We recently learned the surprising and refreshing news that a studio was choosing NOT to remake a movie, said movie being the shaky-cam-style horror, Paranormal Activity. The studio acknowledged (not in so many words) that Paranormal Activity is SO good there wasn't a need to remake it. You speak the truth, Paramount! The Oren Peli written and directed film is about a couple who decide to set up a camera in their bedroom to try and capture the mysterious goings-on that have been happening at night in their house. Needless to say, nightmarish things occur....

Today we have the official trailer for Paranormal Activity, as well as the promo poster. Both items play up the fact that this film has been described as one of the scariest movies of all time, with guaranteed nightmares for those who watch it. That's a tall order to deliver on.

Check out the trailer and the poster for Paranormal Activity below (/Film warns us that one of the shots in the trailer is from late on in the film and could be considered a SPOILER):

Paranormal Activity poster

For the High Definition version of the trailer, you can head over to Apple Movie Trailers.

I love the way the trailer splices nightvision footage of an audience watching the film, with actual footage from the film. The same technique was used for the trailer for [REC] a couple of years ago - I think it's a great idea, especially when you're going to end up like those scared audience members, jumping in the dark at every loud noise.

What's also cool about the trailer is that at the end it invites you to "Demand" that the film be shown in your city if it isn't already set to do so. And even better, it's not just limited to the U.S. - I live in Scotland in the UK, and it allowed me to "Demand" it be brought there (a confirmation message that popped up revealed that a whopping NINE other people from my neck of the woods did the same :P ).

I'm glad to see a horror movie be about something other than buckets of blood and gore. With this current horror era of torture-porn (I think the Saw series is up to about number 26 by now...), it's great to see a movie like this celebrate the creepy, get-under-your-skin horror that we don't see that often. I'll definitely head out to see Paranormal Activity ASAP.

What do you think of the official trailer for Paranormal Activity? Will you make the trip to the theater to see this one or will you wait for the DVD when you can watch it with the lights off, in the comfort (read: with the pause button at the ready) of your own home?

Paranormal Activity is kicking off its screenings at Austin's Fantastic Fest at midnight on September 24th, with select showings the following day on September 25th. Here's the short list of locations where the film is showing:

  • Austin (Alamo Draft House)
  • Seattle (Neptune)
  • Ann Arbor, Michigan (State)
  • Durham, North Carolina (Southpoint 16)
  • Baton Rouge, Louisiana (RAVE Mall of Louisiana 15)
  • Boulder, Colorado (Cinemark 16)
  • Columbus, Ohio (Studio 35)
  • Orlando, Florida (AMC Universal Cineplex)
  • Madison, Wisconsin (Marcus Eastgate 16)
  • Santa Cruz, California (Del Mar 3)
  • State College, Pennsylvania (Premiere College 9)
  • Tucson, Arizona (El Con)
  • Lincoln, Nebraska (Ross Media Center)

More screenings are set to follow on September 26th and October 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Hopefully the film will do well at these limited locations and it will get a much wider release. If the film isn't playing in your area, don't forget you can "Demand It" at the film's website.

This thing's really gearing up - could we have the next Blair Witch Project on our hands (in terms of popularity, not quality)?...

Source: YouTube, /Film and Apple