinda spoilery, so to sum it up:Â Paranormal Activity is a damned freaky-scary movie, and do not under any circumstances watch the trailer.
Now, in more detail, if you want to risk vague spoilage:
This is an incredibly creepy movie that starts small and builds up little moments until you suddenly realize you're completely freaked out, and the mere sight of that "Day X" caption makes you want to cover your eyes. But do not under any circumstances watch the trailer, because in addition to giving away several of the biggest shocks, it shows the goddamned ending. If you go into the movie having seen the trailer, its impact will be incredibly diluted. You're supposed to spend the entire time with a steadily growing sense of dread, because the manifestations get stronger each time, and you genuinely have no idea just what the force is capable of, or what the hell is going to happen next. Watch the trailer, and you'll just be waiting to see in which order the shocks you've already seen will appear, and since you've already seen the big ones, the little ones are going to feel like a waste of your time. Spoiling a movie this well-constructed should be a friggin' crime.
Blair Witch was a cheat because it was sold like it was real footage that actually happened. Also nothing much exciting happened in the entire movie. It's one thing being subtle and restrained and it's another to just have nothing happen and no questions answered.