Paranormal Activity (2009)

Micah (Micah Sloat) brings home a deluxe video camera and begins to film himself and his girlfriend Katie (Katie Featherston) in their large San Diego house. It seems that unseen forces have been terrifying them while they sleep and Micah hopes to gather evidence. A psychic (Michael Bayouth) warns them that the trouble is probably caused by a demon and that they need professional help, but Micah wants to keep filming and work out the problem by themselves. Unfortunately, the disturbances begin to grow more and more alarming.

The well-paced daytime scenes are comparatively relaxing, while the couple, Micah (Micah Sloat) and Katie (Katie Featherston), try to figure out their dilemma, but the nighttime scenes offer something spookier. The couple sleeps in a static wide shot; the bed, the doorway and part of a hallway is visible. The scary part can be a sound or an image, but it can originate from anywhere within the frame; the movie always keeps us off guard. Some of the character behavior can grate, but that's a minor quibble in an otherwise satisfying, terrifying experience.