Found Footage Movie List #5
#5
Release Date: October 16th, 2009
Genre: Horror/Paranormal/Mystery
**DISCLAIMER: This movie contains depictions of horror and language and light sexual content. Viewer discretion is advised.**
Summary:
After a young, middle class couple moves into a suburban ‘starter’ tract house, they become increasingly disturbed by a presence that may or may not be somehow demonic but is certainly most active in the middle of the night. Especially when they sleep. Or try to.
Before I start my explanation as to why I’m adding this movie to this list, I want to make sure everyone knows I’m adding THIS movie, not the whole series. Paranormal Activity was the first horror found footage film I ever saw that I actually enjoyed. I never fell for The Blair Witch Project like most people, and as such never paid attention to movies of this kind. But when Paranormal Activity hit theaters I knew I had to see it.
Following the couple Micah and Katie, the actors using their real names, this movie is about the paranormal entity that has been following Katie since she was eight years old. Prompted by the strange happenings in their house, Micah buys a camera to try to catch the activity. He thinks it’s all a joke, and is mostly joking when he starts filming things, but when the entity gets more bold in its doings he becomes determined to drive it away, using methods that sometimes Katie doesn’t agree with, and most of the time only provokes the being.
After bringing in a psychic, they discover this is not merely a ghost, but a demon. This demon has only one goal in mind: to take Katie.
This movie has, as of late, been receiving negative attention due to crappy sequels, but in the end this is the original and the original is always the best. When I first saw this movie I was in awe that a movie in the found footage format could be this good. If I’m honest this is the movie that got me into the genre, and I’m thankful for that because – if this list is any indication – I love found footage movies!
With a special place in my heart and the #5 spot on my Found Footage Movie List, Paranormal Activity helped kick-start the found footage trend and for that we are all very fortunate!
-Michael
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