SPOTLIGHTS
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| Paranormal Activity |
| Posted by Erik Luers on 10.29.2009 |
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It's time for another list of questions and observations courtesy of the always confused filmgoer, Erik Luers. For the record, I thought this micro-budgeted movie was extremely dull and slow. There is something to be said for "less is more," but here I found less to be nothing more than less. Onto the questions.
The ghost/demon that we find ourselves troubled with acts like an obsessed and angry boyfriend. Why?
The ghost saves photos of our main girl from over fifteen years ago. Since she is now in a new house, where did he save these photos? In his ghostly pockets?
If the ghost will follow the couple wherever they go (therefore making it pointless for them to try and run), why doesn't he ever attack anywhere outside of the house?! Maybe they could run into him in a supermarket or something, you know, just to get the point across.
If the girl has been haunted by this thing for years, why not go to a hospital to get yourself checked out? Or at the very least, live at home with your family so that you could be under constant supervision. That will prevent you from your pesky sleepwalking habits. But does her family care? Does she even have a family? Hell, why does her loyal boyfriend stick around?
Why doesn't the couple ever seem to be at work or at school? They mention going to class in a throwaway line, and yet they always seem to be home, either recording footage or watching it at home on their computer.
If the ghost has been haunting her for years, why does it only take him approx. thirty days to possess her from time the couple decides to set up the camcorder? Is he camera shy? I 'spose he's not ready for his closeup, Mr. DeMille.
Why did the screenwriter feel the need to give the ghost a backstory? It's lame. I thought this filmmaker was big on "less is more".
Why does a previous victim of the ghost have a webpage chronicling her experiences with the spirit? And why are there photos from her less than flattering exorcism days?
What kind of camera records for over seven hours straight? I'm not saying there isn't one out there, but I'm curious.
Why do Quija boards always seem to work in movies but not in real life?
In the living room scenes, why was I more interested in the couples' DVD collection than what was going on in the scene at hand (look at the first interview with the paranormal expert guy; watch how your attention drifts to the DVDs behind the girl)?
If this film is all about being realistic, why do they ruin the illusion by using CGI in the final shot? This goes against everything the movie stands for, no?
Why do the scariest parts of the film involve the characters' body movements as they are being fast forwarded on video?
Of course, as is typical with these kind of movies, I wondered why they would film themselves during such dramatic moments (the girl holds a cross and her hand starts to bleed, and the boyfriend puts the camera down and keeps recording; very considerate). And yet, as the camera must be on in order for there to be a movie in the first place, I will excuse this.
Final Rating: 4/10 |
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