Every couple of years, American theaters are graced with the presence of a film that doesn’t rely on a multi-million dollar budget in order to get people interested. This year’s Paranormal Activity is a prime example of how a low-budget movie that sacrifices special effects and high tech tricks can still scare us by letting our own imaginations do the work.

We all know that movies with big budgets seem to be increasingly popular, James Cameron’s upcoming film Avatar boasts a budget of $300 million, making Paranormal Activity’s $11,000 budget seem minuscule. However, up until Michael Jackson’s posthumous documentary This Is It topped box office charts this weekend, Paranormal ruled the box office and grossed $65 million in North America.

Image from Paranormal Activity

What explains Paranormal’s success? To investigate, I attended a screening on Halloween just to see for myself if this low-budget flick was worth the hype. I’ll admit it, I’m usually a fan of large budget films. I like the visual excitement provided by computer graphics, stunning camera work, and slick editing and after-effects. It’s hard to negate the fact that the experience afforded by a Titanic (pun intended) budget is enjoyable to watch. It essentially provides the movie experience that we’re used to as Americans, the experience that movie producers and directors know we like as consumers. Traditionally, lower budget films have trouble bringing in the big bucks to the box office although they’re often critically acclaimed and/or successful on the film-festival circuit. Needless to say, I was interested to see what was attracting people to the theater to see Paranormal.

On the surface Paranormal Activity has a plot line similar to most horror movies. You meet the main characters, you’re introduced to a problem or situation, and the rest of the movie guides you through one scary scenario to another until there’s a resolution or a bloody demise. However, what makes this film different than most flicks in the same genre is the low-budget appeal. Instead of expensive tricks and effects that are often based in unrealistic or over-the-top situations that few of us can relate to, Paranormal takes place in a house and is based upon situations that any of us would be frightened by if we found ourselves in a similar circumstance. Who wouldn’t be scared by the thud of a door slamming shut in the dead of night, or lights turning off and on mysteriously?

(Editor’s note: SPOILER BELOW)

Of course, there are the critics and nay-sayers who claim Paranormal just isn’t scary enough. In fact, some of them sat behind me in the movie theater when I saw this film. I actually heard a woman say, “That’s not scary,”  during a scene when a Ouija board spontaneously combusted into flames. I’m sorry, but if a self-igniting tool primarily used to communicate with spirits doesn’t scare you, you must be a member of a Satanic cult whose activities could probably make a fantastic low-budget horror film. Irregardless, Paranormal isn’t the scariest movie I’ve ever seen, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t frightened while watching it.

Paranormal is a film that needs to be appreciated for what it is –a low budget film based on paranormal activity that occurs while you sleep. It’s not going to scare you in the same way Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Halloween did. But, if you’re looking for a fun  movie experience, and can appreciate a somewhat realistic horror film (if you believe in ghosts/spirits/demons) than go see Paranormal Activity. If you’re a fan of the Saw films, you might need a bigger budget to be entertained.