Paranormal Activity

As an unashamed supporter of indie golden-child Paranormal Activity (review), I snagged a copy of the DVD as soon as I could. Lacking even a basic menu screen (the only options you're given are theatrical or original ending) and devoid of anything resembling a special feature, I turned it off halfway through when the picture, which was being viewed on a massive hi-def TV, was so dark I could barely make heads or tails of what was going on. I have yet to watch it again.

This is okay, however, as those fine folks over at Dread Central have brought to my attention a forthcoming UK DVD and Blu-Ray release of the film featuring all those delightful special features we've been aching to see. Not only do we get an exclusive UK-only audio commentary from director Oren Peli, but we also get an exclusive audio commentary for the alternate ending that appeared on my coaster of a DVD.

Although this commentary is sure to be incredibly eye-opening, the final feature seems to me to be the most interesting. When the film was playing in the UK, Icon Home Entertainment sponsored a "Film Your Own Paranormal Activity" Short Film competition, challenging fans to make their own haunting films using the same techniques Peli did to create his massive hit. Although all of the short films can be found on YouTube, the UK edition of the DVD will feature the ten finalists' videos, as well as a video introduction by Oren Peli explaining why the winning video was chosen.

I don't even own a Blu-Ray player, or even a TV, and I'm excited as all Hell about this. Hey, the movie is great, and I will support it until the sun goes out.

Looks like the Japanese are ready to cash in on the Paranormal Activity craze with the recent release of their own take on the story of a couple haunted by a malevolent spirit, Paranormal Effect.

The film is currently available for rental and purchase through Amazon's Video on Demand service.

Titled Ju-So in Japan, directors Ryuichi Asano and Teruo Ito have crafted a low budget fright flick that looks like a cross between Paranormal Activity and the Ghost House Underground flick Seventh Moon. I'm not entirely sure that's a good thing--I thought Seventh Moon was pretty terrible--but I'm sure I'll wind up watching this at some point anyway. The things I do for you guys...

Paranormal Effect finds Reiko and her American boyfriend Darren vacationing in Japan. Like a typical American lout, Darren winds up disturbing a cave that is said to house ancient Shinto gods. Next thing you know, our couple is enduring an all-out assault by supernatural forces--an onslaught they attempt to catch on tape. Naturally, lots of spooky hi-jinks follow...

Jump past the break to check out the final trailer for the film (tip o' the hat to Bloody-Disgusting for catching it before I did) and be sure to check out Paranormal Effect's official website for more details on the production.

The past two weeks created a fever-pitch buzz over who was at fault in the Conan O'Brien/Jay Leno Tonight Show hosting duties feud and how it would all turn out. Well, now that it's over (for the most part, Team Coco still doesn't have a job officially lined up), the collective conscience that is Hollywood must have realized that their was a new void in entertainment rivalries and decided to conjure a new one up. The unfortunate winners/victims? Saw VII (Lionsgate) and Paranormal Activity 2 (Paramount).

Just a few days ago Paramount announced that it would not only be going after the Halloween marketplace with an October 22nd release date, but that it would be hiring Saw VI director Kevin Greutert to direct the (unnecessary) sequel. Lionsgate didn't take too kindly to news that the studio who beat them at the box office last Halloween was posing themselves to do it again this year - and with their latest director, no less - so they decided to exercise an option in Greutert's contract that basically said "It's up to us whether you make your next movie at Lionsgate or not". In case the existence of this post wasn't clue enough, Lionsgate decided to reel him back home.

So the one-time director of Paranormal Activity 2 has just replaced the one-time director of Saw VII (part V's David Hackl) due to the whims of the studio. All of this arrives with principal photography just two weeks away on Saw VII, which really makes Lionsgate look like bad guys in this feud. I'm glad the guy who made the worst Saw film is now off the project (Lionsgate contractually must find him another gig, however), but shuffling/stealing directors a matter of days before production begins on the first 3D Saw film certainly makes it look like there is zero quality control being exercised over there.

Paramount has hired Saw VI director Kevin Greutert and prime time veteran writer Michael R. Perry to create the sequel to last year's indie sensation, Paranormal Activity. Director Oren Peli made the film on a $15,000 budget but it went on to cash in over $150 million worldwide, boasting a clever web marketing campaign. Peli and Jason Blum will continue on with the series as producers and Steven Schneider (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance redux) will serve as executive producer. Ironically, Paranormal Activity 2 will be up against Lionsgate's Saw VII for this year's pre-Halloween weekend. After Saw VI grossed a mere $31 million in 2009, many are left wondering if the franchise is dying and if a Paranormal Activity series may be ready to take its place.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Peli is behind the new team stating, "These guys get it, and the fans won't be disappointed." The storyline about a a young couple who battle a malevolent entity after capturing evidence on tape will be kept intact. No word yet if the cast of four will return for the sequel and no clues as to whether or not Greutert will use the same approach as Peli--using unknown actors and setting the story in a singular location. That was part of the beauty of the first film and I'm leery that this aspect will remain.

If all this news sounds familiar, then you're probably thinking of the Blair Witch phenomenon, which fell flat after Artisan Entertainment pushed for a sequel on the coattails of a successful first go-round. Paramount is hoping to do the same after Paranormal Activity by spending $1 million a year to make a dozen or more low budget films, each costing less than $100,000. Peli's hotly anticipated Area 51, now in post-production, won't be part of this schematic as he'll be working with a $5 million budget this time.

I'm not sure if Paranormal Activity's mythology lends itself to another film. Personally, it didn't hold up for me upon repeated viewings and I've been exhausted by the constant coverage of the film, months after its release. I can't help but think this sequel is going to crush the subtlety of the first film and bleed it dry entirely. I have a deep respect for what Peli has done and want to cheer him on but I'm really torn. Where do you stand on things?

Best of the New Releases: Jennifer's Body, Carriers
I had it in for Jennifer's Body before it even came out. Megan Fox put an obvious target on its back, but what really had me steering clear of the flick was the film's initial Red Band trailer. The filmmakers (director Karyn Kusama, writer Diablo Cody, and producer Jason Reitman) attached a note to the release of said trailer stating that the studio didn't want to put out a red band but they knew it was what the horror fans wanted and blahblahblah. Short story shorter, the red band trailer had no nards and looked awkward to boot.

But you know what? I actually kind of dig Jennifer's Body. Not enough to make any kind of formidable stand against the legion of horror fans who think it's dreck, but I do think it is good enough to warrant a curious watch. It's probably the best marriage of role and performance Megan Fox will ever have, Amanda Seyfried is awesome as always, and its got a core female dynamic that's kind of rare in horror. Then again, it's kind of tame in the actual horror department (I doubt the extra four minutes of the unrated version add any teeth), which may make it a chore to suffer through for anyone who can't stand Cody's writing. Still weighs out to be worth a Netflix in my book, though.

What would you get if you crossed The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity? Probably something that resembles this trailer for The Asylum's latest epic, Paranormal Entity.

The company, best known for making shoddy knockoffs of big budget hits (Transmorphers) or entertainingly awful original properties (Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus) has set their sights on Oren Peli's mega hit horror film Paranormal Activity for their latest project. What's most interesting about the film is that it's entirely possible that Paranormal Entity had a higher production budget than Paranormal Activity--which would seem to be a first for an Asylum film.

The movie's brief blurb describes it like this: Actual footage of the events leading to the 2008 "murder" of Samantha Finley. This DVD, released against the wishes of the authorities, proves that nothing human caused Samantha's death.

Quiet Earth scored the exclusive on the trailer and they're reporting that the studio isn't releasing the names of the actors or director involved with the project--because they're claiming it's all real footage. If you believe that, then you might also be interested in purchasing a bridge I own in Brooklyn. I'm a motivated seller--I'll let it go for a song.

Paranormal Entity is set to hit DVD on December 29th. Skip past the jump to see the trailer in all its glory.

I found this year's collection of horror films to be relatively lackluster. In the first incarnation of this list, which was posted on my own personal site, I was only able to come up with nine films I genuinely believe should be on a Best Of... list for the year. My list is similar to Peter's, in a way, as it contains many of the same films, yet one of the films he included (Antichrist) ended up on my Worst Of... list, and I'm still in awe over how he could include the Friday the 13th redux as number one despite his explanation.

This list took some time to compile, and for the sake of conformity, I have added a tenth film. At the end I've included my Worst Of... list just so you can get an idea as to why I'm relentlessly teased for my vastly superior taste in horror films. So without further adieu, my Top 10 Horror Movies of 2009, rewritten and tweaked for Horror Squad.

10. House of the Devil My ex post facto entry to this list, House of the Devil was not an enjoyable film for me. I found it incredibly slow and lacking a sufficient payoff, all while only giving AJ Bowen approximately ten minutes of screen time. So why am I including it on this list? Because Ti West didn't make an homage to an 80's Satanic Panic film, he MADE an 80's Satanic Panic film. House of the Devil captures the look and feel of the time period perfectly, from the way it was filmed to the soundtrack. It is based on that alone that he deserves a spot on this list, even if it's number ten.

Even though I got my start writing about horror by creating a blog called Horror's Not Dead, I don't jive with the idea that good horror is becoming an endangered species. Sure, who is actually making and delivering good horror is always in a state of flux, but considering the sheer crop of films to choose from is constantly on the rise, there will always be gems to found. Now before getting to the list proper, let's explain my own personal criteria for what qualifies as a 2009 film.

Basically, what matters is if the film was given its widest release during the course of the year. For example, despite being first shown publicly years ago, I consider Trick 'r Treat an eligible title, as 2009 finally found it going wide (albeit straight-to-video). Daybreakers, on the other hand, played a few festivals in 2009 but will not have its wide release until 2010. Conversely, most people in America won't see [REC] 2 until 2010 or beyond, but it went wide in its native Spain in 2009, thus it is eligible. Make sense? On to the show!

10. Paranormal Activity
I went back and forth on excluding Paranormal Activity from my Top 10 list because, really, it didn't do much for me in the scare department. I found it pulse pounding to watch for the first time, but it has scarcely popped into my brain since then. However, I do remain in awe of what Oren Peli accomplished with a mere $15,000. I have a lot of respect for the process that goes into engineering any thrill ride, so to speak, so even if it didn't severely impact me, it still commands a placement.

9. Thirst (my review)
Chan-wook Park's Thirst is, hands down, not only the best vampire film of the year, but I'd put it in league with another similarly atypical fang-set film, Let the Right One In. It's not particularly scary, but it is a deft, engrossing blend of lust and violence that gets back to the eroticism of the vampire that no film (or TV show) has properly explored in years. If you're feeling burned out on vampires these days, and that would be perfectly understandable, at least put this in your Must Watch queue simply because it's another brilliant film from the mind of the man who gave the world Oldboy.

If you've been following Horror Squad for awhile, you'll have noticed that I'm typically the first person to jump on anything Paranormal Activity (review) related, or at the very least be the only to salivate over the movie. While many are content with saying it's merely a good and indeed a scary film, I am one of the few fanboys out there who consider it to be one of the best horror films of the decade and a shining example of how horror does not need to be a flashy affair to be scary. I am incredibly eager to get my hands on a Paranormal Activity DVD once it gets released, so naturally I'm beyond excited for this.

Those fine purveyors of horror news Shock Till You Drop have brought to my attention a limited collector's edition of the film that will be made available "only online" on December. This coincides with the film's regular DVD and Blu-ray release date, and sports some pretty impressive bonus features for those hardcore dweebs who salivated over the film and saw it three times in theaters (*coughmecough*). The DVD includes:

-A theatrical version, unrated version and the often-talked about "never before seen ending."

-A collectible trading card featuring an authentic film cell

-A limited edition and numbered t-shirt to let everyone know you were one of the million people to "demand it."

And as an added bonus, Shock even got the DVD art, which is, well, unimpressive, but I don't think that's the selling point. You can take a gander at it up there in the corner in fancy thumbnail size, or by taking a peel after the jump.

Running alongside the Sundance Film Festival in Park City Utah this January 21-28 is the 16th annual Slamdance Festival. Out of over 5,000 submissions, 18 films were chosen for the festival run. After the jump check out a selection of the 18 films that may be of interest to horror fans. There's a little something for everyone, including a Cthulhulicious title, a hipster hating serial killer, a backwoods, twisted fairy tale and a Burroughs documentary featuring my boyfriend David Cronenberg. In 2008 the fest screened Oren Peli's indie haunt flick Paranormal Activity which went on to top $100 million at the box office. So there's always hope for little indie turned big money dreams TRAITOR. Just kidding. Now, hit the jump.