CHICAGO – The late playwright August Wilson left a gift to the world in the form of his “American Century Cycle,” a series of plays each individually set in a decade of the 20th Century, focusing on the black experience. Chicago’s Goodman Theatre presents Wilson’s “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,” now through May 19th, 2024 (click here).
Easily Scared Viewers Should Stay Away From Buzzed ‘Paranormal Activity’
Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Over the weekend, a little movie that cost reportedly $11,000 to make and was shot on one set made over $7 million at the box office. If you haven’t heard about the phenomenon that is “Paranormal Activity,” you’re simply not paying attention. The good news? Unlike a lot of highly buzzed films, this one lives up to the hype.
Reminding viewers of the ten-year-old “The Blair Witch Project,” “Paranormal Activity” is another independently made, ultra-low-budget, shot on handheld camera horror film that is going to spark more than a few nightmares as millions of viewers are drawn to it over the next few weeks. I know we haven’t seen “Saw VI” or “The Stepfather” yet (although it is notable that neither will screen for critics), but it’s hard to believe that this won’t be the hottest and most effective horror ticket this Halloween.
Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Paranormal Activity” in our reviews section. |
Even writer/director Oren Peli would admit that most of the work of “Paranormal Activity” was done in pre-production. It’s the hook of the concept that grabs you and doesn’t let go. There’s so much horror potential right in the construct of “Paranormal Activity” that it almost would have been difficult to screw it up. A young couple - Micah (Micah Sloat) and Katie (Katie Featherston) - are going to a document their haunting and we’re going to watch it all go down.
Katie has actually been haunted most of her life. Micah, the man who has been dating her for a few years and only recently moved in with her, thinks the demon that Katie has carried around is interesting. Katie knows it’s terrifying and potentially deadly. From the beginning, Peli solves a major problem with most haunted house movies by answering the timeless question “Why don’t they just leave the house?” In this case, leaving would do no good. It’s Katie that’s haunted.
Paranormal Activity
Photo credit: Paramount Pictures