"What happens when you sleep?"
Paranornal Activity, a similar concept to A Blair Wtich Project and Cloverfield, all uses handhel cameras as to produce a sort of documentary feeling, which gives a more realistic sense and taste to the film. However, Paranormal Activity is based on a real life case study and being told it is "real life", people would definitely want to see this film and explore how scary this world is and what they might be missing.
It is very simple and basic, a couple filmed themselve due to the girlfriend, Katie, who have been having disturbing moments when she goes to sleep as if a ghost/demon is following her each night. Using the camera, they were able to film what is going on each night as they go to sleep and if there is actually something in the room or house that is haunting Katie and her life.
After hearing many stories about this film, with ongoing comments about how scary it is and how people screamed in the cinema, I, myself wanted to go and experiement the tension and excitment the audience had. To my surprise, it was a huge dissapointment and towards the end of the film I felt dizzy and sick due to the handheld camera and alot of moving around with the camera was going on, I couldn't bare it.
The film dragged on very long and it was in a very a slow pace, which slowly took my attention away and I wasn't focusing anymore, especially with the seasick feeling wasn't helping either. Throughout the film, creepy things would happen but only bits by bits, nothing major until the end, where it was the most scariest and jumpy out of the whole film. Other than that, there wasn't much tense built around the film.
The film was suppose to bring a full horror atmoshphere but instead, it felt more like a horror comical combined together as the main character Micah, was being a comdian throughout the film towards his girlfriend, Katie. The only part I look forward to during the film was the bedroom scene when they couples go to sleep. Firstly, because the camera is on a tripod so it was still and the other reason is, it is the only interesting part of the film as action and freaky-doing takes place. You'll see unknown shadow figures, door closing and opening, bedsheets being slide away and what freaks me out the most is when Katie gets drag away from her bed.
Overall, the film does contain spooky and freaky-doings that would totally give you the shiver. However, because of the long pause and unneccessary parts, the tension fades away before another disturbing image/prescene occured.
