Proximity to Jersey Shore (Paranormal Activity Review)
This week Kat picked Paranormal Activity to review for the 2022 Halloween Horror Marathon! TW: Mention of Emotional Abuse/Abuse within a Relationship.
Review Overview: This movie is a lot better than we remembered. It genuinely has scary moments and is paced well. The actors have great chemistry and feel like a real couple. It feels like a realistic reaction to a haunting.
Micah is a little too dedicated to his role. His character is so infuriating, but it adds so much to the movie.
Kat: 8/10
Ryley: 7/10
Both: [00:00:00] Hello
Kat: and welcome to
Both: Easy Bake Takes,
Ryley: the podcast!
Kat: Where we read you the one star reviews of your favorite movies and more. My name's Kat.
Ryley: And I'm Ryley.
Kat: And today we're doing the third installment of our Halloween Horror movie Marathon. With one of my all time favorite horror movies, Paranormal Activity. So this movie first came out in 2007 slash 2008 in film festivals, and then it was released in theaters in 2009. It is an hour and 26 minutes long, and it honestly is like the perfect length of a movie, this movie, like it feels like well paced and.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: They use their time effectively.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: Um, it's categorized as a horror thriller and surprisingly it has an 83% from critics and a 57% from audiences on run tomatoes.
Ryley: That is so interesting. I love it when [00:01:00] movies have, like, critics love it but audience hate it. I don't, I don't know how that happens, but it does.
Kat: Yeah. Mo- well, a lot of people shit on this movie hardcore for a long time.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: But we'll get into that in a second.
Ryley: Okay.
Kat: So just a plot breakdown for this movie. The opening credits start and they thank the families of Katie and Micahs and the San Diego Police Department at the beginning with a title card. There are no credits in the opening. It is just that title card and the movie starts. So young couple, Katie and Micah, moved to a new house in San Diego. Katie claims that an evil presence has been haunting her since she was a child, so Micah sets up a camera in their bedroom to record any paranormal activity that occurs while they sleep. Katie invites psychic, Dr. Fredericks over, who suggests Katie is being haunted by a demonn that feeds off of negative energy and is intent on tormenting her. He advises her not to communicate with the demonn without a demonologist, but Mico cont- mico? It's Micah, isn't it? It's Micah.
Ryley: Yeah. Yeah.
Kat: Micah. Micah continues to film and seek it out. The camera captures many [00:02:00] strange occurrences during the night; they start off as minor noises, flickering lights and bedroom door movements, but over time escalate into violent door slamming, loud thuds, and demonic grunts and screeches. One night, Katie appears to be in a trance. She gets up, stands beside the bed, staring at Micah for two hours and goes outside, none of which she recalls the next day, Micah- Micah. Fuck. I keep calling him Micah. I'm sorry. I'm gonna keep doing that.
Ryley: That's fine.
Kat: Micah brings home a Ouija board. When the couple leaves the house, the camera records an unseen force moving the pointer on its surface, which then spontaneously catches on fire. Katie is increasingly aggravated by Micah. Micah's. Fucking hell.
Ryley: Austin kept calling him Mico. So it's fine.
Kat: By Micah's flippant behavior, it pleads to contact the demonologist, but he refuses. The couple find non-human footsteps on a baby powder. Sprinkled by Micah in the hallway, its path leads to a burnt photograph of young Katie in the attic. Thought to have been destroyed in a house fire. Outside [00:03:00] intervention is unavailable as the demonologist is out of the country, and Dr. Fredericks is afraid of making the demonn angrier. And I just wanna note right here. I love when he just walks in and goes, this thing does not want me here.
Ryley: 30 seconds. He's like, wow, I can't help you.
Kat: He's like, oh my God, I'm gonna leave.
Ryley: That was Austin's favorite part. We had to watch it like twice.
Kat: Yes. Um, that night Katie is pulled out of the bedroom by an unseen force. Micah discovers a bite mark on Katie's back the morning after, motivating him to get out of the house, but Katie abruptly insists on staying. On night 21, Katie gets out of bed again and stares at Micah for two hours before going downstairs. Katie screams for Micah and he quickly rushes to help her. After moment of silence Micah's body is violently hurled at the camera, which is knocked off the tripod revealing Katie standing in the doorway with blood on her shirt. She crawls to Micah's body, then looks up at the camera with a grin. As she lunges towards the camera, her face takes on a demonic snarl, and the scene cuts to black. [00:04:00] Epilogue text states, Micah's body is discovered by the police and Katie is missing. So that's the theatrical ending. This is an alternate ending that was on home video release. After killing Micah offscreen, Katie comes back upstairs alone, like in the original ending, she closes and locks the bedroom door, approaches the camera, and promptly slits her own throat before collapsing dead. The scene then fades to black. And then the original ending, which they only used at one public screening before just completely scrapping it. Katie returns to the bedroom alone, covered in blood and holding a large kitchen knife. She sits on the floor against the bed and rocks back and forth. The next day, Katie's friend Amber leaves a concerned message at 2:00 PM visits the house at 9:00 PM discovers Micah's body downstairs and runs away in panic. 30 minutes later, two policemen enter the house and reach the bedroom where they find the possessed Katie with the knife. Seeing them Katie suddenly returns to her normal state and asks about Micah. After the attic door slams by itself, one of the officers panics and shoots and kills her. The camera fades to black as the police officers continue searching the house for the [00:05:00] source of the sound. An epilogue text appears dedicating the film to the memory of Micah and Katie.
Ryley: Holy shit. Oh my God.
Kat: And I can see why they might, they might scrap that.
Ryley: Yeah, I could see that too.
Kat: It's a little intense of an ending. I mean, it's an intense ending either way, but.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: To have her accidentally get shot by the cop.
Ryley: Dang. And then, and then the alternate endings, also a little graphic. I understand why that's not the official.
Kat: It's only on, yeah.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: Only on dvd.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: Yeah. Okay. So this movie was directed and written by Oren Pelli, who went on to produce the Insidious movies. Those are good movies too, and I feel like we should at least the first one.
Ryley: The first one really, really scared me.
Kat: Oh, that movie scared the shit outta me.
Ryley: I know. It was just so freaky.
Kat: It- yeah. The cast, something interesting that they did to keep up the appearance that this was real was the actors' names were the same as.
Ryley: Oh, okay.
Kat: Yeah. So Katie Featherston plays Katie, Micah Sloat plays [00:06:00] Micah, Mark Fredericks plays Dr. Fredericks, Ashley Palmer who plays Diane is the only one that's not really, but that's just the woman that also went through what Katie's going through.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: Um, and then Amber Strong- Armstrong has played- plays Amber.
Ryley: Mm.
Kat: But some trivia. Surprising that Spielberg popped up quite a few times when I was looking at trivia.
Ryley: Wow.
Kat: But Spielberg convinced the filmmakers to change the original ending. He also stopped halfway through when he was watching it on a home screener that they had sent him because he was genuinely spooked and he ended up finishing it during the day and he loved it. I just think that's so cute. Him getting scared and being like, I'll watch this when it's light outside.
Ryley: I love that too.
Kat: And then the actors weren't given scripts, but were given guidelines about how to behave or what to discuss in their scenes. This technique is called retro-scripting and was used in the Blair Witch Project.
Ryley: Oh.
Kat: You know, like, I don't know if you've heard about how they had those tubes everywhere.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: They had to make it to the way points. They had jars with their names on them and they could only read their instructions that that kind of thing.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: In that movie, and I think in this movie, that technique works out.
Ryley: Very [00:07:00] well, especially if you're doing found footage and you need to keep that.
Kat: Authentic.
Ryley: Yeah. Mm-hmm.
Kat: And then Pelli was determined to focus on believability rather than action and gore, so the movie was entirely shot in his home and on a digital camera. And then he spent a year redecorating his house prior to filming. And so, the walls in his house were originally like Stark White and there was no railing on the staircase, so he like redid his house to make the movie in it.
Ryley: Wow. One thing about the movie is how dated it is, like.
Kat: It is so 2000s.
Ryley: It's so 2000s. It's hideous. I'm sorry it's hit- hideous.
Kat: It is. Yes, it is. I, I, you know, if you like this kind of decoration and interior design.
Ryley: I'm sorry to you.
Kat: I'm sorry, but I grew up with it and I fucking hate it.
Ryley: It's so ugly. I'm so sorry.
Kat: It's so bad. It's so bad. And I don't think it'll be like, you know how the eighties, like in the seventies, like-
Ryley: Yes.
Kat: Those kind of came back. [00:08:00] No.
Ryley: This is not gonna come back.
Kat: This is not allowed. I do not like dark brown wood and I will not stand for it in my house.
Ryley: Olive green walls in the bedroom?
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: No.
Kat: But initially Katie and Micah were only paid $500.
Ryley: Oh my god.
Kat: But because of the success of the film, they renegotiated how much they were paid.
Ryley: Oh, good.
Kat: And then, as I said before, the theatrical release had no opening or closing credits. And then the acting producing directing credits appear almost after a minute of darkness on the DVD copy.
Ryley: Mm.
Kat: People started leaving the theater during test screenings and the crew thought it was because the audience didn't like it. But it turns out they left because they couldn't handle the intensity of the film.
Ryley: Oh. It scared 'em so much.
Kat: Mm-hmm. Cause you remember those, um, the trailers for this movie? It was just footage of people in the test screenings.
Ryley: Yes.
Kat: Like screaming and like freaking out.
Ryley: Exactly. And like that is still done today. And I always thought like, oh, any type of movie does that, where it's showing like the test audience or like the, not even the test audience, the people in the theaters. I'm like, oh, paranormal activity did that, [00:09:00] but it's not gonna be good as paranormal activity. And I've mentioned this movie several times. They did that with Barbarian, so I was not expecting much from Barbarian.
Kat: Yeah. That's interesting.
Ryley: Mm-hmm. They did it for Barbarian, their trailer. I knew nothing about Barbarian.
Kat: Yeah. And I still don't, so don't, don't tell me anything.
Ryley: Oh, I'm not gonna say anything, but I'm just saying they did that for the trailers of Barbarian. They also did that and it changed my perspective of when movies do that.
Kat: Yeah. Pelli got the idea for the movie from a personal experience. He was sleeping and a box of detergent fell off the shelf. The box was pushed too far back for it to just tilt and fall. So literally a box falling off a shelf at night was, he was like, ghost! Writing a movie.
Ryley: Got a write a movie about this.
Kat: And then all of the special effects were done practically in camera and enhanced by director Pelli on his pc.
Ryley: Mm.
Kat: And then the Ouija board that they used was purchased by Oren Pelli at his local Costco.
Ryley: That's so funny.
Kat: And then this movie was produced by Blumhouse, so who, you know, like is a way bigger horror film production company. But at this time they were just starting out. And Jason Blum, when he was [00:10:00] working at Miramax, passed on the opportunity to acquire distribution rights for the Blair Witch Project, which would've made him a lot of money.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: When the time was right, though, he produced his own low budget, found footage film with paranormal activity, and a decision that paid off, obviously, because he used that money to start Blumhouse Productions.
Ryley: Nice. Okay.
Kat: And then two goofs. So the security system in their house is set every night, yet when Katie gets up in the middle of the night and goes outside it doesn't set off the alarm.
Ryley: That's the ghost. The ghost turned off the alarm.
Kat: He went beep beep beep beep.
Ryley: He knows. He knows the code.
Kat: I mean, you're right. He's not a ghost though, excuse me, demon.
Ryley: Oh, sorry, the demon.
Kat: De-mon.
Ryley: De-mon.
Kat: I just thought of, um, I thought of buzzfeed unsolved the entire time.
Ryley: Oh yeah.
Kat: It was just like, just imagine Shane and Ryan in this house.
Ryley: I love that.
Kat: Because he, there's one point where they were like, Shane's off by himself, wandering through a haunted place, and he just goes, De-mon, de-mon.
Ryley: Oh my God.
Kat: The other goof around. This movie, [00:11:00] surprisingly, didn't have a whole lot of goofs, um, but around 18 minutes towards the beginning of the movie, when Micah and Katie are talking with Dr. Fredericks, there's a hard cut from the doctor to Katie as the doctor is talking, but the dialogue doesn't stop. And since the movie is supposed to be entirely self filmed footage, this would imply that either there were two cameras filming at once or that they did a second quote unquote take with the doctor, but both are unlikely. It was just like a, they weren't paying attention kind of thing. But there was also one other one whenever the, with the timestamp at one point it switches to AM but it's, it hasn't even passed midnight yet.
Ryley: Oh, okay.
Kat: But it was just little tiny stuff like that.
Ryley: Yeah. There was one point where, One morning Micah's alarm went off at like six 14 at, at like 10 seconds in, I'm like, who sets our alarm at six 14? That's so random. So that's something I noticed. I was like, Hmm.
Kat: Yeah, that is weird. But that's all the trivia and goofs that I have.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: So I hand it off to you.
Ryley: This, I had seen this movie since I was nine or. Because when it came out, I really, really [00:12:00] wanted to watch it.
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: So my mom and I watched it together.
Kat: Aw.
Ryley: And it was, yeah. It's like one of those things, I didn't remember it very well when I went back to go see it, but all the better because watching it again with like, like I knew how it went.
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: I just didn't remember the details. And it was great.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: It was very entertaining. It's one of those great found footage movies, if you like, the atmosphere of found footage like Blair Witch.
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: It's very much like that.
Kat: Yeah. And if you don't like Blair Witch, I don't like Blair Witch, but I like this one.
Ryley: Yeah. Just didn't remember the details. And so rewatching it is like, it was kind of like nostalgic too.
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: Talking about like early two thousands home, my God.
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: It's like a throwback to watch.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: Felt like, how I grew up.
Kat: It feels like childhood.
Ryley: Yeah. It's so funny. This was made in 2007, like came out in 2007. Two years later, Jersey Shore would come out. Isn't that kind of weird to think?
Kat: It is.
Ryley: It's kind of random. Like I would've thought that, I feel like Jersey Shore was always on. It was always, always a thing. [00:13:00]
Kat: It was always happening.
Ryley: It was always happening.
Kat: The cameras weren't always there.
Ryley: True.
Kat: It's weird when you think of like all the things that came out in the same year.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: And really like to perspective that way.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: When in proximity to the start of Jersey Shore was this movie is?
Ryley: I literally thought that, that's the first thing I thought when I realized it was made in 2007. I was like, huh. Which I don't know if that says more about me or not?
Kat: You have a reference point in your head.
Ryley: I have a reference point.
Kat: Just happens to be Jersey Shore.
Ryley: And it was skewed. My reference point was skewed. Cause I would've said, oh yeah, Jersey Shore was on at this point. They definitely know who Snooky is, but they did not, the demon did not know who Snooky was, so.
Kat: Mm-mm.
Ryley: That's disappointing.
Kat: But what else did you think?
Ryley: That scene where the psychic comes back and is literally just standing in the foyer for 30 seconds going, wow, I can't help you, is the funniest damn thing. And then Micah goes oh, should we, should we leave? Should we go somewhere? No, no, no. That'll just make it angrier. Just stay here. Hunker down. I'll be back [00:14:00] in a few days.
Kat: Cause I mean, he told them from the beginning, he is not comfortable dealing with demons.
Ryley: Mm-hmm. . So the whole thing about this movie is that the husband's the worst person.
Kat: They're not even, they're not even engaged. It's just her boyfriend.
Ryley: Oh! That's right they're dating.
Kat: Yeah. She's in grad school or something. Yeah.
Ryley: Well he's in the stocks too, cuz he has like coin net on his shirt. It's like an early like crypto thing. And I just found, I just found that funny.
Kat: Yeah. I feel like I have more of a context of what kind of person he is as an adult watching it.
Ryley: Exactly. And, but he is the worst person.
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: He's the reason why he was being rude about the psychic. He wouldn't let her call the demonologist to come over and get rid of it. He wouldn't put the cameras away when she asked. He brought in a Ouija board, even though he was told by multiple people multiple times, do not do that.
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: Was just a blatant asshole throughout this whole movie. It's one of those things like, you know, in most movie tropes, it's like the hysterical woman and she's trying to convince her husband, like in the orphan, like she's trying to convince him something's [00:15:00] wrong.
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: and he says, you're crazy. You're the bad person. You're blah, blah, blah. And he doesn't see it until it's too late. Until he sees the evidence. Right?
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: This man is literally filming the evidence of everything and is still treating Katie like she's not- like she's in the wrong.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: What- how you think you're gonna fix it is wrong. I'm gonna fix it. The ego of this man in this movie.
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: Oh. I'm gonna classify as a demonn cuz I've been reading about it and not take any, this man made me so angry.
Kat: He won't take her word for it. Yeah.
Ryley: Won't take her word for it. Won't listen to the psychic.
Kat: That's echoed in like some of the audience reviews. I saw a lot of Micah slander in the audience reviews.
Ryley: Good. He's the reason why everything goes wrong. He brought the Ouija board in.
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: He was filming it after she asked him multiple times not to do that. He is the worst. And it's, it's like he sees everything that's going on and he still treats her like, I'm not gonna listen to you.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: You're still wrong. I'm right. [00:16:00] I'm gonna take care of it. I'm gonna fix it. And guess what happened? They both die.
Kat: Yeah, exactly. Well, she disappears.
Ryley: Oh, yes. She's never found like she, her whereabouts are not known.
Kat: Yes, exactly. It's just like the, especially the second, like half of the movie, she's never overreacting. She may be yelling at him and saying, get the fuck out. But she is not overreacting, in my opinion.
Ryley: No.
Kat: I think she is the perfect level of reacting to what he is doing.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: When she yells get the fuck out. Opens the door, tells him, get the fuck out. And he's like walking down the stairs being like, Ooh, it's okay. Whatever.
Ryley: I think she's mad at me. Oh, no.
Kat: Is so infuriating. I would've broken up with him.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: and kept his camera.
Ryley: He's- kept the camera. Yeah. Sell the camera. Sell it back.
Kat: Yeah. Well, whenever she like is, I know she's just screaming about a spider.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: But he grabs the fucking camera.
Ryley: I know.
Kat: Before he goes to help her.
Ryley: That's the other thing I mentioned. It's like, um, yeah, she's screaming or like there's a part where she's crying on the floor.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: And he still has the camera. [00:17:00] And it's like you went and grabbed that camera before you went to check on her.
Kat: Exactly.
Ryley: He's such a, he is awful in this movie. I am really glad what happened to him, happened to him.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: This, I mean, this movie really shows an very interesting perspective of the boyfriend calling the girlfriend crazy or hysterical, while believing everything that is happening and still not taking her side, not listening to her, taking his, trying to take control of the situation. It's so obnoxious.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: But it's very interesting that they did that.
Kat: Yeah. I think it because of how clearly wrong he is too, it's just like, I don't hate it as much in this one cuz it's like clearly he is the idiot.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: Like, he's not being played as the level headed one to me at least.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: I don't, I don't know how to say it other than he's just being a fucking idiot the whole time. He's being an asshole and an idiot.
Ryley: He's the reason why everything happened.
Kat: He won't admit it.
Ryley: No, I mean she has the demon with her, but him bringing out the camera, him doing the Ouija board, him not [00:18:00] listening to her or doing what she wants to do about her demon.
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: It's fucked up.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: It's really fucked up and he's the reason why everything happened. He's absolutely to blame.
Kat: Oh yeah, a hundred percent without a doubt it's his fault.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: But what else did you think?
Ryley: Besides that it's really, it's kind of subtle with the hauntings, cuz like each night's just one little thing up until the end. Cuz like in the end there's like a lot going on.
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: I wish there was more the demon, but I guess you can only do so much when you're doing home footage or not so much, but like, you don't want like someone in a suit coming in and you know, being a demon, that would kind of take the realism out. But like, I don't know, just a little. Like I would love to see, cuz you could see down the hallway in that security camera in their bedroom.
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: I would love to see something like just dash.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: Just like dash across. That would honestly just a little, something like that. You know?
Kat: That might have been something that was either like, hard to pull off.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: with keeping in that realism.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: or like, wasn't in the budget cause this is a very, [00:19:00] very low budget movie.
Ryley: Very low budget. So I understand. Well just get a crew member just to go like, just dart, just like crouch and just like, dart.
Kat: Yeah. Cause I mean, I guess the closest thing you really get to that, other than like the footsteps you see.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: is like, whenever the Ouija board sets on fire, you see like the plants in the background.
Ryley: There's a shadow against the door at one point.
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: Which I missed I had to rewind and watch to see it. Um, But like the haunting was good. I was just sitting there thinking like, I would've done this.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: Just to give it a little bit more edge.
Kat: No, but I get, I get what you mean. I would have to see it to see if it still felt-
Ryley: Right.
Kat: Realistic kind of thing, you know?
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: I think that's something I do like about the movie is like how subtle it is.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: I guess cause like most, a lot of horror movies are very like
Ryley: in your face. And someone says, uh, there, I forgot who says this, but like, in your monster movies, the second you see the monster, the, you know, that-
Kat: the illusion shattered.
Ryley: The illusion shattered. And you're like, oh, okay, [00:20:00] well now I know what it looks like. Cause I, I think Jordan Peele was talking about the longer you can keep the imagination of the horror going, of what the monster is in the people's mind, cuz people are always gonna think of it as worse.
Yeah.
Because you're never gonna be, you're not gonna meet cuz like, it's the own person's fear of what it could be.
Kat: Exactly. Yeah.
Ryley: And he was saying like, the longer you can do that, the more successful your movie's gonna be.
Kat: Yeah. And I, yeah, I totally get that too.
Ryley: Mm-hmm. and I'm, I'm misquoting him, but like that's generally what his idea was.
Kat: Yeah, I get what you mean. And I think it's, it's been said a few times in different ways too. Just that same sentiment, so I get it. I get that. But what else? What else did you have?
Ryley: I mean, other than that, like I think this movie is still really good. I thought it was gonna be boring, but I do love the slow buildup to it. I can sit there and just watch it. And how long the movie is too is just perfect. I, I love the pacing of this movie. I like this movie a lot.
Kat: Yeah. I'm glad that you ended up enjoying it.
Ryley: It's better than I thought it was gonna be. I thought it [00:21:00] was gonna have a lot more complaints. I don't really have that- i, I mean, Micah is my main complaint.
Kat: Yeah. But he adds to it.
Ryley: But I think he's great for this movie.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: I, I love that he is the reason why everything happens.
Kat: Yeah, I think, yeah, exactly that. Like it adds to the.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: The viewing experience to have this fucking idiot in there.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: Let's see. Let me see what I have. I wrote it down. Okay. So I do, one thing I really like is that this movie starts in the midst of everything. Like it's, it's not like, oh, they just moved in and we are gonna build up and show Oh, the happy fam. Like, it's literally like, Like, I understand that it's like literally the story will only work this way because they're, they're recording everything. But I like that it's like, okay, well we just started recording because this shit's already been happening, so you don't have to go through the even, even more subtle little haunting things that are gonna happen. Like it just goes right into the like less subtle and it gets increasingly worse kind of thing.
Ryley: Yeah. I love the idea that they're like, they're already thinking like, I'm pretty sure it's like a ghost or something. It's [00:22:00] paranormal.
Kat: Something weird. Yeah.
Ryley: They're already in that concept. I think they're still trying to figure it out, but like there's definitely, they're still talking about it, and I think that adds to the realism too, is like.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: Oh, we're just jumping into their lives.
Kat: Yeah, exactly. That's another point I kind of had. It's like it does feel like a real home video.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: like the parts of the beginning where they're literally just like hanging out at their house. They're swimming. I think the actors actually do have a good chemistry and they feel like a couple.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: I think another thing that adds to it feeling realistic is like, I think the way that they go about handling it feels like a realistic reaction.
Ryley: Hmm.
Kat: You know, one person's like, okay, well I wanna capture this evidence if I can. And then the other person's calling an expert about it and like, they're still kind of jokey at first. But it slowly weens off of this, jokingness into this more like, oh shit, this is actually happening seriousness.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: You know, the jokingness is a defense mechanism.
Ryley: Yes.
Kat: Like you don't wanna believe it's happening at first. Like even Katie was joking.
Ryley: Yeah, exactly.
Kat: And then I also wrote Micah Sucks.
Ryley: Just to sum it up.
Kat: The fact that he can't fathom her not [00:23:00] remembering her sleepwalking.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: Like he is so mean about it.
Ryley: He's an ass- well, he's an asshole through this whole movie. So I was not like-
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: Surprised that he was like being mean to her.
Kat: Yeah. He was talking to her like she was insane for not remembering something that happened while she was sleepwalk.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: And there's literally a fucking demon in your house. You don't think it's weird, like it's not weird that she like that whole situation even fucking happened. It's an interesting development, but.
Ryley: He's still treating her like an hysteric woman, even though he knows what is happening to her.
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: Even though he's seen all the evidence. It's infuriating. It's really infuriating to watch.
Kat: Yeah. You should be upset that this is happening to your girlfriend that you love, not that it's not happening to you.
Ryley: Like you should be wanting to protect her, not be against her.
Kat: And I think he leans too far into like the, that toxic thing of like, I have to be the one to fix this too.
Ryley: Exactly. To protect. It-
Kat: It's not even for her.
Ryley: It's an ego thing. It's for him.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: I have to be the man. I have to [00:24:00] protect. You didn't do a good job.
Kat: You're making things worse. I think that this movie has a lot more things to say than people give it credit for too.
Ryley: I think so too. The commentary on this movie is, I mean, I think it's very blatant.
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: You could write an essay about this.
Kat: I could. I could and I might.
Ryley: You might.
Kat: I also just wanted to mention that I highly recommend watching the third movie because it's about their, her and her sister as children and like the initial haunting and what like caused their house to burn down and shit.
Ryley: Okay.
Kat: I know we were talking about pacing, but even just like how they are giving us information in this movie, I think is really effective. Feels like conversational. It feels the information's coming out in a natural way.
Ryley: Exactly.
Kat: And then the last thing I have is that when I can't figure out what horror movie to watch, if I'm in the mood for one, I just put one of the paranormal activities on and it never fails me.
Ryley: I get it.
Kat: Have you seen the other movies?
Ryley: I know I've seen the second one at some point, but I couldn't tell you, uh, a thing except there's a dog in it.
Kat: Yeah, there [00:25:00] is a dog.
Ryley: And a baby.
Kat: But we'll move on to the critics. Mostly positive reviews, but this is from Cinema Blend and is by Perry Nimeroff. They gave it a 4.5 out of five, and this was written in 2016. So it's kind of like looking back on the movie. They start with quote, "experiencing this movie with an unruly crowd definitely diminished the horrifying effects, yet I still walked out terribly frightened and dreading turning out the lights and going to bed." End quote.
Ryley: I love when you go see a movie and the crowd of the theater's just fucking awful.
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: That's, that's a, as much as I hate those movie experiences, they're really funny.
Kat: They are, in retrospect, they're fucking hilarious.
Ryley: Yes. I some, some of the best stories are from terrible movie theater crowds.
Kat: They say that it isn't just a cheap thrill, it's an honorable production that easily trumps other films, even those not of its genre. And they say it's brilliant. Paranormal activities are pitch perfect, the timeline of events is believable and terrifying. And they said that they could not stop thinking about how this movie was made for $11,000.
Ryley: [00:26:00] That's, that's really good.
Kat: Mm-hmm. I mean, it shot in his house on a digital camera that he probably already owned.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: So like, who- where did that money go? Was it just the lights? The light rentals like?
Ryley: Yeah. Crew?
Kat: Probably. I mean, I can't imagine there was much more than like maybe makeup and wardrobe and sound.
Ryley: Yeah. Just a handful of people in the room and then the actors.
Kat: The enormous amount of hype around the film resulted in some backlash, mostly with how it was perceived by people. And they say, quote, "it saddens me to see movie goers rebel and not allow paranormal activity to work its magic. It's not even a matter of accepting the movie for what it is, it's just about not putting up a roadblock. Yes, the underlying concept of the film may be ridiculous, but it is portrayed in a very realistic manner. The only way someone can sit through this movie and not be frightened is if he or she completely dismisses it from the start or just covers their eyes the entire time." End quote.
Ryley: Why do people not like it? Like why were people?
Kat: They just kind of wrote it off from the start. They were like, oh, that's stupid. That's [00:27:00] cheesy. Like it immediately got written off as dumb.
Ryley: Yeah, I get that. But again, like dumb movies can still be good.
Kat: Yeah. But that's, that's, that's basically what they're saying.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: You know, like you have to, you have to go into it, not writing it off.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: But they end their review with quote, "paranormal activity will be far from over after you leave the theater. It'll take quite some time to recover before you can sleep soundly without wondering if you're really alone in the room." End quote.
Ryley: True.
Kat: But the next review I have is from 2009. It was from The Observer and was written by Jason Solomons. They say quote, "did not show me to the bone, freak me out or leave me sleepless for weeks. It is not the scariest film ever, but nor was the Blair Witch Project." End quote.
Ryley: Doesn't have to do all that to be good.
Kat: They say that the relationship that the characters develop with the film itself is more at play than a demon or poltergeist. A similar critique to what Orphan would get, where they were saying the like interpersonal drama was a little more prevalent.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: And I kind of see that.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: I get that. I think it's a little more present here.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: They also say quote, "the [00:28:00] character of Heather in Blair Witch was possessed by little more than a desire to film, and Micah is equally committed to capturing his girlfriend Katie's trauma on his new high definition video camera." End quote.
Ryley: They're kind of on the same ego trip of, cause I think at the end they're both like, well, I don't know what else to do, but keep filming.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: Kinda in that sense. And everyone's just fed up that they are. They're very similar in that way.
Kat: I see that. I see that. Like I understand why the, like this movie was clearly like, like kind of inspired by that too.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: Like the Blair Witch, so it's like it has the similar things going.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: But they also say that the most fascinating moments are time lapsed i.e. Whenever they're sleeping, and then the time code on the screen speeding up and slowing down to signal something scary is coming is an ingenious cinematic device and a new way of creating tension and building it up to arriving at the release of it. They end with quote, "Paranormal Activity weekly, disguises itself as found footage and despite the late appearance of cloven footprints, it never really convinces on the demonic level. Yet it does partly [00:29:00] succeed as a relationship movie, asking why a nice girl like her would even be with an ego maniac like him go off with the demon, I kept thinking." And- "and as a document of a generation's refusal to believe anything unless it's on film, it's truly troubling." End quote.
Ryley: So there's some things. I agree she should have gone off at the demon. I also agree.
Kat: Yes.
Ryley: I It is also troubling to see that she would be with someone so, such like an egomaniac and like that she stayed with him the whole time.
Kat: Probably like a safety thing at that point, just to have another person there.
Ryley: I mean, yeah. Cuz other than that she's alone. But I don't know. She would've had a friend
Kat: Yeah she had amber.
Ryley: She was, it's really frustrating though, because she was gonna do that, but, She knows that the demon's gonna follow her. So she is.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: Truly like helpless in this movie. And the boyfriend makes it worse.
Kat: Yeah, he just peppers it on the whole time.
Ryley: Cause like all she had to do was get the demonologist and get it out there, but he, he wouldn't let her until it was too late.
Kat: Yeah, that is, that is the most, like I would, I [00:30:00] don't know if I would say captivating, but kind of part of the movie is just their relationship. So I agree with, I agree.
Ryley: My favorite thing is to complain about Micah in this film.
Mm-hmm.
this is my favorite thing to talk about because it's, it is so blatant in the film.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: I think it's good Found footage. I don't think it's bad found footage. I think it's better than a lot of found footage I've seen over the years.
Kat: Yeah. Anything else about this?
Ryley: Well, they said, uh, despite the lay periods of clothing, footprints, it never really convinces a demonic level like I think I was saying earlier, like, I would've seen, I would've liked to seen just a little bit more.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: Just of anything. But like, I'm not, I'm not gonna like hammer that down. Like, I don't think that was, I think it, it's fine for what it is.
Kat: Mm-hmm. And I think that's another thing that gets kind of resolved in the second movie too, is like there are a lot more, um, things happening.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: but I think that also is another budget thing where they had way more money.
Ryley: We only have baby powder.
Kat: We have $11,000.
Ryley: We have some string and baby powder. [00:31:00]
Kat: It's either we add another ghost encounter or you get a, you get lunch today.
Ryley: Exactly.
Kat: Also, something I meant to mention before, my favorite thing about watching these movies is whenever you're watching one of them and you see the date flash, and it's literally the day you're watching the movie.
Ryley: We literally did that last night, so it was like October 5th. We're like, oh.
Kat: That's today.
Ryley: That's today it's gonna happen.
Kat: It's so good. I love it. I love it. But the next review is from Slate and written by Dana Stevens in 2009. Starting with quote, "the surprise success of the micro budget Indie horror film paranormal activity constitutes one of those pop culture moments when you realize that mass taste is something better than you give it credit for." End quote.
Ryley: I dunno, that seems like a, like a snooty way of saying that. Like, oh.
Kat: You know, I think it's just that kind of sentiment where it's like, oh, okay well everyone, a lot of people liked it, like the masses liked it and it is good. So that's like it's a rare occurrence, so I kind of get what they're saying. But you're right, it is kind of a snooty way to.
Ryley: A little bit, but now that you explained it that way, I kind of get [00:32:00] it.
Kat: Yeah, yeah.
Ryley: Yeah. Gonna leave that there.
Kat: Yeah. They, they mentioned that it was released at a time where horror was very populated with slasher movies and paranormal activity being such a slow pace but relentless spooker is refreshingly un extreme. So just like, you know, this, the subtle nature of the movie compared to, you know, a slasher.
Ryley: Mm. I mean, this was other than Blair Witch, this was the other found footage movie.
Kat: Mm-hmm. And they also say that they felt the movie had sort of a retro haunted house movie feel, and it was like a retro haunted house movie at heart. The haunting is sort of like a mouse infestation, which is one of the funnier things about the film, which doubles when it has its less scary domestic comedy moments. You acknowledge their presence. It's annoying.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: but you still gotta live your life.
Ryley: Exactly. Still have to eat dinner.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: Still gonna have friends over.
Kat: And then says that, um, Peli only reveals as much about the poltergeist that we need to know to stay anxious. I think that lends to just the quality of this movie.
Ryley: Exactly.
Kat: [00:33:00] And it's rhythmically punctuated by those long static shots of the couples sleeping, which I think lends to the pacing thing we were talking about earlier, where it just felt very well paced.
Ryley: Mm.
Kat: And quote, "when you're watching time lapse film of two people asleep in a dark room, it's surprising how little it takes to scare you. The image of Katie getting out of bed and standing stock still next to it as the hours fast forward passed is inexplicably unsettling." End quote.
Ryley: I get that. I totally understand.
Kat: And then says that the last few seconds were a bit of a letdown.
Ryley: Oh, like when she walks up to the camera goes like.
Kat: Probably. Yeah.
Ryley: I get that. Cuz it is a little like, oh, what's she gonna do? Oh, she just kind of eats the camera. Okay.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: Exactly.
Kat: But no, I get that. I get that. I think, I feel like they couldn't find a medium between the two other endings.
Ryley: Exactly. Cause the other two are really extreme and I understand why they can't go those two extremes, but they could have done a little, I [00:34:00] don't know.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: I do. I do kind of agree with that. The last few seconds of her, she's coming up and eating the camera. That's what it looks like. Yeah. I, I get that. It's a little. Oh, okay.
Kat: Well guess it's over.
Ryley: Micah's dead.
Kat: Well, that's a win for us, I guess.
Ryley: You know what? Yeah.
Kat: But they end their review with quote, "though it never poses a question more abstract than where's that scratching sound coming from? Paranormal activity is all about spiritual and ethical debts coming due. As we watch the doomed couple fall asleep night after night, we ask what the day traders never asks themselves, how long can they keep pretending that everything's all right?" End quote.
Ryley: Which is a very interesting limbo to put in a movie. But I just remembered while we were watching the movie, the, you know, like they'll hear these noises, these thuds, they hear the scratching on the wall. Y'all just had a raccoon on your wall. That's what that sounds like.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: As someone who has had a raccoon on the wall, that's not haunting.
Kat: Doing back flips in there.
Ryley: Exactly. [00:35:00] It's not as, it's scary at first, but once you know what it is, it's just annoying. , we were making jokes about it when we were watching. They just had a raccoon on the wall. They need to calm down.
Kat: Yeah. They need to get serious.
Ryley: I pray to God it doesn't have babies.
Kat: Yeah. But you're right. That is an excellent point to bring up.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: Also in a two story house, hearing a sound coming from below you and putting your ear to the ground. I don't know why that was so like.
Ryley: Did it like two, like twice.
Kat: I would check downstairs before I put my ear on the floor.
Ryley: I'm not gonna get down the floor, get vulnerable for something to come in and get me.
Kat: Yeah. That is a very vulnerable position to be in when you have a demon in your house.
Ryley: I kept thinking he was looking underneath the bed, which is like something I would've done.
Kat: That's smarter.
Ryley: Mm-hmm. I thought that, I thought was what he was doing and I'm like, he's facing the wrong way.
Kat: Yeah. Idiot.
Ryley: Idiot. The bed's that way.
Kat: Oh my God. I thought, I thought something was flying behind you, like when you moved your um, cup.
Ryley: Oh yeah.
Kat: I just. God, I'm really jumpy because of this movie.
Ryley: Yeah, you are.
Kat: I don't know. My brains playing tricks on me today. [00:36:00] Um, the last critic review I have is from Boston Globe and was written by Justine Elias in 2009, and they gave it a two out of four. Starting with quote, "victims in horror movie hauntings suffer like homeowners who buy vermin infested real estate. Despite obvious, terrifying physical evidence, they refuse to consult an expert until it's too late." End quote.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: They say that the movie feels claustrophobic to a fault.
Ryley: Oh, hmm.
Kat: Just like you're, you're stuck in this space only with them.
Ryley: But that adds to it, I think.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: That adds to like,
Kat: I think so too.
Ryley: The horrible situation they're in.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: I, I agree it's claustrophobic, but I don't agree I don't agree to a fault. I think that adds to the movie.
Kat: Yeah, yeah, definitely. They say that quote, "unlike Blair Witch, which captured the panic of being lost in the dark woods, paranormal activity finds mild unease in shocks in an unfurnished home. Even at 85 minutes, the movie contains maybe 50 minutes that scare." End quote. Uh, the [00:37:00] unfurnished home part. I would understand it if they didn't have two fully furnished guest rooms.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: She's like in grad school, so like I kind of would get it. But like you have two fully furnished guest bedrooms.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: This is also 2000s decorating.
Ryley: That, that is the recession really like plays a part in like.
Kat: It's a recession house right there.
Ryley: The bareness of it.
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: or right before, cuz it was 2007 I think then it happen in like 2008 or
Kat: Eight yeah.
Ryley: Something, something like that.
Kat: Housing market crash.
Ryley: Yes, exactly. Like the, like the bareness of it, you know?
Kat: Oh yeah. This looks like how two grad, like a grad student and her boyfriend would decorate the house.
Ryley: Exactly. For what they can do.
Kat: Yeah. Like it seems like they didn't have enough furniture to fill this space and I've been there.
Ryley: I get it. But that's, I mean, like you said, that's also just like, that's how houses looked back then.
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: So I don't know. I don't know what houses they were in, but that's houses I was in.
Kat: Yeah. And I, I think they're right in saying that there's only 50 minutes that are like scares, but I think that's just how this movie's [00:38:00] built.
Ryley: Mm-hmm. , I don't know. I think that's a pretty good for a scary. That's pretty, that's not bad.
Kat: 50 outta 85.
Ryley: That's pretty good.
Kat: But they also say quote, "it's like watching a YouTube clip of your irritating neighbors knee deep in muck as they argue the effectiveness of plumbers." That is true.
Ryley: It is very, very true. Yes.
Kat: I only think he's irritating though.
Ryley: Cause like the whole time she's wanting actual solutions. She listens to the, the psychic. She wants a de, she wants to call a demonologist. The man's the one that's gonna fix it and doesn't.
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: And then even when he doesn't and they're in the shit, he's like, I'm still gonna fix it. I'm still gonna fix it. I'm, I'm, I'm, it's an ego thing. The, I don't think they're an irritating couple. I think he's an irritating man.
Kat: It's just like, like that other critic was saying, it's just like watching this really nice person be with this asshole.
Ryley: Yeah. Exactly.
Kat: But they end with quote, "despite some unsettling nighttime scenes seen through Micah's, ever watchful viewfinder, paranormal activity lets the mood of domestic dreads slip away until [00:39:00] it's wamo final scene. In those lost minutes, too many doubts can creep in as to what's behind all these scratches and bangs, and whether director Oren Peli isn't secretly pro infestation." End quote. I don't know what that means.
Ryley: I have no clue what, what he's pro-demonic?
Kat: I, yeah. Like he, he wants it to stay, I guess. Like he, he doesn't want the problem to be solved.
Ryley: Um.
Kat: But it's a movie.
Ryley: Yeah. It's a movie. Like.
Kat: What is he gonna do?
Ryley: Do you want a happy ending? Is that I feel like this person wanted a happy ending and was upset that they didn't get that.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: That's a, I think that's a stupid, um, complaint.
Kat: Horror movies, yes, some of them have happy endings.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: But I feel like it's scarier if it's like the danger's still looming.
Ryley: Yeah. Like it doesn't get fixed. Sorry.
Kat: No, it feels kind of like they just wanted to write something negative.
Ryley: In a really weird way. Like.
Kat: Everybody hates it, so I hate it too.
Ryley: Yeah. I don't know. I think that last little bit, the secretly pro, I don't even know what that means. Like Okay.
Kat: I don't-
Ryley: Whatever.[00:40:00]
Kat: Yeah. It's literally a movie.
Ryley: Just a movie. Calm down.
Kat: Yeah. But anything else about this critic review?
Ryley: No.
Kat: We can move on to the audience reviews. The first one is a 10 out of 10 from IMDB from 2009 titled "most hilarious movie ever." "I found that paranormal activity is one of the funniest movies of all time. A movie that stands," stands "a chance against it is Zombieland. Even though the film was meant to terrify the population, I found that there was nonstop comedy. Granted, I have a twisted sense of humor, and find, the Exorcist hilarious, but nevertheless, this movie was hilarious. I will admit that this movie was intense and extraordinarily frightening, but simultaneously it was hilarious. I normally do not care for video camera movies like the Blair Witch Project, in which I have not seen and Cloverfield, but it was very well done. Question remains whether the events reveal, but I definitely give this film a 10 outta 10. I also found the reactions of the audience in the theater to add comedy to the movie. To conclude, [00:41:00] I will fall asleep easily, but most people will not." I know that there is one specific part that you would like to point out.
Ryley: I would like to point it out just to get it outta the way. You can't complain about a movie if you haven't seen the movie. Just gonna say that. That's a big rule with me.
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: Don't complain. Especially if it's a movie I like.
Kat: But it might, they might be right.
Ryley: No, they're not. Besides that one little thing, I do like this review. I love that they give it a 10 out of 10 because it's so funny to them.
Kat: Yeah, it's refreshing.
Ryley: Exactly. To me, this is the whole point that we always try to make with people. It's like, just because you weren't scared doesn't mean it was a bad movie.
Kat: Exactly.
Ryley: I was laughing through this movie too, but I also like jumped at certain parts cuz they got me.
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: This person gets it.
Kat: They do. Because most of the time people will say this stuff-
Ryley: and give it a one outta 10.
Kat: Yeah. It's so fucking refreshing.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: To see someone say that they could still enjoy it.
Ryley: Exactly.
Kat: But this next one isn't a review. When I watched this, I watched it on YouTube. I like rented it off [00:42:00] of YouTube. So this was the only comment on this movie cuz when you rent stuff you can only see the comments if you like actually pay for it.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: But this person was the only one there from two days ago.
Ryley: Okay.
Kat: And they said, "no matter how many times I watched this movie, I always end up looking away at the end. I love it so much."
Ryley: I do too. I didn't watch her eat the camera. I know she does, but I don't like watching it freaks me out too much.
Kat: Yeah. It's like the end of sinister when he like pops out at the end.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: I have to, I have just be like, Nope.
Ryley: I can't take it. My heart, my heart can't take it.
Kat: I've seen enough, seen enough of this guy.
Ryley: If I see it I'm not gonna sleep tonight. You know?
Kat: Literally I like, I think I was in high school and like slept in my mom's room the first time I watched sinister.
Ryley: Yeah, that's a creepy one.
Kat: It is. Three stars from letterbox from October 3rd, 2022 that says, "Micah had it coming."
Ryley: He did. He absolutely did.
Kat: There were plenty of those ones.
Ryley: Oh, I bet.
Kat: This next one's a one out of 10. Titled, Boo.
Ryley: Like a ghost or like boo in a bad way?
Kat: They'll [00:43:00] explain it in a second, but this is from 2009. "The title of my review is Open to Your Interpretation."
Ryley: Oh, thank you.
Kat: "I'm a fan of small films, so I went in with an open mind and high hopes. Maybe that was the problem, I bought into the hype or wanted another Blair Witch. Now that I have taken the time to really look at the trailer for the film, I should have known. It is rated R for language, not for disturbing images, mature thematic material, intense sequence of violence. Now I like a good scare and the original the haunting, or when a stranger calls proves you don't need blood and guts to scare. But I was left wanting, from what I have read, the first ending shown at festivals might have made the movie for me, just my 2 cents."
Ryley: Hmm.
Kat: So they would've liked the original ending more.
Ryley: It's fair. That's fair. It just wasn't their type of horror movie. Just didn't do it for them. Alright, I can, I can't say you're wrong.
Kat: That is, that is fair. Yeah, I can't either. This next one is from 2020 on letterboxd. Three stars. "Micah being warned not to taunt the demons and doing it anyway like he's one of the Buzzfeed unsolved boys, you are not the Buzzfeed unsolved boys though, Micah."[00:44:00]
Ryley: You are not Shane.
Kat: You weren't- you are not. You are not him.
Both: You, you are not him.
Kat: But this next one is a two star review from 2018 on letterboxd. "Katie has been living with demons her whole ass life, and she still sleeps with her leg poking out of the covers? Unrealistic."
Ryley: Yep. 100%. I-
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: I was thinking that through the movie too. I was like, she's, she sleeps awfully comfortable in that movie.
Kat: Yeah. Back to the door.
Ryley: Yeah. She still sleeps closest to the door.
Kat: Literally, I don't do that now and I haven't even experienced this.
Ryley: Nope.
Kat: I, I won't sleep next to the door ever.
Ryley: I sleep farthest from the door.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: But then I'm closest to the window and the window's scary too.
Kat: Yeah, that's true. If I have curtains though, I'm good. I'm like.
Ryley: Try to shut the blinds. But I've had, we, I've had weird encounters with the window.
Kat: Okay but the next review is a two star review from letterboxd from 2020. "I sure hope the demon is a symbol of the couple's unhealthy relationship because it would be a weird coincidence otherwise."
Ryley: Hmm. That's a good way, that's a cool way to read it.
Kat: Yeah. Cuz like we were saying, it's like it's, I, I don't know [00:45:00] necessarily if it was on purpose, like, I don't know if.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: Enough to know if the messaging was purposeful.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: But it, it felt like commentary on like a toxic masculinity and like, it's common in like an abusive relationship for the person being abused, not being able to leave because.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: You know, they're just lulled into this sense of like, I, I don't know if I'll be okay without this person.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: I don't know if I'll be safe. I feel like that's a, that's a good way to look at it.
Ryley: It's a great way to look at it. And also mental health.
Kat: Yes, that too. And like having an unsupportive.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: -partner. When you're going through something, even.
Ryley: We can fix this.
Kat: Past mental health just, yeah, something traumatic.
Ryley: I can fix this.
Kat: I have to fix it.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: I have to fix it. Even though you know what's best for you, I have to fix it.
Ryley: Exactly.
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: you could read a few things in this movie. That's what I think really makes this movie good is like, the, the reading you can get from it.
Kat: Yeah. It, it's weirdly applicable.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: I could be wrong. If anyone knows for [00:46:00] sure if they've seen any interviews or anything about this movie with the, the writer. If they know, if that was something intentional, please let us know, but like, I did not realize how much it really felt like that was what they were going for.
Ryley: Yeah. And how easily it fits. Like, and that's, that's the thing with horror though, is like how, how horror, different horror movies can fit into commentary about society and life and all that. It's very cool what horror can do.
Kat: It is, yeah. There's no stars on this one, but it's written in February of 2022 and they say, "honestly, very charmed by this movie and it's blinding 2007 visuals. The hideous iron work in their pre housing market crash house, the nauseating frayed bottoms of Micah's boot cut jeans. This was what we used to look like."
Ryley: I'm so glad someone's talking about this in detail. I love it.
Kat: Me too. Cuz I can't articulate it like this.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: "Not sure why people on here hate this movie so much. It just wants to scare you. Pretty normal thing for a horror movie to wanna do. [00:47:00] I suppose you boo firemen as they put out fires too."
Ryley: That's a good way to put it. I love that.
Kat: "I know people love to say they hate jump scares or whatever. Honestly, I like them. I don't understand what the issue even is. I wanna be scared. It's why I read about abductions before I go to bed. Being scared rocks. You don't wanna be scared?"
Ryley: What the fuck.
Kat: "Why are you watching a horror movie dumb ass? The jump scare isn't cheap. Shut up you pretentious baby." I love this person so fucking much.
Ryley: I love 'em. They've been making points this whole time. They're deranged, but they're making points.
Kat: I will say though, there was one like when I can't sleep sometimes I used to like read paranormal stories.
Ryley: Oh my god.
Kat: I was like, if I'm not gonna sleep, I might as well stay up.
Ryley: Might as well read something interesting.
Kat: Might as well do some light reading.
Ryley: Oh my God.
Kat: "Only real issue I had with this movie is that Micah sucks so bad that when the demon smashes his picture, you can't help but see its point. There's a certain amount that Micah has to suck for the plot to work, but this actor's going above and beyond the call of duty. I think he, [00:48:00] I think he thinks he's in on it, but he exists on a plane of grating I don't think Daniel Day Lewis could fake. Reminds me of the catfish guy from the, the woman respecting elevator. You remember that guy? God, he sucks." But he, no, he literally looks like Nev sh uh, from Catfish.
Ryley: Catfish. Yes. He look, he does look a lot like him.
Kat: He lit- he literally like is just his clone. That is Nev on the screen.
Ryley: Yeah, it is. I totally see that. We watch Catfish. I can't believe neither one of us said, said anything about it, but I totally see it.
Kat: I know, but I fucking love this review so much.
Ryley: This is a fantastic 10 outta 10 review.
Kat: I appreciate that they brought up that it seems like the actor is too good at this.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: Like too good at being this guy.
Ryley: I, he goes above and beyond being the worst in this movie. I love that cuz it's true. And he is. I also like, I appreciate, and I, I think someone else said it earlier, but yeah jump scares can be really good. Sometimes they're bad, sometimes they're like this okay, I'm getting the [00:49:00] rhythm of this movie.
Kat: Yeah. If they feel like a haunted house.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: like, you're, you're in a kind of jump scare. Not my favorite, but like, well timed.
Ryley: Well timed. It almost has to be spontaneous.
Kat: Yeah, but they still do that like Jaws thing where they build the tension.
Ryley: Yes, exactly.
Kat: I understand why Spielberg liked this.
Ryley: Yeah, yeah, exactly. I think jump scares have to be, it's like an art. You kind of have you, you kind of really have to really kind of be good at it for it to be good.
Kat: Yeah. It's like comedic timing.
Ryley: Exactly. They can be cheap but they can be good too.
Kat: You're right though it, it really is all about the timing of them and I think the, the timing kind of more so than the substance of the jump scare.
Ryley: Mm-hmm. But I think the timing can kill a jump scare too.
Kat: Oh, that's what I'm saying, like the timing is the most important thing in it.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: Exactly.
Kat: I feel bad that this review has to follow that one up cause that one was really fucking good.
Ryley: Yeah. Fantastic.
Kat: Two and a half stars on letterboxd from 2017. "It worries me more that the couple in this movie are in what [00:50:00] is clearly a toxic relationship than any of the ghost stuff." True, some flimsy reasoning as to why it doesn't matter if she leaves the house or not is presented. But why are they still with each other is," far "a far more troubling prospect." And like I said, it's kind of that-
Ryley: That comfort thing.
Kat: Either the person's made you feel that way, that you can't leave them or you might have some issue relationship wise in yourself where you don't want to, or you feel like you can't.
Ryley: Mm-hmm. Exactly. And like. Exactly. I totally, I, I get it.
Kat: I love her friend Amber.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: So much, just because like he comes in with the camera and he is like, what are you guys talking about? And like, she clearly looks like Katie clearly is just like, oh, just everything. Like, she looks uncomfortable. Like she looks uncomfortable when he comes into the room and Amber's like, like he, he's like, oh, I have an idea. And she's like, okay, well what the fuck are you gonna do, Mi- Micah? Like, what are you gonna do?
Ryley: Exactly.
Kat: I, I would be Amber. I'd be like, shut the fuck up. Go away.
Ryley: She has a really supportive friend, which is really nice. Like comes in, he has a light on for some reason, just to be obnoxious. [00:51:00] What a child. I'm sorry.
Kat: Literally, he's just a man child.
Ryley: It, it, it's like his character is truly god awful.
Kat: Mm-hmm. Okay. The next one is a three and a half star review from letterboxd of 2022 that says, "I'm just a sucker for found footage, horror films." Me too.
Ryley: Me too. I get it. It's, it's a, it's a good genre. It's a good genre.
Kat: It is.
Ryley: Even it's bad it's, it's gonna be funny probably.
Kat: Yeah, exactly that. And like when it's done well, it's like this eerie feeling of being like, it's like the fullest without being like a fucking 5D movie or 4D movie or whatever.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: The immersion that you can really get, cuz it's like you feel like there.
Ryley: So when it's good, it's good and when it's bad, it's good, you know?
Kat: Yeah, exactly. And then star and a half. 2020 letterboxd. "The only bad energy in the house was Katie's boyfriend."
Ryley: Exactly the demon was just trying to protect her from him.
Kat: Literally. I think this is-
Ryley: You can make that argument as well.
Kat: I think I just need you to like watch the third one too, cuz you get like more context about how the demon was with her as a kid too.
Ryley: Oh really? [00:52:00]
Kat: And it just kind of makes you understand the demon a little.
Ryley: Really. I love that, you get their perspective.
Kat: Yeah. You get the, you're rooting for the demon in this one.
Ryley: Honestly, yeah.
Kat: One outta 10, IMDB 2021 titled "Just Stupid." "I've watched hundreds and hundreds of movies and this one is just stupid. Who would stay on a house like that? Why would Katie say over and over each day to leave but stay? Why would they sleep with the bedroom door open?"
Ryley: That's a fair point fair point.
Kat: "And after seeing those footprints, who in their right mind would stay? Just stupid."
Ryley: It follows her dude. It's with her.
Kat: Literally that.
Ryley: I- did you not listen? It sounds like you didn't actually watch the movie or you weren't listening. Pulling a Micah over here. Micah over here and not listening.
Kat: And she wasn't in her right mind when they were trying to leave. She was sitting there gripping across so hard. Her hand was bleeding.
Ryley: Well, it, it possessed her at that point and like-
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: When they were gonna leave.
Kat: He literally was like, come on, let's go. And she's like-
Ryley: No, I wanna [00:53:00] stay. She's obviously like it's too late at that point.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: They were trying to leave
Kat: And she's right.
Ryley: When it was too late.
Kat: Exactly that exactly that. So you're, you're just stupid. You didn't even pay attention.
Ryley: You didn't pay attention. I just love it. I watched hundreds and hundreds of movies. So have I. Like what, what's your point? Doesn't make you an expert.
Kat: We've watched hundreds and we both have degrees. We still don't say we're experts.
Ryley: No. No. I will never.
Kat: No, no. I'm not a fucking expert in film. I just like it.
Ryley: I'm gonna say though, this person's wrong.
Kat: They, except for the door.
Ryley: Except for the door thing. I do not understand why they never shut the door. That is, that's a good point.
Kat: Well, cuz like the thing you were saying, you would've liked to see something happen in the hallway.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: If they were gonna leave the door open like that, that makes sense if it like shit was happening out there more.
Ryley: Uhhuh, but they probably, for the movie's sake, they probably left it open for that tension.
Kat: Yeah. So you could like, look in the background.
Ryley: Like you're like, what's in the background? What, what is it? Am I gonna see it? It's that whole, like the Jordan Peele thing, like what's in the imagination of what's the worst [00:54:00] thing that could be there? Leaving the imagination to the viewers?
Kat: Exactly. Yeah. But the next one is a two and a half star review from 2021 on Letterboxd. "When I first watched paranormal activity back in high school, I was really scared, but it just fizzled out now. The supposedly scary tidbits ain't even spooky, except for the scene where the girl was dragged, and they're too far in between to actually build suspense. Thumbs down to even entertaining the idea of watching the sequels."
Ryley: I do wonder this is practical, practical effects, like how did they pull her leg?
Kat: Yeah, cuz they said they did it in camera.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: Maybe they had a green screen suit guy.
Ryley: That's what, that's what the only thing I could think of. And if that's the case, they did a really good job.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: Yeah. Cuz I was sitting there thinking and like, it was scary, but I was like, ju just like a practical effects style. Like how did they do that? You know? It was kind, it's pretty cool.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: Or maybe they had a rope that was green screen.
Kat: Maybe that, or maybe they like had it- no, I guess cuz she, well you could, you could add the screams in after.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: I was thinking maybe they did it in reverse [00:55:00] where they like pulled her.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: Maybe.
Kat: Cause I think, I think it'd probably be easier to green screen the front. No. Cause it would block the camera.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: I don't know. I don't know.
Ryley: It's a mystery.
Kat: There is a documentary on Paramount Plus about like the, the behind the scenes stuff I should have watched-
Ryley: Oh cool.
Kat: Before we did this.
Ryley: I didn't know that.
Kat: So three and a half Stars. I think these are the last two. They're both generally positive. Three and a half stars 2019 Letterboxd. "It seems pretty cliche in 2019, but I remember watching it for the first time in the theater and it was quite an experience. And it's still effective for the most part. Plus, I'm not gonna lie, watching this at night when I already don't like random noises," noises, "houses make was pretty damn creepy. Even though Micah is even more of a tool than I remember him to be. Seriously, what the hell is wrong with that guy?"
Ryley: Yes.
Kat: This is exactly my brain during watching it. Cuz I tried to watch it alone.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: like last two summers ago.
Ryley: Oh yeah.
Kat: And I, I was like freaked out .
Ryley: I have upstairs neighbors and when they walk, it sounds like the footprint [00:56:00] or like the footsteps in the movie.
Kat: Yeah.
Ryley: So my life's a living hell after watching this.
Kat: And that demon has a heavy step, doesn't he?
Ryley: Yeah. He's heavy.
Kat: The first time you watch it, and I'm sure, like, I didn't watch it in theaters when it came out.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: But I, I, I believe that it was a fun experience to watch this specific movie in the theaters.
Ryley: I, I wish I had, well I was a kid back then, so I don't know how much I would've appreciated the experience. I think now would, would be really, really fun.
Kat: Yeah. But the last review I have, IMDb, titled "An Exemplar of its Form," from 2021. "I managed to watch this film without knowing much about it. I was really surprised by how well realized the found footage concept was. In this film, I have now watched it three-ish times in it's still unnerves. This is because so much of the script and shooting style does information by implication. The film allows the mind to fill in the gaps and scares. Yeah you can throw some criticism of the form at the film. I.E. Why are you still filming? And yeah, the acting is pretty [00:57:00] lackluster, but this is a haunted house story that relies on suggestion and restraint. It's great." And I think that's a good way of putting it.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: because yes, there were some parts where it's like maybe a little bit more would've been better.
Ryley: Mm-hmm.
Kat: It is true, like part of the creepiness of this movie is the way that your mind wanders when it's showing you nothing.
Ryley: Exactly.
Kat: Like they said the information by implication.
Ryley: Mm-hmm. I totally agree.
Kat: One day we will do the other ones because I am determined now.
Ryley: I'm good with that. I can, we can, should we watch them in the order you suggested or should we just do 1, 2, 3?
Kat: I think we should watch the, the next one of them we watch should definitely be three. So you can watch the backstory.
Ryley: Yeah.
Kat: What would you rate this movie out of 10?
Ryley: This is a solid seven out of 10 movie. It's a good film. It's good to put on.
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: I don't think it's like exceptional like, like an eight or a nine, you know, is what I put it. But like, I think a good seven outta 10, I think that's like a perfect rating for this movie. I think it.
Kat: Mm-hmm.
Ryley: like it's just a solid, good movie.
Kat: Yeah, that's fair. I think I would give it an eight just because of like how reliable this movie's been for me. I've [00:58:00] enjoyed it every single time I've watched it, but yeah eight outta 10 for me. Do you have anything else you wanna say?
Ryley: Besides Micah sucks, no, this movie's good. I really, I really enjoyed watching this movie. It was really good.
Kat: So, if you have any comments or concerns or you wanna suggest a movie to us that we have not done yet, feel free to DM us on Instagram at Easy Bake Takes. We also have a TikTok also at Easy Bake Takes. You can find transcripts of all of our episodes at Easy Bake Takes podcast.com. And don't forget to follow us wherever you get your podcast and leave a review in a rating cuz it really helps us out a lot. And thank you so much for listening. My name's Kat
Ryley: and I'm Ryley.
Kat: This has been Easy Bake Takes. Easy watching out there.
Ryley: Bye.
Kat: Bye.