The Two-Minute Verdict
Paranormal Activity Trailer Delights In Reducing Grown Men to Petrified, Tearful Little Girls
Microbudget ghost story Paranormal Activity — which at a cost of $11,000 makes The Blair Witch Project seem like a bloated, runaway production — has been eliciting squeaks, whimpers and eardrum-shattering screams wherever it’s screened, most recently at an outdoor theater at Telluride. Now Paramount, who’s picked up U.S. distribution, has released the first official trailer.
Like the teaser for Capitalism: A Love Story, unwitting members of an actual audience are turned into marketing pawns. In this case, though, they aren’t required to make contributions to bogus charities, but rather just watch the movie and let the infrared cameras capture their reaction. It’s an interesting strategy, as if to say, “What do you mean this doesn’t look scary — check out that fully grown man clutching his date and screaming like a little bitch! This is pants-crappingly terrifying entertainment, people.” As for what little we see of the actual movie, a couple track phantom apparitions in a new home. We catch glimpses of spilled flour, bite marks, billowing sheets, and the sudden realization that whatever is terrorizing them is “not a ghost.” Maybe it’s Rachael Ray? We give up.
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Posted 16 Sep 2009, 12:20 PM
I hate to spoil the party but the footage of the audience was actually shot during a screening of "All About Steve".
Posted 16 Sep 2009, 3:26 PM
Sunny Daze,
Why lie about something like this, the footage is not from a screening of All About Steve, I know because I am responsible for the footage and this trailer.
Posted 16 Sep 2009, 3:32 PM
Doug -- if I can intercede on Sunnydaze's behalf, I think he was making a joke about how terrifyingly awful All About Steve is, and not actually suggesting you tried to pull one over on us.
Posted 16 Sep 2009, 5:20 PM
Thank you, Zeus.
Posted 16 Sep 2009, 4:36 PM
Seth, I'mma Let You Finish, but All About Steve had one of the best trailers of ALL TIME!
Posted 16 Sep 2009, 11:45 PM
Jesus you're an idiot, Doug.
Posted 18 Sep 2009, 2:01 PM
i chuckled.
Posted 25 Oct 2009, 11:35 AM
LOL@Francois