"Paranormal Activity" is very much the little movie that could. Since director Oren Peli premiered it at the 2008 Slamdance Film Festival, the movie has been passed around, picked up for a remake, seen by Steven Spielberg, had its ending changed and, even as you read this, subjected to an atypical grassroots promotional campaign. It's working too.
When I posted earlier this week that Paramount intends to open the movie nationwide -- releases have been staggered thus far -- after 1,000,000 demands had been logged, the number rested at around 370,000. At this moment, it's at 906,111. That's damn impressive my friends. And so, as a fan of the movie, I was very excited yesterday when Peli took some time out of his busy schedule to chat about why people seem to be going so nuts for this movie.
After all, it's not like we're talking about a blockbuster event, chock full of special effects and star powered performers. "Paranormal Activity" is small in scale, relatively speaking, shot on an $11,000 budget (roughly) and set entirely in a California couple's house. So what is it that so resonates with audiences?
"I think it's a combination of two main things," Peli said. "I think the fact that even though
[the audience] may not be going into the movie thinking it's real footage, ['Paranormal Activity' is]
presented in a very credible way." It's not just the veritè-style camera work either. Peli is quick to credit "the amazing performances of the actors" as a big reason for why the movie works. "It's very easy to get into, and go along with the suspension of disbelief and connect with the story and characters on a very intimate basis."
It's more than that of course. "Paranormal Activity" is, at base, a horror movie. Suspense and fear are major components in that formula. "The movie plays on people's primal fears about what happens
when... you think you're in the safety of your own home, in your own bed while you're asleep
and most vulnerable."
It's clear that "Paranormal" is headed for a nationwide release. In the time it's taken me to write the above word, the number on the "Demand It!" website has jumped to 908,205. It'll be interesting to see how the movie performs on home video though. A movie theater is one thing, but watching what happens to Micah and Katie from the perceived safety of your own home... that could take the terror to the next level.
First there's a theatrical run to get through of course. And while the proper nationwide opening is still roughly 100,000 demands away, the movie opens in 44 cities starting today. What's more, screenings are no longer restricted to a midnight time slot. Show up at any hour and prepare to get your fear on. Stay tuned to MTV Movies Blog for more from Peli next week, on what led him to make "Paranormal" and the newly changed ending.
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