Paranormal Activity reviewed by Mark Kermode

[@AtticussAtticuss]

Well I watched it late at night, alone at home. And my cat pushed open my door. So I found it quite effective. 😬😬😬

[@ThePhudD]

Also, the girl isn't a very good actress. We've seen too many homemade videos by now to know when someone isn't 'real'. Part of the thrill of Blair Witch is that the participants are clearly as unsure of what's going on and as frightened as the audience. Directors of sequels need to 'do a Freidkin' when extracting performances from their actors.

[@BigBoss7777777]

'My hair was wafting in the breeze of your giant hands' LOL

[@martynm]

Saw this at the Celluloid Screams festival in Sheffield and I thought it was very effective, creeped me out, so I think it's very dependent on the person and also how you watch it

[@cocorocks88]

Just watched this for the first time, not a horror fan and as mark says if your not a horror fan you'll be scared, it managed to get my heart beating at well above 100 a minute i suspect, found the ending slightly anti climatic thou, but it was a very effective film.

[@ciaracustard]

Personally, I don't think I can control what makes me scared or makes me laugh and I really wanted to be scared by Paranormal Activity but I really wasn't. It seemed so tedious for me.

[@Tmartin1438]

this movie dissapointed me in so many ways, the movie trailer showed people screaming, leaving the theater, etc. I almost fell asleep during this piece of crap

[@moles9999]

Look at those giant hands.

[@KiljiArslan]

I like that he mention Cannibal Holocaust, seriously now there's a film that will keep you up.

[@ezrasky3761]

The thing about the first PA is that it has conditions on how it should be seen. I saw it in a packed theatre at midnight with amazing sound quality.. and it was a great screening. Creepy and everyone was into it. Unless you can really have an atmosphere that lends to creating a tension in the air.. even at home, at night on a big screen... you don't get the full effect and can't appreciate what makes it work.

[@giantlawnmower]

Agree. Could see things I knew should be scaring me but weren't. Ending was a bit shocking but still did not gasp. Thought it was very clever... maybe too much? This response is not from being a horror film fan - can honestly say I have never paid to see another horror film except Cloverfield (if that counts). Only thing I felt was a bit motion sick form the camera work (which I thought was very good).

[@creebefu]

Does anyone else find the audio in this video unusually quiet??

[@ChanceEncounters]

Amen. There was only 12 secs of cool footage (still anyone could do) and the whole film was almost word for word 'Blair Witch' impersonation. Honestly if you give a camera to someone (else) and they run around and you occasionally scare them is that person 'really' directing the film..or merely editing the footage made by someone else. A good idea and experiment - that was never closed to being realised.

[@bonniehudson]

It just wasn't scary because I always knew what was going to happen. "Oh look they left the camera filming the Ouija board, obviously the glass is going to move, wait for it... there we go. It's moving. Oh it burst into flames. Overkill." The other people in the cinema with me at that scene were going MENTAL, one woman was crying! I mean, COME ON! What did you think was going to happen??? Silly, silly movie.

[@PsychologicalPower]

I went to watch this with my dad, and he couldn't stop laughing which made me laugh and eventually everyone in the audience was laughing at this ridicolous film.

[@trollop_7]

Me too, only the film was Joker

[@sabrinakrisb4672]

Lmao

[@wb8905]

That is psychotic

[@joecarmody5544]

Me too but it was my mum

[@heavenseek]

To the Right. That's the direction you turn the volume dial on your speaker.

[@chrishiggins7166]

The film’s issues are its writing & more scares needed, however the film feels realistic, the film’s well acted, stylish, effective & has A good ending. (78%) (4/5 stars) (positive)

[@poshzombie]

Horror movies should never be seen in the cinema unless it's empty. Audiences reduce the creep by at least 30%. Fact.

[@spencer.kissack.the.author]

Totally agree.

[@jwnj9716]

+poshzombie Damn right.

[@vipertaja]

Ooh, there's an idea...watching a good horror movie in an empty cinema. Now that would be creepy.

[@jwnj9716]

vipertaja The great cornholiyo has spoken.

[@MrPianoJames]

Source?

[@clemarochies]

@SandBarAndYou No what i said is fact in my opinion. Someone snotted over a camera lens and the characters did some running around. It made no sense and it was boring. I was really looking forward to the movie when i first heard about it but sadly it didn't live up to my expectations. Was the second one any good?

[@GnCFilms]

@MrVinushka Me too. BWP is a great movie.

[@ThePhudD]

Oh I am not an intellectual by any stretch - I'm an autodidact with a lot of time on his hands.The Freidkin ref is am allusion to Mark's (quite justified) Exorcist obsession (Billy was renowned for 'surprising' his actors with crash-bang-wallops - and in some cases - physical violence to get a 'candid' take - as I'm sure you know).

[@ZAMPAROAD]

spot on review.

[@SandBarAndYou]

@clemarochies Right, but "characters did some running around"? You could say that about any movie. What part did not make sense in Blair Witch? The second Blair Witch is way different so maybe you should give it a shot. I actually kinda liked it. It had some creepy images. Yeah you actually see things in that one.

[@kface001]

maybe disposable was not the right word. I just believe recent horror/scary films in general will never be remembered as great films and be remembered for years to come, as there is only so far you can push the genre. Well they tried 3D, and that failed.

[@xx1simon1xx]

at the time it felt fresh and new to me, i mean the way it was shot, i liked it quiet a lot... but you are right, it was very predictable

[@jinx8624]

I wasn't scared and I never watch horror movies However I enjoyed it and would recommend Ps maybe I should have watched it Without my friends and alone in the dark

[@moeezS]

There aren't that many old great scary films too. There's only John Carpenter stuff, Exorcist, and Wicker Man. Rosemary's Baby. Recently, you have Ringu and many other Asian horror films that are very memorable. The Mist was really good (shitty ending). Mum and Dad. 28 Days Later.

[@moeezS]

It scared the crap out of me, so clearly it works for certain people who live in creaky apartments or houses. The Exorcist is very un-scary, but I love it as a movie more. The only movie to scare me was the Ring. And [Rec] recently.

[@daiwalters]

Superb film. Minimalist horror at its finest.

[@102202gus]

what does everyone think of paranormal activity 2?

[@JoseCortes-on6uy]

Sounds and looks like an Andy Warhol movie. Kermode is somewhat long-winded here. And Mayo appears as disenchanted as ever. I give it a C.

[@artikel]

Hmm... the problem with judging horror films, IMO, is that fear is pretty subjective. Neither Exorcist or Blair Witch scares me in the slightest, which is not to say that it makes them poor horror films. There are horror films that have terrified me, which I´ve heard as dismissed as laughable by others. Point is, while you can still judge them as being more or less well made cinematically, the scare factor varies too much per individual.

[@lydz25]

I'm playing Scrabble and I have the letters QIFF in wait .. Thanks Mark! I might not have thought of it otherwise!

[@Tbass17]

Has anyone seen the version of this film where they go online and see the exorcism video? That was pretty creepy...

[@gunsmithbasic]

minor spoiler: I found the scene with the photo in the attic quite chilling. Too bad PA2 ruined it

[@MichaelLeroi]

i saw the original online version. never saw the theatrical version but i did see the stupid ending they tagged onto it with the fucking adobe after effects demon face

[@ellbo2]

I thought this film, after second time of watching, is better in memory.

[@Guedingen]

@ cpmkw: I know what you mean. Yet I think there is a genuine love and knowledge of cinema which shines over the silliness. 9 times out of ten (apart from his admiration for Terry Gilliam) I agree with him.

[@kalsolarUK]

I agree..it was fine until the "actors" turned up in it who were so clearly acting it was painful.

[@psynno1]

I agree. Horror/ghost fans have seen better, particularly from the Japanese etc. Most people haven't seen these, or the BBC MR James ghost stories, or Ghostwatch, which is much better, apart from the "acting", which gave it away. Paranormal was good, but definitely not as scary as people are saying. Showing the footprints and Ouija board bit was a let down, and the final CGI shot. It doesn't have the power of Blair Witch. Nowhere near The Exorcist experience in the cinema...

[@jc13jach3]

Paranormal Activity is the #1 worst film I've ever watched. Even bad movies in general can be decent, e.g. 'Dungeons & Dragons' 'Troll 2'. Really far up there with the crap factor, it's relentlessly boring. Which is a grand shame as I had faith in this film after all the hype that surrounded release at the time.

[@TheSleathable]

Spot on Mark

[@moeezS]

Never heard of it.

[@kface001]

hmm I both agree and disagree. I havent actually been, what you would call 'scared' by a film before other than when i was very young. this however did genuinely frighten me in parts, i cant explain why. I do agree with the comment that this is disposable. I don't think a new 'scary' film will ever not be.

[@markhillary]

Have to say I agree entirely with Mark on this. I sat there and watched it almost yawning, waiting for something remarkable as I had seen the hype. I'd predicted the end from early on in the film, probably from the multiple references to other movies. Not scary. Not well acted. Not impressive - money back please!

[@patrick2976]

I understand what they were trying to do and in parts it nearly worked for me. However, overall I found the film boring and ponderous. Rule number one is that you've got to buy into the characters and I didn't. I had no real interest in what happened to them. As a result I watched the film with a mild sense of interest and nothing more. I did like the idea of the girl standing next to the bed just looking at her boyfriend asleep whilst the clock did a fastforward.

[@ThePhudD]

It's a lot scarier on DVD, at night in the house alone.

[@EldritchSquiggle]

If you don't agree with his views and dislike his assessments of films, why listen to his reviews?

[@ChanceEncounters]

I wanted to *wink* at a fellow indie filmmaker that made it, good on you! So you go in shut out whatever everyone else is saying and draw your own conclusion. 'Time' Magazine did we see the same film? Anyone could have done this, they used the hype engine and really it could of been anyone that did this...

[@NeverAloneForever]

@chanceie12 That made me laugh. Having a clear mind made me not take it seriously. Worst ending ever cracked me up, too.

[@ChanceEncounters]

... Really i should of known by just seeing one person in the audience coil in fear (probably hadn't seen anything scary before) and pretty much nothing of the film. I would honestly say i have seen better eps. of 'Ghost Hunters' and generally more creeped out.

[@clemarochies]

Nothing happened in Blair witch lol at least in Paranormal Activity something happened!! Fair dos tho it's his opinion :)

[@SandBarAndYou]

@clemarochies I do accept that. I was giving my opinion. Not all opinions are stated as subjective even though all ARE subjective. In fact many opinions are stated as objective facts. You said "nothing happened in Blair Witch"(objective) where you could have said "nothing happened in BW that impressed me"(subjective). So we're both guilty of stating opinions like facts(which is what makes them sound belligerent to the overly-sensitive).

[@DavosJamos]

@creebefu ... how creepy... who could have interfered with it... there were no humans in the edit suite at the time of upload.... DO DO DO DO

[@towermoss]

The original ending was quite scary, when the guy runs downstairs off camera to rescue his woman. I wasn't impressed with the new ending though.

[@dirtymint]

Does anyone else feel that the Mark is speaking too, just really isnt interested? Maybe just me.

[@moeezS]

You've gotta admit, sounds of a ghost running up the stairs of your house would be goddamn scary, right? Or running across your bedroom door, and slamming it shut? That's the best scares in the movie, when there's amazing work with the sound. And how they did the effects, like dragging the girl outside the room?

[@robaquarian]

i dont watch horror movies cause they mostly suck. i thought this was scary.

[@moeezS]

The acting was great, what movie did you watch? The chemistry was unmistakable. You've gotta to be an elitist if you demand for money back after watching a movie. It's not the theatre's fault, it's your fault.

[@TURBODORK2]

I thought the sound effects were unbelievably creepy , something missing from the boring sequels

[@Retroided]

I think the subtlety works massively in it's favor, I terrified my gf by telling her it was real documentary footage - she's a massive horror fan but still managed not to get a good nights sleep days after watching. Added some believability to it myself by saying by being skeptical (as if it were "real" footage) and my PC going to sleep at exactly the point it finished probably helped as well... If you believe in ghosts and can buy into the premise then I'd say go for it, for me there wasn't enough going on to forget that I was being manipulated and I just found it interesting. Sadly nothing really scares me, it actually is frustrating, not even jump scares have any effect.

[@HistoritorJimaldus]

Retroided have you tried the Babadook

[@SandBarAndYou]

@clemarochies What? LOL. No, lots happened in the Blair Witch. I agree with Mark except where he explains that PA did things well(even though he wasn't scared by it all). I would say I wasn't scared by it all BECAUSE it did nothing well. The acting was atrocious. Seeing objects in a movie move by themselves cannot scare by itself. There's got to be an air of believability to back it up. And when the acting sucks, believability is down to zero.

[@moeezS]

"disposable", hmm, I don't quite think so. This movie is catching wildfire around friend circles, especially around students. Showing it to your roommates is always great ;)

[@clemarochies]

@Homer20065305111 Of course i watched Blair Witch why else would i comment about it?

[@fredericg54]

Blair Witch Project was the 1st, [Rec] got it right, PA was a disappointing mess I'd rather watch a great film like The Exorcist or [Rec]

[@WFC1985]

hit the nail on the head, this film just bored me

[@MTCEFC]

@Tmartin1438 There were genuinely people screaming and running out of the screening before me and a date went in to see it. Including one hysterical woman who recognised someone she knew in the queue and spoiled the ending for everyone ffs.

[@MTCEFC]

@@butterflymoon6368 Sexism?! 🤣 It was a woman, who was hysterical?! 🤷‍♂️ 🤨

[@eddywards84]

'you have got big hands havent you'

[@chanceie12]

since when did i say that?

[@John27346]

What's the point in making a video webcast of a radio show?

[@soundslave]

Ah, the "you're just too stupid to understand what makes the film good" line.

[@chanceie12]

shame the film went over your head.

[@bonniehudson]

It really wasn't.

[@clemarochies]

@SandBarAndYou Well the fact is u don't know everything about everything. I have my opinion. I thought PA was a good movie and Blair Witch was boring. Just accept that other peoples opinions differ from your own.

[@yakedup]

mayo looks well bored

[@azz06urro]

Terrible horror movie, I dozed off twice.

[@Tmartin1438]

this movie dissapointed me in so many ways, the movie showed people screaming, leaving the theater, etc. I almost fell asleep during this piece of crap