Paranormal Activity

[Heretic]

A mistake?

It opened at Number 5 with a limited release. This movie could accomplish something I've wanted to happen for three LONG years...

This movie could kill SAW...

It might kill Saw...or The Stepfather could kill them both...or Where The Wild Things Are could kill all three...or Saw could win the weekend.

My point is that the studio is a week off on all this...this past weekend should have been a week ago and next weekend should have just happened.

The movie is a huge hit, no doubt...but it will have an opening weekend take that will be divided with other opening films competing for the same audience.

 

[danoyse]

With that budget, it doesn't really matter. The only go up from here, even if they get the inevitable Blair Witch-type backlash once it goes wider.

 

[omid17]

Danoyse would you say this film was "overhyped"?

 

[CELTICPRED]

Wasn't much hype to begin with IMO.

Just those random review phrases you see in every TV spot and on posters.

 

[omid17]

Wasn't much hype to begin with IMO.

Just those random review phrases you see in every TV spot and on posters.

i know but in a tv spot they were showing like crowd reactions and it's also been on yahoo headlines for the past week or two, talking about one of the scariest films and stuff like that

 

[danoyse]

i know but in a tv spot they were showing like crowd reactions and it's also been on yahoo headlines for the past week or two, talking about one of the scariest films and stuff like that

My theater was nothing like that, but it was only about a 3rd full. I wish I had seen it with a bigger crowd.

The show before ours was more crowded, and I saw people coming out of it looking terrified. I heard one girl telling people she was still shaking and another saying she was never going to sleep that night.

When my show ended, I saw one woman who couldn't get out of there fast enough. She practically ran down the stairs. Her friends were cracking up at her.

I think it's in danger of becoming overhyped, but I did think it had some geniune scares and I didn't think it was a bad movie. I was just a little underwhelmed by it.

I can see why it's scaring the hell out of people. I jumped at least once, and the ending definitely freaked me out.

 

[omid17]

My theater was nothing like that, but it was only about a 3rd full. I wish I had seen it with a bigger crowd.

The show before ours was more crowded, and I saw people coming out of it looking terrified. I heard one girl telling people she was still shaking and another saying she was never going to sleep that night.

When my show ended, I saw one woman who couldn't get out of there fast enough. She practically ran down the stairs. Her friends were cracking up at her.

I think it's in danger of becoming overhyped, but I did think it had some geniune scares and I didn't think it was a bad movie. I was just a little underwhelmed by it.

I can see why it's scaring the hell out of people. I jumped at least once, and the ending definitely freaked me out.

thx

 

[Dark Victory]

Same thing happen with Trick R Treat. Its bound to happen with every movie that gets shelved for awhile and only a few see it and call it the best or scariest movie ever and then it gets a wide release and people bash it and call it over hyped.

Er, Trick 'r Treat was delayed because WB wasn't happy with it -- probably because it contained the death of pre-teens in a somewhat comedic matter.

As for Paranormal Activity, it was a small independant film that a major studio picked up. Anyone involved with the film should be outrageously happy that it got any type of release, limited or wide.

These are two different situations.

As for the hype, Paranormal Activity is living up to it looking at the GA's response -- even the critics' reviews. Trick 'r Treat is one of the best selling dvds right now and has an average off 4.5/5 stars on Amazon.

 

[The Dark Defender]

High School Musical 3 beat out Saw IV's opening weekend last year. I still find that hilarious.

When do kiddy movies not make more than visceral R rated horror movies?

If it goes wide the same weekend as SAW it'll most likely be #1 that weekend, but since it's hitting 1000 theatres this weekend it'll probably do around $20 mill that weekend, SAW will probably do atleast $25 mill.

I'm looking forward to this based on what I've been hearing despite not seeing a damn bit of footage yet, all I've seen is the effectively creepy poster.
I doubt it'll even be the best horror film of the month though.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

I'm not sure if the theatre I am employed at will be receiving this film.

From what I'm reading here on the Hype it seems to be mixed reviews and this film will create different feelings for everyone. I can honestly say the least film that truly scared me was the first Final Destination and the original Amityville Horror.

Nowadays horror films aren't scary because we've become numb to the violence, the scares, and the ideas aren't original anymore. I'm a sucker for a good ghost story and I hope this isn't just all hype with no scares.

 

[Poetic Chaos]

There is nothing cheap about the scares in this movie. It's very well crafted and builds tension throughout. The sound is definitely a highlight. The biggest negative for me is Micah. He's easily the least sympathetic lead I've seen all year.

BTW [BLACKOUT]Katie being dragged out of bed[/BLACKOUT] might be the most terrifying visual I've seen in years, if not ever, in a movie.

 

[danoyse]

BTW [BLACKOUT]Katie being dragged out of bed[/BLACKOUT] might be the most terrifying visual I've seen in years, if not ever, in a movie.

I jumped early on when [BLACKOUT]they could hear it moving around the house and suddenly it screamed.[/BLACKOUT]

And the part that freaked me out the most about the ending was [BLACKOUT]just hearing it coming up the stairs and getting louder and louder as it got closer[/BLACKOUT]. People were yelling holy **** in our theater.

 

[The Apatow Crew]

I see my theater is getting this and its gonna play on two screen and 10 show times alot more then any of the new releases this weekend.

 

[Hobgoblin]

I saw it last night at a theater a few towns over. It wasnt the scariest movie ever but it had a great atmosphere. If you want thrills a minute, its not for you but the tension was well done. The couple seemed SOL as soon as the hauntng began. That was what was the best part for me, these two were screwed and they knew it. The acting was pretty well done, as I came to hate the over confident boyfriend and feel bad for/scared of the girl friend. And she was hot. She had the girl next door/attainable quality but was still pretty sexy.

So its a creepy film that wont outright terrify you but will make your skin crawl. 8/10

 

[Wolfwood]

I jumped early on when [BLACKOUT]they could hear it moving around the house and suddenly it screamed.[/BLACKOUT]

And the part that freaked me out the most about the ending was [BLACKOUT]just hearing it coming up the stairs and getting louder and louder as it got closer[/BLACKOUT]. People were yelling holy **** in our theater.

Spoiler

Stomping around is the new Jaws theme in the sense that when you hear that sound, you know some nasty **** is about to go down.

 

[byte19]

lol... so true..

 

[Nightmare]

Friday baby,

Cant wait.

 

[Wolfwood]

I wonder how they would handle a sequel.

Spoiler

Would they just send the demon after a new girl or maybe follow up on this girl and show her elsewhere?

 

[SuperT]

The last 10-20 minutes of this movie were terrifying.

Overall, it was a pretty good scary movie.

 

[BlackLantern]

I had heard about this movie some time ago, so the magic is a bit lost on me...but it goes to show you don't need the budget and VFX and all that to get a point across....something lost on a lot of audiences these days

 

[Mogwai]

can't wait to see this.

 

[War Party]

I will probably just wait til this movie is released on DVD. Seems like a movie I shouldn't see with a theater full of people. It's probably better at home, alone in the dark.

 

[Nirvana]

Good God, this movie absolutely terrified me. I cannot believe that I was so terribly frightened. The last twenty minutes I was scared ****less, haha.

 

[Kane52630]

Good God, this movie absolutely terrified me. I cannot believe that I was so terribly frightened. The last twenty minutes I was scared ****less, haha.

i want to see it tonight, are you easily scared of horror films?

 

[The Apatow Crew]

I wanna see this, but I'll prolly have to wait until Tuesday, when I get paid and have more money.