“Paranormal Activity” is Oren Peli’s directing debut, labelled as the most terrifying movie of the year. It is currently showing all over the world with amazing success (it is even No.1 at the US Box office at the moment).

The story about Oren Peli’s debut is an indie fairytale, to be honest. Here is the thing: “Paranormal Activity” was in a cinematic purgatory for over 2 years, until one day Steven Spielberg (Hollywood’s alpha and omega, and DreamWorks co-founder) received a copy of a script, and started the production engine.

The story follows a young, positive couple who decides to move into a cosy, suburban house, quite typical for young, middle class people who decide to start their life together. After moving in, they start sensing something is very wrong in that house, and become disturbed over and over again by a presence of an indescribable force that is perhaps demonic and always active when the night falls.

Micah (portrayed by Micah Sloat) works as a day trader, he is trying to stay focused and organized and always wants to be in control, not quite believing in paranormal, weird things, even if they occur in front of his eyes. Katie (played by Katie Featherstone) on the other hand believes in paranormal things, she believes in ghosts, she is afraid of demons and has been haunted sporadically, since she was very little. While Micah is trying to stay calm, Katie is more and more disturbed and hysterical, and with good reason as we are about to learn.

“Paranormal Activity” has definitely taken the world by storm, but let honestly speaking – it is not a groundbreaking, never before seen horror movie. In fact, the whole art direction and the concept of using a hand held camera, used to portray the cinema vérité atmosphere, has already been done in two huge movie hits “The Blair Witch Project” (1999) and in “Cloverfield” (2008).

Although it is not as innovative as the trailer and campaign suggest, Peli’s debut is yet very strong and scary since it shows paranormal things we can’t quite understand or embrace, and therefore we are terrified of them. For over 80 minutes you will be exposed to something you can’t understand, can’t deny and naturally fear of; so be sure this movie experience will be quite frightening and different than your average ones.

The world’s definitely gone mad for movies like “Paranormal Activity” because they have that direct often documentary-like approach where you are not quite sure if what you’re seeing is a fiction or a reality.

Add an amazing marketing campaign to that and there you have it – a block buster movie everyone’s talking about. Don’t miss it in cinemas near you!