Paranormal Activity

R

Released Oct 16, 2009

1 hr. 26 min.

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

List

83%

211 Reviews

Tomatometer

57%

250,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Soon after moving into a suburban tract home, Katie (Katie Featherston) and Micah (Micah Sloat) become increasingly disturbed by what appears to be a supernatural presence. Hoping to capture evidence of it on film, they set up video cameras in the house but are not prepared for the terrifying events that follow.

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Critics Consensus

Using its low-budget effects and mockumentary method to great result, Paranormal Activity turns a simple haunted house story into 90 minutes of relentless suspense.

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Dan R

2007's 'Paranormal Activity' spawned an entire franchise of sequels and set the standard for found footage films beyond what 'The Blair Witch Project' had built back in 1999. SYNOPSIS: 'After moving into a suburban home, a couple becomes increasingly disturbed by a nightly demonic presence.' How I'd never seen this film before is clearly an error on my behalf because this film really is that good. It's simple and low budget but it's delivered in a manner it's almost perfect. The suspense and horror feels so natural it genuinely feels like you're watching something real. The special effects are especially well done I found myself rewatching scenes to see how they're done. Full of jump scares, 'Paranormal Activity' is a film that'll haunt every squeaky floor board you'll hear afterwards. A real spine chiller. I guess I'm watching all the sequels now! 9/10

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/29/24

Full Review

Jacob B

Great movie! Great concept for a horror film. Well achieved sense of creepiness and you are left generally unsettled at all times.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/24/24

Full Review

Gavin C

A poorly made bore-fest spliced together with uninteresting ghost moments and terrible characters.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/02/24

Full Review

Alec B

Its simplicity is its greatest asset. Hard to say how much of the underlying "Mythology" was actually figured out but it feels like the movie is always hinting at bigger stuff without getting too far into the weeds.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/28/24

Full Review

Ben T

Made in the style of home camera video footage, the film proves you don't need blood or gore to scare people. Instead, a spooky storyline does the job just fine. At first, the events are small, such as doors slowly opening & closing on their own, but soon start to threaten the home owners very lives. A series of sequels of varying quality followed.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/19/24

Full Review

Nicolas F

"Paranormal Activity" is a testament to the power of captivating storytelling and minimalistic filmmaking. From the outset, the movie grabs your attention, holding it firmly even if skepticism is your natural stance. The film's strength lies not in elaborate special effects or exotic locations, but in its ability to weave an engaging narrative with what seems like very little. The actors deliver solid performances, portraying characters that are at times foolish, misguided, and frustratingly human. This portrayal makes them relatable, allowing viewers to easily identify with their experiences and reactions, despite the supernatural context. Their authenticity adds a layer of investment to the suspense, drawing you deeper into the plot. What is truly remarkable about "Paranormal Activity" is its ode to creativity. It's astounding how the film manages to entertain and maintain interest with such a pared-down approach. The setting is simple, the effects are minimal, yet the impact is significant, proving that ingenuity can triumph over budget constraints. However, the film may not satisfy those in search of genuine terror. Its predictability and the fun, rather than frightening, nature of many events, dilute the potential for real scares. While there is a buildup of tension towards the end, it lacks the disturbing edge that defines more intense horror movies. In conclusion, "Paranormal Activity" offers a refreshing cinematic experience. It showcases how creativity and a compelling narrative can create an entertaining film, even with limited resources. While it might not leave you checking under the bed at night, it's a pleasant and intriguing watch that celebrates the essence of storytelling in film.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/24

Full Review

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Oren Peli

Director

Katie Featherston

Katie

Micah Sloat

Micah

Amber Armstrong

Amber

Mark Fredrichs

Psychic

Ashley Palmer

Girl on Internet

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Show More Cast & Crew

Paranormal Activity: Official Clip - We Need Your Help

1:11

Paranormal Activity: Official Clip - Powder Footsteps

2:11

Paranormal Activity: Official Clip - How Did She Die?

1:53

Paranormal Activity: Official Clip - Dragged Out of Bed

2:04

Paranormal Activity: Official Clip - I Feel it Breathing on Me

1:41

Paranormal Activity: Official Clip - The Sheets Move

2:10

Paranormal Activity: Official Clip - Slamming the Door

2:06

Paranormal Activity: Official Clip - Paranormal Ending

2:13

Paranormal Activity: Official Clip - Ouija Board on Fire

2:11

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Julie and Brandy

Autostraddle

it was awesome in the way that it was extremely, horrendously and torturously stressful... worth it.

Sep 1, 2021

Full Review

Shubhra Gupta

The Indian Express

[Paranormal Activity] is way more scary than Blair Witch because it takes the old conceit of things that go bump into the night, and brings it slyly into a well-to-do, middle class suburb.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 17, 2019

Full Review

Deborah Ross

The Spectator

This is a scarily well-made scary little film, although it certainly isn't flawless... But the acting is supremely naturalistic and, for such a small-scale project, it does have an amazingly heightened effect.

Aug 30, 2018

Full Review

Emilie Black

JoBlo's Movie Network

The cast is solid, the directing is great, the set-up works, the scares are built up just right.

Dec 14, 2023

Full Review

Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

Its strengths come in its subtlety, it's a roller-coaster ride that audiences buy into knowing full well that the narrative will take a backseat to being frightened with effective jump-scares.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 22, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Like a rollercoaster, it’s a temporary buzz that fades as soon as the ride is over.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 30, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Soon after moving into a suburban tract home, Katie (Katie Featherston) and Micah (Micah Sloat) become increasingly disturbed by what appears to be a supernatural presence. Hoping to capture evidence of it on film, they set up video cameras in the house but are not prepared for the terrifying events that follow.

Director: Oren Peli
Executive Producer: Steven Schneider
Screenwriter: Oren Peli
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Blumhouse
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 16, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $107.9M

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