Episode 043 - Paranormal Activity Franchise
In 2007, a low budget film made with a
price of $15,000 USD began to make the film festival circuit to
astonishingly high praise. One horror website, Dreadcentral, spoke
highly of it two years prior to its 2009 general release to film
audiences. The movie, Paranormal Activity, seemed to bring back the
feel of the old ghost story that had been missing in genre film since
the Nicole Kidman vehicle, The Others. But unlike the usual tale of the
apparition, Paranormal Activity was both done as found footage and
cinéma vérité with a twist. What may be haunting the residents may be
more than a ghostly presence.
When the film was picked up by
Paramount Pictures and Dreamworks for a price of $350,000, an original
marketing campaign began which brought the film to the attention of
audiences. Shortly after it went on to gross $193,000,000 USD. With
such a success, in 2010 a follow up was made that was as critically
praised as the original while going on to sweep Halloween box offices
and possibly beginning a new horror franchise to replace the Saw series.
When, in 2011, a prequel was made which
went on to become the highest grossing opening of any horror film in
history, the Paranormal Activity franchise was secure. In a three year
span, the trilogy made for a mere $8,000,000 USD went on to gross over
$500,000,000 USD. Though a backlash by some horror fans has followed,
the series has become a staple to general audiences while keeping to the
roots of low budget film making. Eric and Philip discuss the
franchise and how an inexpensively made film went on to become the
center of one of the most popular horror franchises of all time.
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