You know, so much has been said about this film by so many people that the only new thing I can add are my own thoughts on Oren Peli's surprise smash 'Paranormal Activity'.
Look, I really enjoyed it. It was by no means original, and it was by no means revolutionary in terms of the demonic possession/menace genre, but I feel it cops worse flack that it deserves. For one thing, considering the very very modest budget of this movie, Peli ensured every one of his dollars were well invested. He didn't have the technology to whip out the fright effects that the second one had, but he still had a lot of tricks up his sleeve. While there are slighly CGI manipulations in the movie, it doesn't take a front seat in the proceedings. The only major effects that can be seen throughout this movie are the actors, Katie Featherstone and Micah Sloat. Peli really did strike gold with these two because off the bat, they shared a genuine sense of chemistry in how they talked and acted around each other. They didn't so much play up their characters to the camera, but more to each other. They really did act like a couple who had been together for a long time- their daily interactions, how they joked around with each other and finally how they coped under the closing fist of the demon. I felt Katie and Micah (the characters) were real human beings rather than caricatures. Now, I know the characters really divided audiences- some folks have said that Micah was a jerk for not taking the threat of the demon seriously (and yeah, he does quite a few things to infuriate it despite Katie's warnings to stop), while others have said Katie is the one to blame (like she should have told him about her little 'problem' of the demon following her every where she goes... well okay, but how would you explain THAT on the first date?). And of course, there are some people who can't see the point of view of either (to which I say, how about you find yourself a demon to hunt you, see how apathetic you are then)
There have been complaints along the lines of, ya know, "Why don't they just move out?" but it's not as simple as that- as Katie explains, this demon has been haunting her all of her life, where she goes, it goes, and she has tried to cope for so long. While I was in the former Micah-hater club, I never found either character to be in the right or wrong- when you are dealing with demonic entities, forces beyond your comprehension, what CAN you do? If this demon's hold is so strong that to summon an exorcist will only enhance it's negative influence, how do you act? How do you protect the ones you love? This is all purely metaphorical discussion, but this point I want to bring up against these points that have been made in previous reviews/arguments.
Another thing that struck me that despite the fact it loses it's initial fright factor after your first viewing (unless you have a weak stomach), the eeriness is still prevalent, and it's not necessarily JUST about the demoinc bits- one of my favourite sequences is when Micah wakes up in the middle of the night to find Katie downstairs in the backyard sitting on the chairswing in a drowsy trance-like state. There are no funny noises or shadowy figures rushing past the camera, it's just this strange, off-putting behaviour exhibited by Katie. We know it's the demon that made her do it, but she isn't spewing projectile vomit or talking in strange tongues- we can only guess how she got there, but we never know. I LOVED that. Another favourite- Micah finding a photograph of young Katie in the attic only for Katie to contend that this picture had been burned in a fire in her youth- if that is the case, where did the demon get this picture and why was it in the attic of all places? Was that it's lair or was it a malignant joke on it's part to throw the couple off balance? Another case? The footprints. "But Boomkat, those were birdy feet! They were funny!" I hear you say. Well sure, they may look like that, but did they really give any indication as to what this creature truly looked like? Demons have the ability to fuck with humans as if it were a sport- they love tricking humans who they deem below their own intellect, making them question what they see and feel. If you ask me, those footprints were another idea for the demon's sick jokes. And of course, another favourite moment/s of mine is when Katie gets out of bed, under the demon's influence and stands over Micah's side of the bed, staring down at him for several hours, unmoving (so effective was this moment that Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin parodied it with hilarious results for the Golden Globes :-D).
But as much as I appreciated the subtlety, I still am a sucker for intensity, and when Katie is violently dragged out of bed and taken down the hallway, her screaming for dear life as Micah tries in vain to get her back. Yeah, some have said this is sell out material, but I am more than willing to buy it because once again, the actors sell it, especially Featherstone. Which brings me to the ending/s.
*SPOILERS*
*SPOILERS*
Still reading? Okay. Now, some of you have probably heard about the two endings of this movie, the cinematic and the alternate ending found primarily on DVD. The cinematic ending had the fully possessed Katie kill Micah offscreen only to carry him back up to the room and THROW his lifeless body at the camera. Demon Katie gets down on all fours, sniffing at Micah's body before lunging at the camera, her face twisted with demonic glee. Peli used this ending at Steven Spielberg's behest, but so many people criticise it. We will get back to this in a moment.
The alternate (and the ending that techincally makes a lot more sense and is more disturbing) has Katie killing Micah downstairs with a kitchen knife before trudging back up the stairs to the room and sit by the bed in a waking comatose state, rocking. A friend comes over, supposedly sees Micah's body downstairs and alerts the police. The police break into the room, Katie gets up, knife in hand only to be gunned down. Yeah, that was a pretty damn good ending, and one that made the most sense, but I feel the 'money shot' ending is unfairly harranged. For one, what was REALLY wrong with it? Was it because we finally saw SOME kind of form of this demon that broke the mystique of the creature? Because that is all I can think of- if you ask me, the effect of Demon Katie was actually quite well done- you can't tell you didn't stop and step through those final few seconds to get a good look at that face. Considering all of the other sell out endings we have been served in mainstream FX-laden movies, this is hardly a crime against humanity. Okay, sure, the police ending was a lot bleaker, but I for one love those pay offs as long as they are done with a measure of subtlety. It's not as if Demon Katie began to ate Micah's body, tearing it apart and roaring in triumph and beating it's chest. If you honestly think that is the "WORST ENDING EVAR!1!" you obviously haven't seen that many film endings. I would say that Peli didn't step in the doo when he took Spielberg's advice- sure a bit of the impact was lost, but the piece was never in danger of being irrevocably damaged.
Pidgeon-hole me as you please, but I for one was glad to see this movie- it may be a flavour of the decade for a while, but I feel it will hold up longer than what so many folks give it credit for. When it comes to showing a movie that involves demonic possession without showing the demon in full itself, 'Paranormal Activity' makes a highly admirable attempt while still keeping things on the reals.
(BTW, a note those idiots who think Katie Featherstone is 'fat'- You are all sad, bitter little bitchy individuals. That is all.)
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