Paranormal Activity (2009) Review – A Masterclass in Low-Budget DIY Dread
Paranormal Activity: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A masterfully minimalist and profoundly effective entry into the found footage sub-genre that successfully weaponises the mundane silence of suburban life. Paranormal Activity (2009) succeeds by leaning into the “less is more” philosophy, allowing the viewer’s imagination to fill in the terrifying gaps left by its unseen antagonist. Katie Featherston delivers a remarkably naturalistic performance, grounding the film’s escalating absurdity in a palpable sense of historical trauma. While the film’s reliance on infrasound and periodic jump-scares may feel formulaic to modern audiences, the sheer technical achievement of its $15,000 production remains staggering. Its brilliance lies in its relatability; it targets the universal fear of the dark and the unexplained noises that haunt our own homes at 3:00 am. This 3.5 star effort is a landmark of independent cinema that proved horror doesn’t need a massive budget to leave a lasting psychological scar.
Details: Director: Oren Peli | Cast: Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat | Runtime: 1h 26m | Release Date: 2009
Best for: Fans of low-budget indie horror, found footage aficionados, and those who appreciate slow-burn suspense over gore.
Worth noting: The original version featured a much more ambiguous ending, but Paramount insisted on a more visceral, action-oriented finale for the wide theatrical release.
Where to Watch: VOD, Amazon🛒
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
(A masterfully restrained and technically impressive found footage hit that effectively transforms domestic boredom into a suffocating and undeniably chilling supernatural nightmare.)
Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are taking a look at the 2009 sleeper hit Paranormal Activity.
Table of Contents
A found footage phenom
Paranormal Activity was an enormous sleeper hit back in the autumn of 2009. It first saw screenings at festivals a couple of years before in 2007. The movie wasn’t picked up by a publisher so the director, Oren Peli, had to sit on his hands and wait. The wait, however, paid off as the movie was eventually picked up by Paramount Pictures. A new ending was shot costing over 10 times the initial $15,000 budget the movie was made on, and the rest is history. It went on to become the second most profitable movie ever and a lot of people loved it.
“Paranormal Activity was an enormous sleeper hit. It went on to become the second most profitable movie ever, proving that a novel idea could blur the line between fiction and reality.”
The story is very simple. A couple believe their home is haunted so purchase video cameras to document it. As time goes on, the haunting proves to be very real and the situation escalates dramatically. What made this movie work so well was the lack of irony in which it was approached. It was filmed on basic cameras but treated completely seriously. It was a novel idea because it blurred the line between fiction and reality for the viewer.
People believed this actually happened. There were never any ridiculous looking CGI demons onscreen. Just an unseen force tormenting the couple. It seemed feasible and people bought into it hook line and sinker. As we walked out of the cinema when we first watched it, some teen girls walked near us talking about how scared they were that “it” was still out there. This movie tapped into people’s heads in a way few other movies managed to do. It also lead to a whole bunch of copycats, too.
Was Paranormal Activity actually good?
When considering found footage as a sub-genre, it’s hard to pick out the good from the bad. There have been some fantastic examples but, speaking as an avid found footage fan, there has been some garbage. Found footage offers an opportunity for aspiring directors to get together with some friends and knock out some absolute trash hoping for easy profit. This further divides horror fans and makes the sub-genre, as a whole, look bad.
Paranormal Activity, however, as the movie that kicked off a whole generation of copycats, is actually pretty good. We open with Katie (Katie Featherston) and Micah (Micah Sloat), who have recently moved into a new home, speaking to a camera. Katie claims she has been haunted by an evil presence since she was a child. We are to believe some weird stuff has been going on in the home so Micah sets up cameras to document it.
Almost immediately the cameras capture noises and bizarre events. Katie visits a psychic who suggests Katie is being haunted by a demon. The psychic advises that she contact a demonologist to make contact with, and rid Katie of, the demon. From here on out Katie and Micah are subject to a number of increasingly terrifying events, all of which are documented on cameras placed around the house.
A simple idea
It’s the simplicity of Paranormal Activity that works so well. Knowing of the budget and filming constraints, Oren Peli decided to keep the story simple. There are no convoluted events requiring specific special effects. The cast of characters is small and very contained. There are only a couple of filming locations, and there is only one prevailing theme.
This leads to all of the events being presented in an entirely believable fashion. Much of the scares are based around the characters hearing things. We hear bangs and footsteps, the characters sense a presence, things move without any obvious reason. It is all very effective and very much inline with descriptions real people have shared about hauntings. The closer the events stick to real life, the more effective it is.
“It’s the simplicity that works so well. There are no convoluted events requiring specific special effects; the cast is small, contained, and the theme is singular.”
Most people have heard unexplained noises in the night. Many people have experienced what they would describe as hauntings. Hell, most of us have had something move without remembering moving it ourselves. Whether you believe or you don’t, this style of filmmaking is impactful and works really well. There is also heavy use of infrasound to keep the viewer unsettled. The infrasound also acts as something of an audible clue to upcoming events.
Sometimes uneven
This is to be expected with the small budget and time constraints. Sometimes Paranormal Activity is a little uneven. Sure, you are never left feeling bored but there is a feeling of routineness to the scares. They roll around in a predictable fashion and it is sometimes very easy to see what is coming. Paranormal Activity was marketed as being something unique and never before seen. The truth is it is a fairly by the numbers haunting/possession horror movie.
There are certain parts where the techniques used to film a scene are pretty apparent. A good example is the obvious use of magnets on a Ouija planchette. These are never big issues but can remind you that you are watching a low budget movie filmed with limited techniques. Added to this is the reliance on jump scares to keep you on edge.
Acting is a bit of a mixed bag. Katie Featherston is generally really good and very believable. I was not the biggest fan of Micah Sloat, however. I felt like he overacted and was far too aware of playing up to the camera. He was, for all intents and purposes, the cameraman so perhaps this was intentional. Maybe he is playing up to the camera to alleviate some of the awkwardness of the situation.
“What the creators managed to achieve with so little money is nothing short of incredible. If you can look past the hype, there is a movie that is easy to enjoy and appreciate.”
Let’s remember, as well, that this movie was filmed with no script. Scenarios were given to the actors and they were told to react. It’s hard not to be impressed with what they achieved.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- Minimalist Execution: The film proves that high tension can be achieved through nothing more than a well-placed door and some clever foley work.
- Katie Featherston: Delivers a believable and sympathetic performance that provides the emotional core for the entire supernatural ordeal.
- Atmospheric Dread: The clever use of infrasound and the “nightly” structure builds a cumulative sense of fear that lingers long after the credits.
The Bad
- Predictable Rhythm: The “Night 1, Night 2” structure eventually becomes formulaic, making it easy to anticipate exactly when the next scare is coming.
- Micah Sloat: Certain scenes feel overacted, with the character’s reaction to the haunting occasionally coming across as arrogant or unnatural.
- Budget Limitations: A few practical effects – like the Ouija board sequence – suffer from obvious low-budget techniques that break the immersion.
The Ugly: The Footprints. A simple, low-tech effect using talcum powder that remains one of the film’s most visceral and hauntingly effective moments.
Should You Watch Paranormal Activity?
Yes, especially if you enjoy seeing what can be done with limited resources. It is a 3.5 star film that represents a turning point in modern horror. While the hype of 2009 has faded, the technical achievement remains, and the scares are still effective for those who appreciate atmospheric dread over gore. It is a smart, technical, and ultimately fun experience that rightfully earned its place in the history books. Just don’t blame the movie for the wave of bad copycats that followed.
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Horror is a genre that thrives thanks to indie film makers and low budget creators. At Knockout Horror, we firmly believe that every movie that we review deserves a fair fight. That's why we grade on a curve. Our star ratings are all about context, judging a film on what it achieves with the resources it has.
A 4-star rating for a scrappy indie horror made for $10,000 is a testament to its ingenuity and raw power. A 4-star rating for a $100 million blockbuster means it delivered on its epic promises. We don't compare them side-by-side; we celebrate success in every weight class, from the back-alley brawler to the heavyweight champion. Please keep this in mind when considering star ratings.
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