 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Paranormal Activity
- Review Date: October 7, 2009
- R
- Genre: Horror
- 2009
Common Sense Media says
Indie scare fest doesn't need blood and gore to terrify.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Paranormal Activity is a real chill-up-the-spine movie that's bound to induce nightmares in plenty of young moviegoers -- even though, as with The Blair Witch Project, the big buzz around the movie (and the prospect of testing their backbone) will likely prove irresistible to many teens. The movie takes its cues from many classic horror films in that it only suggests the scary stuff rather than actually showing explicit gore and violence -- but in leaving much to the viewer's imagination, the effect is much, much more psychologically terrifying than any regular blood-fest. Expect frequent strong language (including multiple uses of "f--k" and "s--t") and some sex talk.
What's the story?
Micah (Micah Sloat) brings home a deluxe video camera and starts filming himself and his girlfriend Katie (Katie Featherston) in their large San Diego house. It seems that unseen forces have been terrifying them while they sleep, and Micah hopes to gather evidence. A psychic (Michael Bayouth) warns them that the trouble is probably caused by a demon -- one specifically targeting Katie -- and that they need professional help. But Micah wants to keep filming and work the problem out by themselves. Unfortunately, the disturbances begin to grow more and more alarming.
Is it any good?
Made for a very low budget and with minimal actors and settings, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY is an effective horror movie that's more dependent on ideas than on spectacle or gore. Like horror classics ranging from Cat People (1942) to The Haunting (1963) to The Blair Witch Project, it suggests its terrors rather than explicitly showing them, which leaves far more to the imagination -- and sends more genuine chills up the spine.
The well-paced daytime scenes are comparatively relaxing as Micah and Katie try to figure out their dilemma, but the nighttime scenes offer something spookier. The couple sleeps in a static wide shot; the bed, the doorway, and part of a hallway are visible. The scary part can be a sound or an image, but it can originate from anywhere within the frame; the movie always keeps viewers off guard. Some of the characters' behavior can grate, but that's a minor quibble in an otherwise satisfying, terrifying experience.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the concept of random violence, as in the demon's seemingly meaningless attacks on Katie. What would cause someone or something to strike out without a reason? How would this make a person feel?
How scary was the movie? What scared you most, and why? How did you feel about being scared?
What would be the effect of constantly filming your life?
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AGE
How this movie made it to the screen is unbelievable
This movie is waste of your time.....
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AGE
Such a great movie! Very creepy all the way through! And the final scene.....Woah.
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AGE
Traumatizingly Scary
Finished watching this movie like five minutes ago, which means I started it around 1:00 AM, and I will not sleep at all tonight. I am truly scared. Well made. Well written. Brillant acting. Almost too convincing. The scariest part is that this was based partially on true events.
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AGE
Bad movie choice
VERY, VERY disappointed in this one. I kept thinking that something scary was going to happen. And I waited and waited until about the last 15 to 20 minutes of the movie before it finally had anything remotely scary to take place. That's what you see on the movie trailer when everyone jumps. It was so boring during the entire movie the teenage girl next to me kept saying are we going to watch them sleep again? Then she would start texting. So how scary is this movie? You might want to think twice before spending your money on this one because I wanted mine back!
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AGE
One of the worst scary movies ever
No offense to anyone who did think this was scary, but i thought it was one of the most boring movies ever. It wasnt even scary at all. I thought it would be good since i heard from a lot of people that it was scary, but i thought it was just boring, but then again i am one of those people whose seen a lot of scary movies that they wouldnt really scare me as much anymore. I'd probably say skip this movie unless you are scared by paranormal things
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AGE
Extremely Scary!
Okay this movie does not have any blood, gore, or violence (brief gory excorcism from afar off computer screen) no sex, no drugs, no consumerism, but what it does have, is EXTREME TERROR!! Warning parents: this movie is so scary, that even you won't be able to sleep for days! I saw it at night, and it is horrifying. Other than that and the language, its okay.
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AGE
How can an insanely low budget and a few unknown actors make a scary horror movie? It worked for the Blair Witch Project. Ten years later, it works (though not as much) for Paranormal Activity. The basic plotline is simple. A woman named Kate and her boyfriend Micah are both haunted by a demon. Micah uses a video camera to tape the paranormal activity, as well as the couple searching frantically for ways to stop it. This film doesn't have a lot of physical scares (and very little gore), and when you walk out of the theater, you might not think it was scary, but the psychological terror will linger long after you've seen this film. If your city is showing this film, SEE IT. On the content side, Paranormal Activity is pretty tame for an R-rated horror film. There are a lot of f-bombs, but not as many as you'd expect. However, this is a very scary film. I've set the age for Paranormal Activity at 13+, but KNOW YOUR KID.
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AGE
Fine for Middle School and up
Not violent at all
It attempts for a creepy feeling and somewhat succeeds.
Plenty of language
No on screen deaths
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AGE
HORRIABE BAD CRAPPY WORST MOVIE EVER
WORST MOVIE EVER MAN IF THEY MAKE ANOTHER ONE IT WILL BE EVEN WORSE DONT WATCH THIS MOVIE ITS NOT SCARY AND ITS CRAPPY
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AGE
Lammmeeee... this movie was so boring up until the last 20 minutes, half the people in the theatre left before it was even half over. It was not scary at all. The only plus was the way it was filmed, sort of like clover field or the salem witch trial. It made it seem more real in a sense. The only thing inappropriate for children is the extent of the f word used by micah.
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| Studio: | Paramount Pictures |
| Director: | Oren Peli |
| Cast: | Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Michael Bayouth |
| Genre: | Horror |
| Run time: | 99 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | September 25, 2009 |
| DVD release date: | December 29, 2009 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | language |
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