It’s being called the scariest film of the decade and with good reason. “Paranormal Activity” has a heat attached to it that’s got all of Hollywood talking. Its grassroots campaign to open wide was successful; the film will take its art house circuit to the bigger screens this Friday. I caught it last night in a sold out theater and then unsuccessfully tried to put myself to sleep. It’s that effective.
The “mockumentary” style horror flick has not reinvented the genre. Hard to believe, but yes, Blair Witch Project was 10 years ago. Enter a few questionable hand-held thematic experiences with sinister undertones throughout the decade and we are finally rewarded with a horrific masterpiece that stays with you like bad credit. I mean, this film officially scared the crap out of Steven Spielberg which is why he became a huge part of getting it distributed.
So what’s the appeal? Besides the silent rumble of something demonic traipsing about the nondescript suburban setting or the edge of your seat pacing, it’s the couple at the heart of the movie, Katie and Micah. Generation Y, here’s your lesson in love, courtesy of a lovable and annoyingly cutesy pair of kids who are hopelessly devoted to each other. But does that love remain even if there’s a beast raging within the stucco McMansion?
The film is not only a visual essay of primal fear, it’s an in-depth look at a relationship being tested beyond belief. Never in horror have we seen a more realistic couple facing insurmountable odds with no reasonable outlet. I’m gonna warn you now, SPOILERS AHEAD.
You learn early on that the two are “engaged to be engaged” which is why they’ve bought the home. About Katie, she’s a pretty brunette with an average sized body and a double chin. (Thank you, casting!) Katie obviously has an incredibly emotional response to the entity that threatens her very livelihood, and what you witness is merely a woman trying to be strong and in control — even though she has to play nursemaid to a nagging condition like demonic possession. Add on top of that the guilt of not telling her boyfriend about her situation until they were ensconced in their cul-de-sac.
Micah even in all his brutishly antagonistic glory, provides her with a level of support that earns him a high-five, in the beginning. He investigates every sound and event that the enigma creates. But while many are calling foul on his overall response, his ultimate reaction is what most macho men do: sustain a proactive suspension of disbelief. Of course there is a reasonable answer for that guttural growling that shakes the house in that dead hour between dusk and dawn. With my expensive video camera we will prove its existence! But if you were dating someone being followed by an entity, how long would you stay? More importantly, would you tussle with the devil for love?
Micah forgets, somewhere between the fifth and sixth night of the drama, that this issue is bigger than Katie. It’s bigger than Micah, but he never lets go and moves into a more serious direction. He’s too excited about the big reveal. Maybe the entity was a metaphor for something bigger – like marriage. You are sucked into not only the actual demonic disturbance, but their day to day is enthralling. Don’t get me wrong, it’s all kinds of unfortunate what these two go through.
Yes it’s scary – but it’s also a slice of life in the minutiae of co-habitation and all that comes with it.The “playing house” aspect is never lost on the viewer and it’s just as scary as the thing that’s creeping into their room every night. When an alternative reality starts affecting your reality, where do your limits go?
The couple experiences every single emotion associated with a haunting, and what happens when you are tested by a third party: the loss of intimacy, the fear of commitment (if they marry – the haunting becomes both of their problems for life), the desire to run and simultaneously feeling trapped. The couple slowly devolves into the swirl of relationship muck that trails any situation that’s just sucking the life force out of everything — too bad this one has cloven hooves.
See it for a genuine scare and be sure to ask your partner to level with you, would they stay or would they go?
Photo courtesy of paranormalmovie.com.