Reviews by Akshal

Do you believe in entities? They believe in you.

Paranormal Activity
directed by Oren Peli
posted by Akshal

 


Let's start with the Do's and Don'ts.

Do see this movie if you are an avid fan of all things paranormal, ghost, demon, or other-worldly. Do you like ghost hunting? Do you hear unexplained things in the night? Do you believe in other places more terrifying and haunted than our own? See this movie.


Don't see this movie if you are looking for a solid plot, storyline, action, gore, or otherwise script based media. This movie is loosely based on true events, meaning whether the events actually happened is irrelevant because such things in one way or another could have or be happening at this very moment anywhere in the world.


The movie is rather simple. We are introduced to the two main characters, a rather happy couple, right away, and then the third shortly after, a not so happy entity. Is it a ghost, or something not human? The audience wrestles with this a bit throughout the movie but trust me, you find out soon enough. To my pleasure I found the couple to be quite likable. You develop a bond with them and genuinely care about their plight throughout the film. My only complaint is that Katie is a bit too bothered by this disturbance that seems to follow her. I wanted her to be a bit more defensive over her home and life yet she seemed to succumb to the strangeness happening around her with the weakness of a small child. Perhaps this was intended but after a while it got frustrating to witness.


Micah, the fearless husband, brought comedy and strength to this movie. He was great to watch because he brings out that fascination with the paranormal that can be found in all avid enthusiasts of the genre. He also holds the banner of pride in protecting both his home and his wife from whatever plagues them. Does he take this latter trait a bit too far though?


I gave this movie four glooms because it comes short as something you would re-watch or enjoy for a storyline, however greatly succeeds in the suspense and terror that it brings as a real-life potential in any believer. I also had to knock off one gloom for the pure annoyance of the "nauseating" home movie style filming. You will find no spoilers below because quite honestly it is a film meant to be seen once, not knowing or expecting what is to come, and enjoyed for what it has to offer.


Will this couple rid themselves of the entity that seeks to make them miserable? What does it want and why is it doing this? These are the great questions that keep you watching until the truly terrifying end.


nWoD reference Great reference material can be found in this movie to tie a "real life" feeling to your nWoD games. The closer something is to affecting us in our every day life, the more impacting and dramatic the feel of your games will have on your player base.