Paranormal Entity

Paranormal Entity (2009)

** (out of 4)

The Asylum's "mockbuster" of PARANORMAL ACTIVITY has a brother (Shane Van Dyke) filming his sister (Erin Marie Hogan) and mother (Fia Perera) when strange things start to occur. You know, you have to love the cheapness of The Asylum. For very little cash, very little time and very little talent they manage to make all sorts of dough with this generic little films. This one here is actually much better than the rest of their "found footage" films but at the same time it's very weak when compared to the other movie and its biggest sin is the fact that it's not scary at all. It's pretty funny to watch this movie and see how closely it comes to PARANORMAL ACTIVITY. There are several scenes that are nearly the same with the only difference being that here it's not scary. I personally loved the other film but as a film buff I'm curious to see the rip-offs. For the most part I thought it was technically a good movie. The cinematography was nice for this type of movie and I thought there were a few good ideas sprinkled across the picture. I won't spoil exactly what's doing the hauntings but this was a nice item that is sadly wasted in a not-so-good movie. I also thought Erin Marie Hogan was good as the sister and her nude scene towards the end did at least wake me up. The highlight of the film? The speech given by mommy when the son asks her and the sister to go to a motel while he stays at the house with the ghost. Priceless.

I have to give Shane Van Dyke some words...just because you come from a TV family does NOT mean you are capable of being a TV or film star! I have seen Shane in a few productions and to be honest, he is a talentless actor and now, as a writer and director, he proves he is also useless at these roles too. I have just sat through one of the worst productions I have ever seen. It was not only badly filmed (we all had a giggle at the shot of him on his lap top when he is pretending to press keys and scroll!), the acting was bad! The woman playing the mother in this film was terrible! if you want actors to improvise Shane, then get actors who can improvise! This woman was appalling. I watched Paranormal Activity a few years ago and found it boring and terribly written, acted and directed, however, having now seen this atrocious piece of garbage, I consider paranormal activity a genius production. I have read some reviews of this on IMDb and am totally surprised anyone could class this as good. Are these people part of Shane's gang? Look folks, before you consider watching this, let me save you time, it is a complete and badly done rip off, using a cheap camcorder and BAD acting. Writing wise, it's suffering a great deal from the fact it has no writing and seems all improvised. Badly Improvised I might add. Somebody should inform Shane that a new career really does need looking in to. It is surely not enough to merely trade on your family name, surely you Americans can see where the talent is and where, in Shane's case, it is so obviously lacking. I am a fan of Dick Van Dyke, but Shane, I am sorry love, you just haven't got what it takes.

The first time I tried to watch this movie I turned it off within the first 5 min of it. I decided to watch it again and through the whole thing this time. This movie not only was uninteresting it was stupid. It was so horrible it was laughable! This is not only like PA it is just as funny. Though it being so horrible I don't think it doesn't even deserve a rating. Other than me typing this only one thought crosses through my mind when watching this is YAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't even think of enough lines to actually be able to post this review. If you wish to watch this movie my say on this is DON'T! I'd rather hit my head on the wall then watch this movie. Also if this gets posted I am surprised since I'm sure it's so negative that it won't.

I decided to review this film as if it was not a knock off of Paranormal Activity. The title and the execution invites comparison, but what are the film's own merits?

The set up in Paranormal Entity is quite interesting: Having lost her husband, a woman seeks contact with him through automatic writing. Something from the beyond reaches out to her, but it becomes increasingly clear that is it not her dead husband. And soon the entity starts showing an unhealthy interest in her nubile, young daughter. What is it and how can they stop it?

In the hands of a skilled film-maker, this plot could have had the makings of a blockbuster. Instead the device used is "found footage", which is very much hit or miss. If it's done well and is believable there is very little chance of screwing it up. If it's done badly, it is vaguely embarrassing to watch, like failed attempts at viral videos. Paranormal Entity is not too bad, although, occasionally over-acted.

The pacing is more of a problem. It starts out fairly decently, with the creepiness being turned up slowly. But about halfway through, the creepiness is dialled up to 10 and left there for the remainder of the film, completely desensitising the viewer. By the end of the film, I found that I just didn't care any more.

Another problem is the inactivity of the family. Beyond calling and calling a parapsychologist that inconveniently has gone on holiday, they don't actually do anything to solve the problem, which means that it's difficult to root for them.

This film should have been thrilling, but it isn't. The concept is good, but the execution just doesn't live up to it.

I'm telling you..it is way more exciting to read the reviews than watch the movie!! Nothing happens ! Absolutely nothing !! Everything is Paranormal Activity wannabe ! And they fail ! It is 1h 28 minutes wasted.

The acting is so bad that it is ridiculous!!

The only cool thing is the house ! It's a cool house!