Paranormal Activity

In an earlier post, I mentioned how much I wanted to see the new movie "Paranormal Activity." This movie had been building buzz for weeks, with critics and everyday moviegoers saying that it was the scariest movie they had ever seen. I had concerns due to its similarity to "The Blair Witch Project," but after seeing it twice (yes, twice) this weekend, I have to say that this is the scariest movie I have ever seen.
I am not easily scared of horror movies. Films like "Saw" (the original, not the crappy, unnecessary sequels) tend to creep me out, but never downright scare me. The original "Halloween" with Jamie Lee Curtis is the only film that ever gave me nightmares to the point where I thought Michael Myers was hiding in my bedroom closet. I never thought another movie would scare me even more. That is, until "Paranormal Activity" came out.
In "Paranormal Activity," we meet Micah and Katie, a couple who live together in a beautiful house in San Diego, California. Ever since she was eight, Katie has been haunted by spirits, or what we later find out might be a demon. Micah buys a video camera to film what goes on in the house at night to see if he can catch any of this activity on video. The result is more than Katie and Micah could have ever imagined.
In 1999, "The Blair Witch Project" took audiences by storm by pretending that it was actual footage of three teenagers who disappeared while exploring a local legend in the woods. The whole film was shot with a handheld camera so it would look like a home movie. "Paranormal Activity" is filmed in the same way, but much more effectively. I found myself disappointed with "Blair Witch" simply because it was nowhere near as scary as everyone had said. The buildup took way too long, and by the time it got scary, it ended. Never did I feel let down with "Paranormal Activity." I have never been so scared in my life, especially with the unforgettable final five minutes.
If you are looking to be scared out of your minds, especially around Halloween time, go see this movie. Do yourself a favor and see it with a big crowd so you can all scream together.