Sunday, 18 July 2010

Paranormal Activity

This is a 2007 American horror film written and directed by Oren Peli.
It was made in a very simple way. In fact, all we see is the footage that a couple (Micah and Katie) make, while attempting to discover by whom and how their house is being haunted.
Almost everything happens during the night, when they are asleep. Their bedroom door opening and closing is the prelude for another strange events that will lead you to a climax that you have been long fearing.
Although the fate of the characters doesn't change, there are three alternate versions for the end.
How can we interprete the movie beyond its direct meaning?
First, it shows the human inability to deal with things that are beyond their control. As humans desperatly need an explanation for everything, we can easily remember the ancient folklore that explained the storms and the bad crops as the revenge of some mystic god, the human deviant behaviour as the work of demons. Don't think that science can explain it all, but the human imagination that preceeds the aquisition of that knowledge is boundless.
Second, as we witness the decay of the human relationships, it is conforting to see a couple so united in fighting their invisible enemy. I believe that, for most people, after hearing their partner is experiencing supernatural phenomenon is enough to make someone pack and leave. Taking the easy way out, is an everyday motto.
Finally, the complete abandonment of people in need. You can extrapolate that idea to almost all situations in life: sick people, poor people are left alone without any help or way to get help as they face the worst time of their lives.
Watch the movie and take your own conclusions. Can't wait to read about them.

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