Paranormal recommendations.
Next are
the two "Paranormal Activity" movies that are up on Netflix Instant. I
admit I am a sucker for these movies! I'm not so much taken with the
story, though I do enjoy a good little ghost story now and then, as I am with the style and the constraints on the story-telling that the style imposes.
Rather than merely the shaky-cam style of "found movies" of old, the
"Paranormal Activity" movies try to incorporate long static shots via
security cams. As some of you know, I am a fan of long takes, whether
moving or static. A horror movie is an interesting setting for the use
of long takes. One is constantly scouring the screen for, yes,
paranormal activity. It gives 8-10min sequences without cuts
entertainment value where, typically, such sequences are irritating to
moviegoers. So, I support these movies if people can learn to watch long
takes through them. Then maybe folks like PTA and Ozu would be the next
step. And finally, Tarkovsky and Bela Tarr? Maybe I'm dreaming. Anyway,
back to the paranormal...
Because the style of the "Paranormal
Activity" movies has been taken throughout the series, this imposes
interesting constraints on the next filmmaker who wants to do the same,
but different. This is especially interesting when we travel back in
time to the 80s in "3." Here makeshift security cameras are used to good
effect. I especially like the camera that's attached to the base of a
rotating fan. (I've also seen from the trailers that laptops were used
in "4"; pretty cool I say. Prettay, prettay, prettay cool.)
Check them out on Netflix Instant. They're not half-bad! Really! You may be surprised! I was!
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