Horror: Paranormal Activity 2 Trailer & update on Joss Whedon’s Cabin in the Woods
Courtesy of HollywoodStreams
We were HUGE supporters of PA1 and the DEMAND IT! Campaign. I LOVE that an uber low budget flick broke all records for money making, LOVE IT.
…“Paranormal Activity,” produced for roughly $15,000, became a runaway hit at the box office following an innovative viral-marketing campaign, grossing $107.9 million domestically and $84.8 million internationally for a worldwide total of $192.7 million….
This trailer looks like they got me, with the dog and the baby no less! And best of all unlike Joss Whedon’s Cabin in the Woods, we may actually get to SEE THE FRAKKIN FILM!!
We have been waiting more than 2 years for Joss’ horror homage! First they pushed back the release date to make it 3D, ugh, waste. Now it is the economy.
MGM apparently cannot get their financing together and any films we are waiting for out of them well, we will have to keep waiting…
First it was James Bond, then The Hobbit, now Joss Whedon is being taken out by MGM’s ongoing financial nuclear winter. Actually this is progress for Joss. Usually he’s the first to take the hit.
Cabin in the Woods, written and produced by Whedon, was set up at MGM and should have been swinging into form right about now. But the studio’s too broke and too broken to get anything done and so THR suggests that Cabin will be bumped off its January 2011 release date and sent to a waiting room somewhere in development hell.
MGM’s remake of Red Dawn may also be another casualty. It’s expected to be pushed back from its November release date….
‘Paranormal Activity II’ vs. ‘Saw VII’ this Halloween- PA II wins it no contest….
Saw was a great idea, once or twice. But VII times? Especially after the last one, that anti insurance, Obamacare commercial they released in 2008 lol. Now Paranormal Activity II?, oh yeah I’ll see that. Lots of room there for more story. We lobbied HARD to get PA in wider distribution. See our many posts on PA here.
Paramount is committed to meeting the Oct. 22 release date for “Paranormal Activity 2,” which pits the sequel directly against “Saw VII 3D.” Move sets the stage for one of the biggest Halloween B.O. battles in recent times.”Saw VII” has already tried to bloody “Paranormal 2” once. Kevin Greutert was circling to direct “Paranormal 2” when Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures exercised an option requiring Greutert to direct the seventh installment in the “Saw” franchise.
“Paranormal 2” didn’t get a director until just last week, when Tod “Kip” Williams inked a deal to helm the pic. Williams is new to the horror genre, having directed indies “The Door in the Floor” and “The Adventures of Sebastian Cole.”
That left some wondering whether “Paranormal 2” would indeed be ready by Oct. 22.
Insiders involved with the film say that still leaves plenty of time to shoot and edit the sequel. Par and filmmakers are currently casting.
It’s unlikely the sequel could shoot in eight days, like the first “Paranormal Activity” — but the quickie shoot set a precedent for low-budget pics with high expectations.
“Paranormal Activity,” produced for roughly $15,000, became a runaway hit at the box office following an innovative viral-marketing campaign, grossing $107.9 million domestically and $84.8 million internationally for a worldwide total of $192.7 million.
…”Paranormal” grossed $21.1 million against $14.1 million for “Saw VI.” (full opening weekends I guess? MiM here – and how much did they spend making Saw VI?)
The next “Saw” will be the first in the franchise to play in 3D, which could give it an edge, though the last few installments have seen progressively lower B.O….
Horror: Paramount lands distribution for ‘Area 51’, the new film by Oren Peli, creator/director of ‘Paranormal Activity’
Kewlin.
Paramount Pictures has landed U.S. distribution rights to “Area 51,” the Oren Peli-directed follow-up to the sleeper hit “Paranormal Activity.”Deal puts the studio back in business with the creative and financing team behind “Paranormal Activity,” the $11,000 film that’s grossed more than $106 million since Par began rolling it out in September. Peli had a much larger budget to work with on this extraterrestrial tale than he did for his ghost story, as sources said he brought the film in at a shade under $5 million.
…The film employs the “found footage” narrative structure that Peli used in “Paranormal Activity” to tell the story of three teens whose curiosity leads them to the notorious Area 51 portion of Nellis Air Force Base in the Nevada desert….
…Studio and financiers confirmed the deal and said they were pleased to be teaming once again. The film will find its way into theaters some time in 2010. “Moviegoers everywhere demanded to see Oren Peli’s spectacular debut and we are excited to show them what he’s created next,” said Par’s Goodman.
Molner said the deal illustrated the fertile ground in creating moderately budgeted franchises that have become some of Hollywood’s biggest hits.
And ORIGINAL, don’t forget the ORIGINAL part!
“These films show that real franchises can be successfully launched from the independent side of the business — not something the marketplace necessarily believed five years ago,” he said. “As financiers, we’re very lucky to create value in ownership with major distributors like Paramount Pictures and the enviable talents of Jason, Oren and IM Global.”…
LatinoReview has SPOILERS! MASSIVE SPOILAGE PEOPLE!
Area 51 Script Review
Do you remember the first Saw film? There was an excitement and fear that kept you on the edge of your seat and your fingers over your eyes. Do you remember going to the second or third or fourth film and realizing that it was just a rehash of the same plot? This is only the most recent series of films to follow the trend of taking ideas that worked in one film and beating them to death mercilessly in subsequent sequels. Well, in many ways Paranormal Activity is to the first Saw film as Area 51 is to the first sequel. Today, I got my hands on a recent draft of Oren Peli’s script and, from the first page until the end, I just kept thinking to myself, “Is this really just going to be Paranormal Activity with aliens?”
It was.
I’m not saying it’s a terrible thing. I enjoyed Paranormal Activity and I’m not opposed to alien films in general. It’s just that I fear that every year Halloween will roll around and we’ll have another low budget supernatural thriller, shot on a handycam, from the mind of Oren Peli. Two years from now we’ll be seeing a fake documentary about a group of people looking for the Loch Ness Monster or, god forbid, vampires.
The “script” for Area 51 reads much like I imagine the “script” for Paranormal Activity did. It’s basically a scene-by-scene breakdown with a list of various props, actors, and the general interactions between the actors and their surroundings. There is no written dialogue, but within the action descriptions are general ideas that the actors will be using to improvise their lines with on set. Unlike Paranormal Activity’s single location, Area 51 is far more expansive in its setting…..
If you like your films with plenty of SPOILAGE go read the whole thing!
Interview with Oren Peli, director of ‘Paranormal Activity’
Update: Video of Empire Mags screening of P.A. added…
Our extensive posts on ‘Paranormal Activity’ here
Courtesy of EmpireMagazine:
We sat down with the director to talk about things that go bump in the night.
Subscribe to Empire’s YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c…
Visit Empire’s official video channel: http://www.empireonline.com/video
Trailer, TV Spot and Interviews with the cast after the break:
Update: Opening Day Box Office Stomps ‘Dark Knight’, new record; ‘New Moon’ breaks box office records for midnight run- $26.3 million; “Paranormal Activity” the most profitable film of all time, highest grossing R rated thriller in a decade…
Actors Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart arrive at The Twilight Saga: New Moon premiere in Westwood, Calif. Monday, Nov. 16, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Update: Heh. The ‘female-driven’ New Moon has knocked Batman’s dxck in the dirt. Vamps rool and caped crusaders drool this winter, lol:
Summit Entertainment’s “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” tore up the box office record for best opening day, grabbing the title away from Warner Bros. “The Dark Knight,” and earning a spectacular $72.7 million yesterday at 4,024 theaters.An exceptional feat for a film playing outside the summer frame.
There were an array of estimates being reported on the internet about how high the first day of “New Moon” actually was. This morning’s figure is Summit’s official Friday estimate.
“Dark Knight” had minted $67.2 million from 4,366 runs on July 18, 2008 before making a three-day opening weekend of $158.4 million.
Fueling the Friday B.O. for “New Moon” were midnight shows in 3,514 venues which drew in a record-breaking $26.3 million for the time slot.
The opening day for “New Moon” posted more than a 100% gain over the first Friday of “Twilight” which made $36 million a year ago and a three-day weekend of $69.6 million.
Hollywood better wake the hell up, another piece here focuses on the ‘female crowd’ and we know they are producing nothing original from interviews with Rob Zombie and the director of Trick R Treat also; Paranormal Activity made a mint and so will New Moon. Stop wasting money on Will Ferrell and other noted morons who want to criticize America and instead focus on producing things ‘females’ and their husbands, boyfriends, friends, sons, brothers, cousins may want to watch. How many times can you make American Pie? All Will Ferrell’s movies are the same. Go ahead hire a few women as studio execs and see what happens. Shake it up, lol. CW is doing pretty damn fine.
For a franchise that has clearly targeted females, “New Moon’s” first day is so exceptional that it’s fair to say that the film most likely played beyond its core crowd to males. However, Summit plans to release the pic’s moviegoing demos in its three-day estimate report tomorrow. Ever since the first installment finished its play in theaters, the production of “New Moon” has garnered non-stop headlines on glossy covers and fansites with the media savoring details on the film as well as its cast members Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner….
Summit Entertainment’s sequel “New Moon” has set box office history in breaking all records for midnight runs, grossing a whopping $26.3 million as it unspooled in 3,514 theaters at 12:01 a.m. Friday.That easily beats the $22.2 million collected by Warner Bros.’ “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” this summer. Today, “New Moon” goes into a total of 4,024 runs domestically. For a female-driven property to draw such a turnout is also history-making.
Next record for “New Moon” to eclipse: Best opening day. Current record-holder is Warners’ “The Dark Knight,” which grossed $67.2 million from 4,366 runs on July, 18, 2008.
However the first day grosses for “New Moon” turn out, they will far exceed the $36 million earned by “Twilight” on its first Friday exactly a year ago…
MiM is also pleased to note “Paranormal Activity” is now the most profitable film of all time.
The hit $15,000 thriller PARANORMAL ACTIVITY has grown from its midnight-only showings in a handful of college towns to become this year’s biggest movie phenomenon, and will cross $100 million at the box office after only five weekends of national release as of Friday. In so doing, the movie has become the top grossing R-Rated thriller of the past decade.
…PARANORMAL ACTIVITY began its theatrical life with midnight-only screenings in 12 college towns across the U.S. and quickly developed into a national wide hit, with fans visiting the ParanormalMovie.com website and demanded the film be brought to their city. After more than 1 million such requests, Paramount expanded the film nationally where it has been playing to packed theaters ever since.”
What is truly amazing about PARANORMAL ACTIVITY is the depth of commitment from fans who demanded to see it,” said Paramount Pictures Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brad Grey. “Adam Goodman, our head of production, believed in the film and championed it from the very first screening. This box-office milestone is also a testament to Oren Peli’s considerable talents as a filmmaker. All of us at Paramount are proud to have been involved with his revolutionary project.”…
Paranormal Activity $5,035,043 Weekly Box Office $104.7 TOTAL GROSS Millions
Paranormal Profits: Interview with producer of ‘Paranormal Activity’ plus ‘The House of the Devil’ now available on video on demand
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Hollywood has learned NOTHING from the incredible success of “Paranormal Activity” and the buzz for “Trick r Treat” on DVD (they would’ve made a bundle had they released that film theatrically). Reminder to Hollywood: Paranormal Activity $16,387,327 (10/20-11/1) $84.63 (million to date)
I say this because despite the 60 million 80 MILLION plus profit made on the national release of the 15k film Paranormal Activity, (something ORIGINAL SHOCKAH!)!, they are STILL refusing to put ORIGINAL SUSPENSEFUL HORROR into release, witness ‘The House of the Devil which is currently available on Amazon Video on Demand Theatrical Rental here (48 hours $6.99), and which now looks like it may be dropped from national release.It got a great review from Todd Gilchrist:
In an era where horror movies are mostly comprised of telegraphed scares and severed body parts, atmosphere is often one of the first casualties in their cacophony of violence. Filmmakers have been increasingly (if not always uniquely) successful in recent years creating scenarios where victims are decapitated, dismembered and generally dispatched, but that momentary shock or surprise seldom gives way to (or even pays off) prolonged suspense, and almost never leaves audiences with a feeling of fear lingering for more than seconds after the film is finished.
Writer-director Ti West, it seems, is singlehandedly waging a war against such reductive satisfaction: His movies languish in mundane details, deliberate pacing and producing expectations that something—anything—could happen at any time, creating a sense that it will, even after they’re over, the lights have been turned back on and you’ve returned to normalcy.
And his latest, The House of the Devil, is a masterwork of suspense, a virtual refutation of all of the conventions of contemporary horror that manages to be terrifying precisely because it refuses to give you that gratification until you’ve almost given up wanting it….
Our previous post on ‘House of the Devil’ here and our numerous posts on’ Paranormal Activity’ here
Why isn’t “House of the Devil” getting theatrical release? So there is room for more YARM? For a stoopid SAW 27??! WAKE UP HOLLYWOOD! Gen X grew up on weird 70s suspense horror flicks on the movie of the week,. WE LOVE SUSPENSEFUL HORROR and guess what? WE BUY MOVIE TIX!!! Want to make a profit? Stop the endless YARM and gore and release ORIGINAL horror films! If you make it we will come! Hell if you would release those ‘Movie of the Week’ movies in a boxed set we would buy them all too!
To date, limited theatrical showings listed as follows:
On ScreenAustin, TX: Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar
West Hollywood, CA: Sunset 5
New York, NY: Angelika Film Center (6)
Opening
11/13/2009
San Francisco, CA: Lumiere Theatre 3
Chicago, IL: Music Box
Providence, RI: Cable Car Cinema
Seattle, WA: Varsity Theatre11/25/2009
Denver, CO: Starz Filmcenter11/27/2009
Albuquerque, NM: Guild
BSGcast/YGN: Paranormal Activity review
MiM saw it and enjoyed it but I would have enjoyed it more had my expectations been a bit lower….all original horror must be rewarded if we want more! go see it!
From the Dynamic Duo of Matt and Nat at YourGeekNews/BSGcast:
When a $15,000 indie film rakes in $7.1-million by being called the most terrifying film in years, it definitely gets our attention. So when Paranormal Activity had an exclusive screening in Toronto, we made sure we had tickets! And sure enough, we were treated to more than just horror… we got true terror. We review it spoiler free at first, so take an advanced look at what might be the scariest thing you’ll ever see!
Update 2: Now showing in Phoenix!!Paramount expands screening times for the film! More on ‘Paranormal Activity’ SF Premiere…
Update 3: Just spoke to Harkins Tempe 16 and they are having a showing this Thursday at midnight, possibly to add more….get your tix now!!
Update 2: We did it!! the Demand It worked, it is now showing in Phoenix, yeah baby!! go DEMAND IT for your city here.
ARIZONA
Phoenix
*Starting 10/1*
Harkins Tempe
Marketplace 16
2000 E Rio Salado Pkwy.
Tempe, AZ 85281
Update: Paramount is expanding screening times based on good ticket sales! Courtesy of SciFiWire:
You don’t have to wait up until midnight to see the ultra-scary movie Paranormal Activity anymore. The film has been so successful running only at 12 a.m. that distributor Paramount has decided to give it earlier showings starting Oct. 9. Deadline.com reports that Paramount is pretty excited about the performance so far:
This doesn’t happen that often, so I don’t blame Paramount for crowing about its freakishly good numbers for Paranormal Activity, which will do $500K this weekend on 33 screens playing ONLY after midnight. That’s a $15K screen average for midnight business. Yikes! It did $150K Thursday and took in another $200K on Friday after selling out every theater.
MORE! Review courtesy of Rob and Brendan:
Our previous posts on the film here DO NOT MISS THIS FILM!!!!!!!!
Moderate in the Middle 