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Paranormal Activity

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 16.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Indie scare fest doesn't need blood and gore to terrify.

Themes in this movie include:   emotional abuse

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 16–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The main characters' plight is unexplained -- they don't seem to have done anything to "deserve" what they go through. Unfortunately, they also can't agree on the methods or approaches to deal with it, and so most of their work is for naught. But they demonstrate some definite bravery in standing up to the beast.
  • Role models :

    Micah isn't much of a role model, despite his bravery in trying to face and fight the demon. He constantly disagrees and argues with Katie and often refuses to listen when she asks him for help. He tries to fight the demon in an aggressive, physical way, even though it's clear that it's not going to work. But on the plus side, Katie exhibits definite courage, strength, and good humor in the face of her harrowing problem.
  • Violence:

    A simmering violence constantly threatens but rarely cuts loose onscreen -- there's actually very little physical violence, with only the tiniest hint of blood or gore. Micah and Katie argue often.
  • Sex:

    A young adult couple that lives together talks and jokes about sex fairly often. They both walk around the house in sleeping clothes, consisting of boxer shorts, T-shirts, and tank tops. A female guest shows off her bare midriff. The camera sometimes emphasizes Katie's ample cleavage. The couple has sex one time, but it happens off camera.
  • Language:

    Very liberal use of "f--k" in all its variations, including name-calling (directed toward the invading demon). Other words include "s--t," "ass," "hell," "damn," and "Oh my God." Micah raises his middle finger, twice, in a joking manner.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    The couple opens a bottle of wine at dinnertime in an early scene, but we don't really see them drinking it.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Paranormal Activity

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.

Did this review help you decide?

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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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    I personally don't understand why people hate this movie so much, I really appreciated that it wasn't gore and sex over and over and over like most horror flicks out there today. I thought the characters were clever and the director knew how to use the actors to their ability. However, while the plot was amazing, the scary lacked.....alot. This seemed to be overhyped to a extreme extent. This wasn't scary enough for me and most likely not for you. A+ for effort though.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title on for age 15 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message

    AWSOME AND SCARY!

    I love this movie! I went to go see it with my best friend and my sister and her boyfriend! I wish the ending would have been better but otherwise it was really really good! I did however have a panic attack at the end but otherwise it was good! Cannot wait until the movie comes out!

  3. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 1.0

    WORST MOVIE ON THE PLANET

    I DON'T GIVE THIS MOVIE ANY STARS BUT THE LOWEST IS 1 STAR SO I HAD TO PICK SOMETHING. IT WAS THE WORST MOVIE EVER, I ALMOST FELL ASLEEP WHILE WATCHING IT AND I TRULY HAVE NOT IDEA HOW THIS MOVIE IS MAKING MILLIONS....BORING AND DULL....DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY!!!!

  4. I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 1.0

    Don't Waste Your Money

    This is one dumb movie...how did it make it to the screen...

  5. I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 1.0

    How this movie made it to the screen is unbelievable

    This movie is waste of your time.....

  6. I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 1.0

    I want my time back!

    Dumbest movie ever. Can I have my money back? Can I have my time back? You can fool us once (Blair Witch) but as a society, please tell me you're not so stupid as to be fooled twice. I actually laughed at the end, it was so bad!

  7. I rate this title off for age 9 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    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!

  8. I rate this title off for age 5 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    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.

  9. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    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.

  10. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    Sucks

    not scary at ALL

  11. I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 1.0

    boooo

    this movie was so bad. it wasnt scary at all the last 20 minutes were ok but thats it. dont waste your time

  12. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Excessive consumerism

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    crazy move

    i love this moves so much im going to see it agin

  13. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 3.0

    Pretty good scary movie with no gore!! Fun!

    Hey, BLJ75 -- take it easy. "Wumb" is a ten year old...if you were trying to find out about "sexual activity" in the movie, perhaps it would have been more sensible to just read the adult reviews. Pick on someone your own size, lol! As for this movie, my 13 year old loved it, as did I. A great movie to see before Halloween!!!

  14. I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 5.0

    ***SPOILER ALERT ON THE POST BELOW THIS ONE*** Just wanted to put that here for others who don't want to have the movie totally ruined by reading the post by wumb below. I'm going to see this movie today with my 13-year-old son and wanted to make sure there wasn't any major sexual content. I didn't, however, expect to find the "surprise" ending laid out for me in a review. Thanks a lot wumb. How about next time you say at the beginning that your review contains spoilers so others who haven't seen the movie don't read your review. I mean... that's the #1 reason people are coming to this site... to see how the movie rates BEFORE they go and see it.

  15. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0

    love it. It was 1 of the best scary movies I have seen in a long time, It had you ready to jump at every moment .

  16. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    This movie is pretty creepy. It's a good fright ride with some pretty good humor to boot throughout. Not the scariest movie I've ever seen though. The REAL scares come after you leave the theater and go home to your dark, empty house. They continue as you go to bed and can't get the images out of your head. If I saw this movie as a kid, it would have scared me to death. All that said, I struggle a bit with these movies, I'm not sure it helps us to look at demons and the like so flippantly. The cussing was fairly pervasive, although I do have to say that although you definitely notice it's there, it doesn't stand out as completely inappropriate as it does with so many other movies. The cussing seems to be situationally appropriate, although truth be told I don't personally think there's a reason to use such language. There is very little blood, or anything else for that matter. I give it four stars, and I'd probably go 5 stars if it weren't for all the cussing and the ridiculous (although completely obligatory) final 0.5 seconds of the movie. The end is amazing, it's just the VERY last shot that I thought was stupid. haha

  17. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    Good for ages 7 and up not scary at all

    It was a good movie exept I went to see it because I thought it was going to be scary. But it wasnt. This movie is suspenceful, but nothing else.

  18. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    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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