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PARANORMAL ACTIVITY -- ( ENGLISH , 2007 )

Director : Oren Peli

Cast : Micah Sloat , Katie Featherson

Well , they say you should never harbor any expectations at all , before watching a movie , to truly enjoy it.. but when the whole WWW has been going nuts about a movie , how can you not stop yourself from falling prey to the expectations trap ? And , Paranormal Activity ( PA ) is a stellar example to validate this ..

Katie and Micah are a happy couple , who have just moved into their new home , begin to experience a series of weird incidents , which they believe are supernatural. Micah , decides to record all the happenings using a camera and an audio recorder, so as to use the recordings to do some private research to ascertain the reason behind the occurrences. Katie on the other hand is not entirely convinced about his plans , and seeks expert opinion in this regard. That is what the movie is all about.

Widely praised as a truly scary flick , I admit I expected a lot from this , but sadly , I guess my hopes were too high. Paranormal Activity definitely is not a bad film , nor is it a great movie , nor is it a mediocre attempt. What I loved about the movie , was its characterization , more than the actual chills and thrills , which form the crux of any Horror flick.

For an independent film , without much backing and negative star power , it might be tough for the Director to make the audience relate to the characters. But here lies the beauty of this movie. The characterization is simply brilliant , and the way human relationships tend to falter in the face of diversity has been brought about really well.

Horror films these days tend to be nothing more than a bloodbath , amply complemented by Computer Effects etc , with zero logic . Paranormal Activity is a bold attempt at changing this perception . There is not a single drop of blood visible throughout the movie , except for the climax , and hardly noticeable too. computer graphics , make-up etc don't appear anywhere at all.

Shot on a paltry budget of 5000$ , Paranormal Activity proves wrong the wide misconception that good movies can only be made with a strong financial backing. I do not mean to say this is a great movie , but considering it's budgeting constraints , it is well shot .

The camera tends to be the main player in the movie , as what is supposed to scare us , is caught on the camera which Micah places in his bedroom. The bizarre angles , the little jerks and shakes in the visuals , all contribute to the natural appeal of this movie. Nothing seems to be artificial , ranging from the house , to the dialogues , to the plot itself.

Everything about the movie seems to be so realistic , largely due to the fine performances from the pair. Micah and Katie perfectly complement each other. Katie has a past connection to the happenings , as we learn later on and can genuinely feel the horror of the incidents , while Micah , appears to be an easy going guy , with clever sarcasm in his dialogues. Micah seems more focused on his camera and its use in the research , rather than in solving the actual problem.


The screenplay is quite brisk , and even though there are a few dull moments , the overall eerie mood of the movie is maintained. However there are certain "YAAAwn " moments , especially when after a point you realize that you never are going to get really scared . But I would never classify it to be boring , and it makes for a rather decent watch , pace wise.

The first half an hour or so , goes in establishing the characters and any scares , that's depending on your scare - levels , appear after that only. But the whole Day-Night cycle tends to get a wee bit repetitive , but no complaints as the concept probably demanded such a method of storytelling.

I am not trying to sound all brave and bold here , but few movies have scared me , in the true sense of the word. Like I said , Computer graphics and make-up etc have never really scared me . What scares me , is the fact that unexpected things might happen , anytime. I remember reading somewhere , a M.Night Shyamalan interview , where he says something like " I do not believe blood and gore is scary. What scares me , is , I sit at my office desk and suddenly the picture frame of my family photo on my desk falls down , for no reason .. I pick it up and place it properly back , but it still falls down . I repeat the act and it still falls down , for unknown reasons.. That to me , is fear ".

Forgive my memory , but I think that's what he said..Anyway , I just meant to say , that I too share the same perception about fear and horror. And Paranormal activity is more of a mind-games genre of horror , rather than something which visually scares you.

Yes , there are a few scenes which scare you visually , but these are more of " Silent for sometime and sudden loud noise " kinda scenes , rather than true fear. You know , the kind which makes you jump suddenly , but only to fall a second later , laughing at how stupid you were for being scared by a sudden loud noise , amidst silence. However , I would not be insensitive enough to label PA as this type of movie . Yes , it did not scare me , but it definitely played with me psychologically.

I mean , it manages to hold your suspense , as you wait to see what unfolds , because you can relate to the characters to a fairly large extent , thanks to the realistic making . When the couple go to bed , as we see in the camera's recording , you tend to be as nervous as them , to see what really happens , and what the Activity is all about. Even during the initial scenes , you wait to REALLY know what the psychic has to say , when Katie calls him for help. That , people , personally speaking , contributes to the charm of a horror movie.

On the flip side , very few genuine scares in this movie . I watched this at past-midnight , with the lights out , and in a small room with a fairly loud 5.1 Speaker system . It still did not give me the chills. I admit it held my interest , but it was more psychological than horror.

Many people have hailed this as one of the greatest horror films ever , and saying they had nightmares after watching it etc etc . I saw it past-midnight .. It's 3 AM now , and I will sleep in sometime , however , I can assure you that I certainly won't have any nightmares , nor is Paranormal Activity going to make me lose my sleep , in anyway . In case I do , you shall be the first to know.

Finally , I would term it as a very good attempt , but not quite haunting :(

VERDICT : Good ( 3 / 5 )

YAVARUM NALAM (TAMIL , 2009)

Director : Vikram Kumar

Cast : Madhavan , Neetu Chandra


" Yavarum Nalam " , is another attempt at trying to scare the living daylights out of the audience.

This is the story of Manohar (Madhavan), who with his joint-family moves into an apartment 13B , in a huge building . The large family has enough fun and frolic together. But later on realize that all is not well . Manohar realizes that the images unfolding on a soap opera " Yavarum Nalam ", reflect the immediate future of his family. And when things start getting nasty , he feels the need to put an end to this.

The movie then follows his attempt at finding out the reason and truth behind eerie happenings like his image getting distorted in his mobile phone , the lift not working only when he sets foot in it , the milk getting wasted etc...

The movie does not succumb to the usual horror cliches like blood spill all over the
place , women clad in white with long hair etc. The movie is a sensible attempt at trying to scare the viewer. Using the concept of the idiot-box , which we are all addicted to , the Director tries to spin a web of horror , but manages to just make the mark.

The movie does have its share of scares , but they are very few . You do realize 20 minutes into the movie , that this is not the usual horror flick , and is something much better. But then , this movie is made as if its supposed to scare you , and sadly , it did not scare me.

The characters are normal everyday people , especially Manohar's family , who look like they will suffer a nervous breakdown if they miss their daily quota of soap operas . But then , they hardly help in the movie's progress.

Although the logic of the movie sounds a bit far-fetched , we always have to provide some leeway for the horror/thriller genre of films. But then the novel concept of using the TV as a base to drive the scares , almost ends up falling flat on its face... especially towards the second half , whose logic I guessed long ago. I knew it would be about a past murder , waiting to be avenged... sadly , it came true , and I did not need a TV to tell me that.

Screenplay is probably the biggest drawback of the movie. I was ashamed , to be frank , to almost fall asleep on at least 3 or 4 occasions , in what is supposed to be a Thriller . The movie could have been cut down by at least 20 minutes , and the 2 songs in between hardly serve any purpose. The intelligent plot , is badly let down by some unwanted sequences , which test the patience of the viewer.

Acting by Madhavan is nothing great , but he is his dependable best as always . Playing the role of Manohar the man who loves his family and is willing to go to any length to save his family , this is not exactly the greatest role he has played so far , nor does it offer any scope for extraordinary acting . However he has come up with a fine job , nevertheless. The rest of the cast come up with decent performances.

But I felt , the real hero of the movie has to be the man behind the camera P.C. Sreeram . This legendary cinematographer has taken this movie to completely new heights , technically. The camera plays with the viewer all through the movie , and helps a lot in sustaining the dark mood.

There are many flaws in the movie. How does only Madhavan manage to notice the connection between the serial and his family , when its staring them in the face all the way ?? And have not we had enough of the "death being avenged" stories in our movies ?? And what was the need to include a song in the middle of the movie ?? And the dialogues are very plain and ordinary , and seem to be written by a novice. Better dialogues could have made the performances appear much more alluring.

Overall this movie could have been much much much better . Such a novel attempt , has just managed to make the mark. Thankfully , things fell into place before I felt like running out of the movie hall.

I will go with a generous 3 out of 5 for "Yavarum Nalam ". It could have easily been a 4 out of 5 , only if it did not move at a snail's pace in many places.

VERDICT : 3 / 5 ( Above average and worth a watch )

[REC] - REVIEW

[REC] ( Spanish , 2007 )

Director : Jaume Balaguero , Paco Plaza


A TV crew follows a Firefighting Team , to record their activities , when a call is made to rescue an old lady who is stuck in an apartment. This is the basic plot. Big deal , eh ? Believe me folks , you are in for a surprise , and a nasty one at that.

Another Spanish movie review , [REC] reaffirms my devotion to foreign cinema.

The movie covers incidents which unfold on a night , when a Fire Service Team is called to rescue an old lady , and help her out of her apartment. The visuals are through the camera of a TV crew , consisting of Angela Vidal the reporter and Pablo the cameraman. The crew is recording the event for a show called " While you were sleeping". What appears to be a normal call for rescue , eventually transforms into one of the most horrifying movies I have ever seen.

As the team reaches the apartment , they realize that this is no normal lady. What happens later , will not be revealed in this review , as I don't want to spoil the suspense for you people.

There are enough chills and thrills to keep you glued to your seats. The horror is definitely bloody good , literally. Blood and gore are widely used , but in a sensible manner. The movie could have been yet another ordinary Horror film , but thankfully it does make much more sense than the usual blood spilling stuff , which we have to put up with in the name of Horror/Thriller movies.

The movie is shot in the most realistic manner possible. The portrayal of human emotions has to be appreciated. The residents of the building are locked up , owing to certain reasons. So expect a lot of arguments and fussing. And when horrible incidents are taking place , people are more interested in being on TV.

There is no main character as such , as it is shot in a documentary style , but in a very different manner. Pablo's camera can be termed as the protagonist , as the entire story unfolds through his lens.

This is definitely an intense thriller. You are always on the edge of your seats , thanks to some really nervous situations , which the camera records. I knew that something would happen in certain scenes and in such cases I normally don't get scared when that thing actually happens.. But for some reason , even though you know when and where exactly the Director is going to attempt spooking you , you fall for it eventually.

Events unfold in such a fast manner that you never even think about keeping track of time. Easily the most effective screenplay , among the many Horror/Thriller movies I have come across.

The movie will be a feast for fans of the Horror/Thriller genre. However , this is not for the weak hearted. There are some really gory scenes , and if you are the squirmy type , you would think twice before watching it. And despite my warning , if you decide to watch it , please do so on an empty stomach. I hope you get the hint.

Yes , blood and gore are quite prominent . But very different from other Horror movies , where the makers try to scare you with excessive gore. Here it is more the tense situations and fear of the known , rather than the unknown which scare you.

The bulk of the story is set within the confines of a building , and believe me , you will not forget the building for a long time.


I am always in search of a Horror film , which will keep me so involved in the events which unfold , and manage to scare me. This one did not really scare me , except in a few sequences , but the thrill of watching it , in the middle of the night , was a rewarding experience.

The only hint I am dropping is this one ---> If you loved "28 Days Later" , the British Thriller which came out in 2002 , you will definitely like this one , as the concept is very similar. I strongly recommend this movie , especially if you are a fan of the Horror genre. And even though many people don't really like watching non-English films , I sincerely advise you to make an exception , as far as [REC] is concerned. Fear is Universal , don't you reckon ?

I normally detest blood and gore in Horror movies , but this one makes a lot of sense ,thankfully. I will go with 4 out of 5 , and a HUGE thumbs up , for [REC] , which is one of the very few exceptionally good Horror movies I have come across. Grab a "bite" of this one !!!

VERDICT : Brilliant Thriller ( 4 / 5)

THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE - REVIEW

EL ESPINAZO DEL DIABLO ( Spanish,2001)

Director : Guillermo Del Toro

Cast : Fernando Tielve , Eduardo Noriega , Federico Luppi

This is essentially a horror movie , sans the blood and gore. This movie is a blend of horror and drama , and boy o boy , what a blend it turned out to be. Another movie from Europe , this time from Spain's acclaimed director , Del Toro.

The movie is about a young boy Carlos (Tielve) , who is made to live in an orphanage / school , meant for children whose parents are with the rebel groups during the Spanish Civil war. There he is assigned a bed , which belonged to a kid called Santi ,who disappeared many days ago. The movie focuses on Carlos trying to adjust to the new surroundings , and also his encounters with "the one who sighs" . What follows is a horror story with the War as a backdrop.

What could have easily been another run of the mill horror movie , has been cleverly made , using the political scenario as a driver for the story. The movie is not the conventional horror type and we don't get to see any blood being spilled , head being severed etc. Instead the horror element is brought out by the ubiquitous presence of the ghost character , who makes himself visible to Carlos at regular intervals.

You might have noticed from my reviews that I have an affinity for children based movies, and this one is no exception. "The Devil's Backbone" actually unfolds in a spooky manner with a voice over "What is a ghost ?" , but brilliantly transforms itself into a drama , with the spooks being an integral part. The movie will not scare you in the true sense of the word , buts keeps you guessing throughout the movie.

A few dark secrets are revealed in the later stages of the movie and you realize why some scenes which had appeared inconsequential in the earlier parts , actually form the most important part of the storyline. There are many other characters in the movie which are cleverly brought out in the story.

We have Carmen, the ageing Headmistress of the school , who has an affair with the young worker Jacinto (Noriega). The school's Doctor Casares( Luppi) is an ageing man , who has his eye on Carmen. The children are another refreshing aspect of the movie. A kid called Jaime comes across as the chief bully around , but we get to see different shades as the movie progresses.

The star of the movie however is the young Carlos. Not only does he have to adjust to the new place , but also has to put up with the usual problems like bullying etc , and on top of all this he has frequent encounters with the ghost. So, we get to see a rather diverse character , whose emotions are portrayed brilliantly by the young actor , Fernandi Tielve.

We don't really get to see the actual war happening , but the prospect of an attack looms large over the school , considering the volatile political situation in which the movie is based upon. It is more of a psychological thriller . The movie has been shot in a very minimal way , and the bulk of the story unfolds inside the school campus .

Characterization is another strong point of the movie. Jacinto definitely has a large role to play as you will realize towards the end . I was very impressed with the portrayal of Doctor Casares , especially his role as the father figure in the later sequences.

The screenplay is very good , and the story is well driven . Chills and thrills are not to be expected , but still falls under the mainstream Thriller/Horror genre. The story reveals itself a tad bit early , but the Director manages to keep you interested , despite you knowing what might happen along the way.

I will go with 3.5 out of 5 , for this one , which is brilliant , but not as good as the Director's "Pan's Labyrinth" , which I consider to be one of the best movies ever made. However , Guillermo Del Toro has not let me down this time , and I strongly recommend this movie .

VERDICT : Brilliant ( 3.5 / 5)

THE DESCENT - REVIEW

THE DESCENT ( English,2005)

Director : Neil Marshall

Cast : Shauna Macdonald , Natalie Jackson Mendoza , Nora-Jane Noone

I was initially apprehensive about watching the movie , as the promo had a lot of blood and looked gory , and I generally avoid those kind of movies. But this one was a surprise exception to the rule.

The movie is about a group of 6 adventurous friends , Sarah,Beth,Holly,Juno,Sam and Betty who re-unite after a gap of one year. Sarah had lost her child Jessica and husband Paul , in a gruesome accident the previous time they had all met. So , Juno decides to have a small re-union with all the young girls , at her place somewhere in the forests , mainly to bring Sarah back to normal.

Juno then tells them that they would trek to a place called Boreham Caves and explore it , as a reminder of their adventurous days. Little do they know that there are some dangerous creatures inside their eventual exploration spot. What happens to them during the exploration is what the movie is all about.

The movie is definitely among the most thrilling ones I have come across. There were a few scenes in the beginning , especially the ones showing the ladies gossiping , which made me wonder if I had got stuck in a chick- flick. But it picked up very well , and makes quite a good watch.

The caves are dark and deep. And the creatures inside are blood thirsty. We don't really get to see the creatures for a long time , but when they do appear , the movie keeps you hooked. The gang of girls try to escape from the cave , but they have no clue how to go about doing it.

This sounds like another run-of-the-mill horror movie , but believe me , it isn't. The thrills will keep turning up at regular intervals and will make you sit up and take notice. The movie has been shot really well and the caves appear so natural.

The characters are distinct. Sarah is often filled with the thoughts of her dead child Jessica. Juno tries to play the part of team leader and keeps the group under control. Holly is the rebel of the group and keeps making risky decisions at will. The ego-clash between all the characters has been portrayed really well.

The creatures look like a bigger and much deadlier version of Gollum from "Lord Of The Rings" , and keep turning up to provide the thrills , and this movie has loads of it. The movie is not gory at all , except for one particular scene in which Holly gets injured. Am sure that a sizable amount of money has been spent on the artificial blood. There is SO much of it , especially towards the later parts of the movie.

This could easily have been another ordinary horror film , but the director makes it very thrilling , and you will keep guessing what's gonna happen . It is definitely unpredictable , and hardly has any cliches. The movie will keep you glued to your seats once the real action starts.

I will go with 3.5 out of 5 , for this movie , which managed to keep someone like me who detests blood and gore in movies , sit up and take notice.

VERDICT : A very good thriller ( 3.5 /5 )