The Youth Blog

Writer-Director Oren Peli

Paranormal Activity has got people all around asking whether it’s for real. The movie is made, like The Blair-Witch Project, clearly with the intention of making it all seem real. And well, it succeeds to a great extent.

 However, there are certain parts which prove that Paranormal Activity is not for real. Paranormal Activity is not based on a true story. That’s a fact. And what is it that makes you feel it can’t be a real footage?

 Consider this: the characters never go out!! Except for that one scene where the Weegee board burns up (I’ll come back to that), the characters never leave the house. Katie and Micah hardly study or work, and they never leave their house, meaning they never socialize. That’s not a real-life thing. They hardly have any friends coming over to help them in troubled times, and what’s more, they’re clearly conscious of the camera in a few scenes. The maquillage smeared across their faces was quite obvious. Normally, faces are not so made-up when relaxing or going to sleep.

So, still thinking whether Paranormal Activity is based on a true story? Let’s see.

Now coming back to the Weegee board-one can’t help laughing at the scene where the cursor moves on its own accord, followed by the weegee board catching fire. All this, of course, is accompanied by a mini-storm in the living room. Now all this clearly stretches credulity. How can that be based on a true story? Scary as it may seem, it isn’t for real.

And no, you can’t sue the production house for Paranormal Activity not being a true story, as was initially indicated in the movie- there’s a disclaimer at the end, which you could miss at the blink of an eye. Director Oren Peli got the idea for the film when he shifted to his own house, which he says is haunted, thought not as much as is shown in the movie. All this does not, in any way, undermine the element of horror. But for those who’re under the impression that it’s all for real, sorry guys, Paranormal Activity is just not true.

Remember the last time you saw a “horror” and thought to yourself-“yawn dude, give me something new,” or “man, why do they always needlessly go graphic,” or just “aaaargh….give me a break!!” Here’s your chance, dear co-horror-buffs, to redeem yourself of all that torture you’ve gone through in the recent past, watching B-grade horror movies and ending up “spookifically” un-satiated.

A Scene from Paranormal Activity

Thanks to director Oren Peli, Paranormal Activity re-defines the whole concept of spooky and plays on the curious psychic inflections so characteristic to the human mind and so important to enjoy films of this genre. The film starts with the producers thanking the Police Department of Chicago for the footage, which convinces you of the veracity of the events in the movie (Disclaimer: All that takes place in the movie may or may not be true, there’s no evidence substantiating anything about its factuality). A high-end professional camera and four actors total the whole movie.

Paranormal Activity starts in a relaxed and laid-back manner which gradually builds up the tension. The audience watches in rapt attention the unraveling of events that, thanks to the movie’s directorial genius, look as real as being shot without the intention of being turned into a movie. Believe me, this fact amplifies the horror element tenfold. It’s like something that may happen to your neighbor, your friend…or yourself.

The scenes that keep you on the edge are the night-time ones, where the clock ticks on, and so does your heart-beat, in hyper-tensive mode, as you can’t wait for what’s about to happen. Things deteriorate, and so do tempers. Micah, who initially doesn’t believe in ghosts, is driven into madness and frustration as he vows to tackle whatever it is that’s making life hell for both him and his girlfriend, Katie. They call a ghost-buster, who has “built a career on studying ghosts and how to get rid of them”, who learns that there are “negative vibes” all around the house and tells them that tackling this “thing” is the only option that they have, since Katie has been haunted ever-since she was a child. Katie’s studies and Micah’s career goes topsy-turvy as they go all out to determine what’s going wrong, and are constantly besieged and challenged by this entity. Stop me from revealing anything else, otherwise the suspense will be ruined.

Katie and Micah

It’s understandable you might go frozen with fear towards the end of it all, as the ending is what takes your breath away. It does not matter whether or not you like horror. If you like good cinema and if you like being carried away by what a movie’s got to tell then this movie is just the thing for you. Don’t miss it for anything in the world!!