Paranormal Activity (2009)

The hype machine has pegged the ultra-cheap and literally homemade “Paranormal Activity” as Scariest Film of All Time. Is it? Nope. That crown is worn by “Rosemary’s Baby,” a film so terrifying it makes Charles freakin’ Gordon scary as hell. And he plays a puppy dog doctor in the film. But, I digress, “Activity” does provide biting jolting scares and is a treat to watch, and it's low-budget birth should be celebrated.

Shot in first-person, young San Diego couple Mikah Sloat and Katie Featherstone (who play “themselves”) begin to investigate the noisy whispering demon/ghost that is in their home. Katie is convinced the spirit is tied to her – and a found old photo may prove that notion. Micah straps a camera to his body, because that’s what guys do. (Really. I know some. One is named Jim. The other: Granddad.)

Much of the action takes place in the couple’s bedroom, and I mean that without being dirty. As Micah taunts the “thing,” the reactions are notched upward – swinging doors, billowing sheets, then Katie sleepwalking and then – in the best scene – literally being yanked from her bed in a scene of sudden terrifying violence.

This was all down by a guy named Oren Peli for roughly $11,000, in his own house. Wow. And that ultra cheap budget, lack of makeup and hair stylists, and the no frills acting and commonplace house all make this horror film closer to “reality” than any Hollywood big budget starring a CW actress of the month.

Peli smartly reminds us the truest scares in film are never from what’s on screen, the big CGI or gore effect, but from what we think is on screen, and what’s in our head. A creaking house and slamming door, when nerves are frayed, is freakin’ scary. (That said, let me insert a fully hypocritical statement: I dug “Drag Me to Hell” far more.)

At a brisk 86 minutes, the film has a few scenes (craft time??) that could have been lost, and one is never sure how day-trader Micca trades in the day. Definitely a film to watch in the dark. B+