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Paranormal Activity

****

Stars: Katie Featherstone, Micah Sloat, Mark Fredrichs

Director: Oren Peli

Rated: R

Showing: Speciality Cinema, Friday 10:30pm; Saturday 9:15pm

Runtime: 86 minutes

Horror/thriller

A young couple moves into a new house but their dream of domestic bliss is shattered when they are haunted by a demonic ­presence.

They set up a video ­camera to record the paranormal activity on film - and capture disturbing ­phenomena such as strange voices and growls, footsteps, loud thuds and lights switching themselves on and off.

The movie's use of a home, handheld camera is like The Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield and this gained success in a similar way - through word of mouth and the Internet.

But Paranormal Activity is a well-executed horror that lives up to its hype. It uses our fear of the unknown and makes you feel unsafe in your own home - every ­dark corner may contain danger.

The film also hints at a threat without actually showing us what it is - as every good horror director knows, what the viewer's imagination will come up with will always be more ­terrifying than any movie monster.

It's a slow-burning tale that skillfully increases the sense of dread as it reaches its conclusion.

Subtle and creepy, horror fans will love it.

Watch if you liked: The Blair Witch Project.

For more information about film times, call 292-2135.

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