--- title: "Paranormal Activity: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/paranormal-activity/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/paranormal-activity" critics_score: 76 critics_reviews: 14 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Paranormal Activity (2007): what the critics said Critics' score 76 from 14 reviews: 10 positive, 3 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics are frightened by it. The praise falls almost entirely on the same few things: the fixed camera in the bedroom, which has viewers scanning the frame for anything out of place; the sound design, which makes a creak or a thud stand in for effects; and the two leads, whose performances several reviewers find believable enough to sell the found-footage conceit. Several also credit Oren Peli’s patience in holding a shot well past comfort. The reservations are about the shape rather than the scares. Slant finds the storytelling too schematic and the explanations unnecessary, while Empire and HeyUGuys both think the final stretch abandons the plainness that made the earlier scenes work. Several critics warn that it only works if the viewer plays along. The Hollywood Reporter alone tips negative, finding the slow build a test even though the scares eventually land. The spread is otherwise narrow, from strong recommendations to qualified ones. ## Total Film — Jamie Graham Rating 5/5. 19 November 2009. Graham gives the film a glowing verdict, calling its stripped-down approach deeply frightening. He praises the carefully composed bedroom scenes, which make viewers scan the frame for danger. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/paranormal-activity-3-review/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 25 November 2009. Bradshaw finds the film genuinely frightening and calls it a claustrophobic classic. He praises its ingenious found-footage approach and the believable performances of Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/nov/25/paranormal-activity-review) ## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 3 October 2009. Sharkey finds the film an effective, anxiety-inducing psychological thriller, despite its simple story. She singles out Oren Peli’s use of the unseen and minimal effects to create fear. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-oct-03-et-paranormal3-story.html) ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 4/5. Jones finds the film unoriginal but surprisingly effective at building dread. He praises its use of primal fears of darkness and the unknown. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-r9rjhm/paranormal-activity/) ## Empire — Simon Crook Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 22 October 2009. Crook finds the film potent and genuinely frightening, though its final stretch weakens the found-footage realism. He praises the static bedroom shots and sound design for turning mundane details into sources of dread. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/paranormal-activity-review/) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 67/100 (inferred from the text). 29 November 2009. The review finds the film effective at delivering chills, though its appeal depends on viewers being receptive to its setup. It praises the scares created through suggestion, especially the long shot of an empty room. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/paranormal-activity-oren-peli-85-mins-15-bunny-and-the-bull-paul-king-101-mins-15-1830352.html) ## Screen Daily — Brent Simon Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 2 November 2009. The accessible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. No specific praise or complaint is available in the visible text. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/paranormal-activity/5007820.article) ## Slant Magazine — Rob Humanick Rating 2.5/4. 11 October 2009. The review finds the film accomplished but only intermittently effective, stopping short of its full potential. It praises the creative use of limited resources while faulting the overly schematic storytelling and explanatory details. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/paranormal-activity/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Kevin Lally Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 24 September 2009. Lally finds the film’s slow buildup testing, though it eventually delivers effective scares. He praises the bedroom surveillance sequences and the leads’ naturalistic performances, while faulting the drawn-out pacing. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/paranormal-activity-film-review-93579/) ## Digital Spy — Ben Rawson-Jones Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 13 November 2009. The critic finds the film exceptionally effective and frightening, provided viewers immerse themselves in it. They single out the bedroom’s static-camera scenes and Peli’s instinctive timing for praise. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a186494/paranormal-activity/) ## Den of Geek — Kwame Shorter Rating 5 out of 5. 8 October 2009. The critic gives the film a strongly positive verdict, calling it a refreshing alternative to gore-heavy horror. They single out its use of sound and atmosphere to unsettle viewers without relying on elaborate effects. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/paranormal-activity-review/) ## Collider — Andre Dellamorte Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 6 January 2010. The critic calls the film an absolute blast and a model of how horror should work. He especially praises its patient pacing and precisely timed scares, which make simple effects feel frightening. [Read the review](https://collider.com/paranormal-activity-blu-ray-review/) ## HeyUGuys — Gary Phillips Rating 9 out of 10. 12 November 2009. The critic finds the film exceptionally frightening and highly effective. They single out the suspenseful bedroom shot for praise, but feel the ending is too Hollywood-style. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/review-paranormal-activity-uk-release/) ## NME — Owen Nicholls Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 27 November 2009. The critic recommends the film as a clever, unsettling watch, while warning that expectations of the scariest film ever may disappoint. They praise its believable central relationship and its use of the audience’s imagination. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/blogs/the-movies-blog/film-review-why-paranormal-activity-is-the-new-blair-witch-43059) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/paranormal-activity.md