You only really need to read the 2nd paragraph of this short writeup on the Slate, but it’s a nice summary of the success of these sort of horror flicks in 2009.

So I went and saw the film Paranormal Activity the other night. I had heard great things, read great reviews, and was expected to be scared to death.

Firstly, I saw it in a stereotypical “big movie” NYC crowd. Even though the movie isn’t SUPPOSED to be big. So this means that the audience was 95 percent douchebag assholes, who either screamed at parts that weren’t scary, laughed when inappropriate, screaming stupid shit at the screen like “man he looks like my uncle”, talking to other, eating and drinking so loud it would make John Daly proud (you liked that eh?). So this definitely made some of the tense parts not-so-tense.

Secondly, the characters in the movie were so annoying, and their humor so forced that it felt fake anyways.

Third, it just wasn’t scary. I mean, you knew the whole time EXACTLY what was happening and what would happen. Sure some of the intense moments where something pops out of nowhere scare the crap out of you, but I’ve been scared by bunnies before too.

Verdict, just not that good and not worth watching in a theater. Most likely better served being shown in tight quarters in a dark house, along with warm booze.

2 out of 10 Critters