Paranormal Activity 5 Moved to 2014

Paramount pictures has recently moved Paranormal Activity 5 to October of next year. The film with now be released on October 24, 2014.  Before that, it's Latino counterpart, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones will be released on January 3, 2014. So we get two of the movies in one year - Yay! And none this October when the time is perfect for one - Boo!

Paranormal Activity 3 Coming to a Theater Near You

Paranormal Activity 3 is set for wide release this weekend. I loved the first two movies so I'm looking forward to the third installment. This time, we go back to the 80s and see the two sisters, Katie and Kristi, as kids. When they're not playing with Teddy Ruxpin dolls and video cameras, they're being terrorized by some malevolent spirit.

The reviews are out and they're good for the most part. The LA Times reports that directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman continue the thrills with crafty cinematography:

Throughout, though, there is a newfound wit and invention. The blocking used to get characters (and scares) in and out of shots feels lively and fun, making the jolts hit harder and the thrills giddier.


I'll miss seeing it in Philadelphia where the audience reactions and comments were as entertaining as the film was. Tucson's audience will probably be a little more low-key. As long as I leave the theater jumpy and looking around every corner like some unseen force is going to bitch slap me, it will all be good.

American Horror Story Episode 2 Tonight

FX's new drama, American Horror Story, about a haunted house and its new occupants, is on tonight. I have to say I'm really looking forward to it after watching last week's premier. I was a bit wary at first. It looked like it could wind up cheesy or creepy. Well, it's both. And it works.

Its over-the-top antics and clichés will probably turn off a lot of people, but once I started watching I couldn't stop, even though I was aware of what the writers were doing. AHS plays off of many horror movie stereotypes and pays homage to well-known horror films such as The Shining, It, The Amityville Horror, AND it has Dylan McDermott naked. A lot. Not a big surprise since Ryan Murphy, creator of Nip Tuck, is behind this one.

The Washington Post has this to say about AHS:

The “American Horror Story” pilot has aired on FX. And anyone who watched thinks it’s either the worst, most jumbled, depraved excuse for television ever, or a brilliantly audacious, twistedly compelling piece of work.


I couldn't agree more. I'm intrigued. What is with the gimp suit? What about Jessica Lange acting like a nutjob with hair that looks like a baked good has been sewn into her head? What's up with that bizarro daughter of hers? Is the guy with the half-melted face real or a ghost? And what about that phantom maid?

If you don't know what I'm referring to, you should really tune in.

Go Into the Light, No! Don't Go Into the Light!

My latest PopMatters column on one of my all-time-favorite Halloween movies is up now.

They're Heeeere. . . 

Some GS Shit, Right There: Paranormal Activity 2

I saw Paranormal Activity 2 in Philadelphia last week on opening night. What a movie! What a crowd!  My sister, friend, and I lined up and were nearly knocked over by a pushy crowd, anxious to get a seat. We found three together without any problem. All that running for nothing. Well not for nothing - the movie rocked!

I had no idea what to expect since I didn't watch any trailers or read any reviews beforehand. Without giving too much away, the movie revolves around Katie's (remember her? *shudder*) sister's family, who enjoys toying around with their video camera. After their house is broken into and ransacked, they set up security cameras in all corners of the house, which lead to some interesting and very creepy footage.

Like Oren Peli's last film, the pacing is slow and builds to a hand-wringing, eye-hiding tension. I think I screamed at the end, but I'm still not sure. I do remember feeling like I had the wind knocked out of me.

The audience commentary during all of this was priceless. Phrases like:

"Oh no, she didn't!"
"Get the baby and get out!"
"That's some GS shit, right there."

and

"I WANT MY MONEY BACK!"

accompanied the nail-biting, spooky good time.

By the way, does anyone know what "GS shit" means?

NEW POLL

I've added a new poll on the sidebar concerning horror classics. They're some of my favorites. Check it out. . .

FUNNY REVIEW OF PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

My friend sent me this very humorous review of Paranormal Activity. As far as the "that was it?" comment, I have disagree. I found the end of the film terrifying!!

WARNING: If you haven't seen the movie, there are a few slight spoilers here.


In the spirit of found-footage horror (see: The Blair Witch Project, Cloverfield, REC), an increasingly popular mode whose weaknesses and strengths are exemplified by Paranormal Activity, I am forgoing a more traditional review. Instead, I present to you the notes I made while screening the film. “White people.” “Boring white people.” “Will they ever shut up?” “Do they ever go to work?”

“Jesus Christ, where are the fucking ghosts?” “I was promised ghosts.” “They're sleeping. This isn't scary.” “More talking.” “Ghosts goddammit, I want ghosts!” “These actors are really good at pretending to be people I'd never want to be stuck in an elevator with.” “Finally, a fucking ghost.” “Oh shit, that was kinda scary.” “A demon, not a ghost.” “More inane blather.” “Idea: horror film about a demon who torments deaf-mutes.”

“Pretty scared now, actually.” “Making this note because I'm too scared to look at the screen.” “Sorta relieved that so much of this movie is just talking, as I did not bring an extra pair of underwear.” “This is too much.” “Mommy.” “Will anyone notice if I throw up?” “I don't like this.” “Chris, you'll get through this.” “Wait, that was it?” “Happy I did not piss my pants.” “Kinda bummed I did not piss my pants.” R. CHRIS STAMM

A HAUNTING IN CT: TWO INTERSTING CLIPS

I'm working on a column about A Haunting in Connecticut and came across these two interesting clips on Youtube.

The first is a very old clip from A Current Affair concerning the haunting on which the movie is based. The clip features Ed and Lorraine Warren as well as Carmen Snedeker who lived in the house at the time and claimed it was haunted and that her family was physically attacked by a demon. The people from A Current Affair obviously think this all a bunch of BS as well as some others they interview. Interestingly, the person who posted the clip (to the background music of Radiohead) claims that they lived in the house at one point and never experienced any supernatural phenomenon:




Then I found this nice interview with Lorraine Warren in which she discusses how she found out that she had supernatural abilities. She also claims the most haunted places she and her late husband Ed have investigated were in the UK as well as in CT and the East Coast. In addition, she sweetly describes meeting Ed:

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY TO OPEN NATIONWIDE

Buzz about Paranormal Activity has reached a height that's satisfied Paramount Pictures enough to release the film nationwide this weekend. Getting over one million hits on their DEMAND IT website and enough people talking on Twitter and Facebook, the scary-ass movie will open to the masses on Friday. Some viewers should anticipate a higher electric bill next month as they'll may be sleeping with their lights on after seeing it!

Go get your tickets now.

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY REVIEW

I finally got to see the much-anticipated Paranormal Activity this weekend and in a word: WOW.

PA is a brilliant horror film for many reasons. Like The Blair Witch Project, as the viewer, you are immediately drawn into the film, seeing what the character Mika sees as the action takes place in he and his girlfriend Kate's house. As Mika swings his camera around, you are kept waiting for what might jump out at you.

By using little more than light, shadow, sound, and excellent acting, director Oren Peli captures a mood so dark and closterphobic that I found myself completely engrossed and gripping the armrest of the theater seat.


There is no gore, no fireworks, chase scenes, or even music. The film's subtlety is what makes it so hair-raising. What happens in our imaginations, after all, is always more frightening than what a director can show us.

There are plenty of screamer moments, however. Peli's pacing is impecible, turning tense moments into jaw-dropping gasps in the flick of an eye. The audience screamed, myself included, more than a couple times.

As my friend put it, the film is a "slow burn." The sinister presence lurking in the house starts out slowly, tip-toeing into the film, gradually getting more intrusive as the days in the story go by, finally stirring up terror that's breathtaking.

Definitely worth the hype.

"HAUNTED HOUSES" RIVALING HORROR FLICKS?

On ABC News today there's a story about how "haunted houses" are rivaling scary movies this Halloween:

"Big-budget special effects, elaborate sets, and exotic locations are turning what once were neighborhood haunts into weekend destinations for those who love to scream."

Read more here.

On a personal side note, I used to work at one of these places-- a low-budget setup called the "Haunted Hayride" in Tucson, AZ. This was probably the most fun job I've ever had despite being decapitated dozens of times each night! I have yet to enjoy myself that much as a patron of these kinds of places, but then again, I'm still trying to get to Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary.

Me and Curt, "The Executioner", at the Haunted Hayride in Tucson.