New thriller 'Paranormal Activity' gets it right with horror, not gore

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In 2008, when studios were deciding whether or not to market “Paranormal Activity,” Steven Spielberg claimed his DVD copy of the film was haunted. He said his bedroom door inexplicably locked from the inside not long after watching it, forcing him to call a locksmith. He returned the disc to studios in a garbage bag, wanting it nowhere near him.

“Paranormal Activity” is a film that reaches its climax as the credits roll. The climax happens in real life, a feeling of paranoia that stings your mind on the car ride home and stings your gut as you crawl under the sheets to sleep. The subject matter has nothing to do with a chainsaw-wielding psychopath or a disgruntled madman murderer, but with something a human being is completely powerless against. It’s one of the best horror films I’ve ever seen.

Filmed in one week and made with a skimpy budget of $15,000, first-time writer-director Oren Peli tells the story of Katie (Katie Featherston) and Micah (Micah Sloat), a young couple who have just moved to a suburb in San Diego.

The movie begins with Micah purchasing an expensive camera as a way to document the strange noises and happenings Katie has experienced around the new house. Micah, a sarcastic bro-ski of sorts, teases Katie at first, making it clear that he doesn’t fear any ghost or demon.

In order to capture footage of the potentially paranormal occurrences, Micah sets the camera on a tripod in the corner of their bedroom each night and lets the tape roll while they sleep.

A good chunk of the movie takes place in this shot, with the couple’s bed on the right side of the screen and, on the left, an open bedroom door revealing the top of a stairwell in the distance.

Katie believes something has been following her since she was 8 years old, revealing to a psychic (Michael Bayouth) that her house mysteriously burnt down when she was a child. The psychic, who claims the situation is out of his expertise, warns the couple not to antagonize or disrupt the entity, as doing so would cause things to get worse.

And we see it get worse. There wouldn’t be a movie if things didn’t get worse, but luckily there surprisingly are few “why would the characters do that?” moments.

The couple is reluctant to call for outside help partly because of Micah’s masculine pride and partly because of the stories they’ve read about exorcisms and seances making living conditions even more dangerous.

Micah is an intriguing character because of his struggle with curiosity and manliness. He buys a Ouija board in an attempt to communicate with the entity and bravely shouts, “Is there anything you want to say to me?” while recording in the bedroom.

Watching his big-headedness peel away piece by piece — to the point where he’s crying out in horror — parallels what Peli hopes to do to his audience.

Like “Cloverfield” and “The Blair Witch Project,” “Paranormal Activity” uses a handheld camera to tell its tale. The film feels real, thanks to the performances and simple focus of the story. There are only four characters in the entire film.

Scary movies usually don’t toy with my emotions; “Hostel,” “The Last House on The Left,” “Saw II” — all more humorous than anything.

The difference here is Peli recognizes gore and horror are not one in the same. Gore is cheap; horror is something that lingers with you, something that you have no control over.

“Paranormal Activity” invites you, challenges you with exponential increments of suspense.

Each time the film seems to have reached its potential, it ascends one step higher, repeatedly taking what you thought you’d figured out and flipping it upside down.

The victory in the thrill is that it’s universal. Everyone sleeps at night, everyone hears strange sounds from time to time, and everyone has an opinion about the paranormal.

The thought will enter your mind. “What would I see if I filmed myself sleeping at night?”

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