Horror Movie 'Paranormal Activity' Scared Spielberg

We told you a few days ago about the new horror movie Paranormal Activity and its paranormal promotional activity, asking you to spread the word locally to force theaters to show the film. Well, it turns out the film will open on September 25th in a baker's dozen cities and as luck would have it, one near me. That means we'll have a review this coming Friday. It's been an interesting road to theaters for the film, which was shot over the course of a week three years ago by Israeli video game designer Oren Peli. Total cost: $15,000. The Los Angeles Times reports this weekend that DreamWorks decided to to distribute the film after Steven Spielberg watched it and had the hell scared out of him. Now the film resides at Paramount, which is understandably a bit nervous about putting it on 3,000 screens. There's no name involved, and horror movies - even good ones - can be incredibly hit and miss. Case in point: Grace had people fainting at Sundance, which you'd think would be the best marketing ever for a horror movie. And it never made it into theaters. OK, it made it to two theaters. So it takes more than scaring the bejesus out of Steven Spielberg to make a movie hit with an audience. The trailer is great, this new scheme of releasing the film to college crowds could build some buzz before a wider release next month, and maybe audiences will be so sick of Saw that they give this possessed house flick a little attnetion in the witching season. "The movie could be stratospheric, or it could just become a cult favorite," says international sales agent Stuart Ford, who successfully pitched the movie to over four dozen foreign distributors. "It just depends on whether the studio can catch a wave." And I'll let you know if it's worth finding Paranormal Activity next Friday.

Comments

[mdamien13]

I'm considering driving down to Tucson to check this out 'cause I've been wanting to see it since initial festival buzz a year or two back. Then again I've been burned before believing initial festival buzz (I'm looking at you Hatchet, and to a lesser extent Grace!). Good to see that an indie horror film shot for a day's catering budget on a Hollywood film is going to get a shot!

[SEAN]

WOW !! YESS!!!

I commented on your story Colin, the 1st post about this film...

It looks SO creepy and interesting and SCARY!!! Ive been hearing the buzz and I'm glad you came back with this post as well...

Wow Spielberg was scared?? HAHA thats awesome, Im very excited, I hope the buzz grows, I cant wait to see it....

Anyone calling "the blair witch of 2009/2010" ???

[ginny]

horror fans may be interested in the saw facebook sweepstakes to win a DVD box set. http://bit.ly/4GO8H

[Jonathan]

I JUST SAW THE FILM---HOLY CRAP BALLS! GO SEE IT, AND GOOD LUCK SLEEPING AFTER IT: yes there are a few cliche horror moments (moving chandelier's, etc) but for the most part the suspense is built up wonderfully, and although the end is little predictable, it is still very well done.

[Oscar L]

I work with one of the co-producers at a regular day job. It's loosely based on events that happened to her and her boyfriend's, at the time, house. The sounds, doors slamming, lights flickering chandelier swinging and the scene about the powder actually happened.

[Julian Francis]

Grace didn't scare me, just confused and grossed me out. I'm skeptical about this one since it seems to be a love it or hate it kind of thing.

[unknown]

I've Seen it and it was Good! Very Believable and Creepy!

[Tyler, Tx]

Sorry horror movie fans, but i have to say that this movie did not live up to any of the reviews or online posts that i have read! I am the biggest scardy cat when it comes to scary movies and in fact my friend had to beg me to go with her! I was very dissapointed and thought about getting up and leaving a few times but figured i'd stay through the whole thing. Bottom line is i would have much rather spent my $8.00 on something else.