When I start watching a horror movie, I'm usually an awful cynic. I pick apart obvious special effects, snark my way through dialogue that attempts to make half-skilled actors wholly scared, and sit beneath my overpriced popcorn like a vulture waiting to recoup the cost of his matinee ticket.

After seeing the instant, but somehow diluted brutality of "Saw V", I gave horror movies a rest. But with all the buzz about "Paranormal Activity", I thought it might be safe to go back into the bloody waters again. For once I don't regret spending money on a movie ticket; the huge screen at Regal Cinemas in Newington made the experience feel new again.

Having just read that "The Blair Witch Project" was made for roughly $20-$25,000 in 1990s dollars, I'm amazed that "Paranormal" was made for $11,000. Though it has the necessary roughnesses of an indie film, it does a hell of a lot on such a small budget, telling the story of Katie and Micah as they confront an increasingly hostile haunting.

So here are the ten reasons I'd recommend the movie, as well as five "maybe-shouldn'ts" for the horror purists out there.

1. The characters' relationship. This is the real core of the movie; the scares come a not-too-distant second. I haven't seen a more realistic portrayal of moment-to-moment relationships anywhere. From the first few moments, you know this relationship is a Ming vase just begging for a few taps.  But the best part about the writing is that it's not a plodding trip, Metropolis worker style, into a pit of sullen despair.  Even in a relationship that's on the outs, love can fade away only to come back in surprising moments and, well, sudden emergencies. The writer(s) have a painful awareness of love's depth... and limits. Thanks to the movie's chronology, we're able to see a solid relationship with everyday give-and-take unravel into a horrible mess in an hour and 39 minutes. The story could definitely be construed as "chick horror", but not derisively. The characters have had memorability breathed into them by solid writing and mostly matching acting. In a few cases Micah's lines seem generic dude fodder, but otherwise, no complaints
2. Exposition. Okay, the movie's name should be a big tip-off. But the story doesn't have viewers stumbling into buckets of gore like "Saw". "Paranormal" is more of a traditional ghost story, one that doesn't deal with hyperventilating into a cell phone or racing a demented killer. The script almost gives as much to building the supernatural storyline as it does the gradual sundering of the main characters' relationship.
   
3. Supporting characters. There are just two: Dr. Fredrichs, and Katie's sister. Dr, Fredrichs, a middle-aged medium who'd fit perfectly into any Starbucks, is New Agey, charmingly smarmy and steals the show while he is in the movie, both times, in radically different but believable presentations. Katie's sister is the sort of boyfriend bait any red-blooded guy wouldn't hesitate to daydream about, just for a change of pace.
4. Setting, wardrobe, makeup and filming changes. A few low-budget movies trap their characters in the same three outfits, and activities, skimping on credibility. In "Paranormal", each character has his or her space in the house. Katie cycles up and down through the days and nights as her life continues to unravel, alternating between all-American girl sexy and au naturel bedraggled mess. Points go to the director for not slathering her in "I'm so sad" makeup during the terrible events of the movie.
5. One very sexy, very talented actress. Though "Paranormal" never breaks the fourth wall like "Audition" did, Katie Featherston puts every waking thought and bit of energy into being the on-screen Katie. Blessed with a healthy build not often seen in horror actresses, her casting is a small victory for American women and those who love them. From showering Micah with the little kindnesses of a loving relationship in the beginning, to howling her heart out, Katie is an actress to keep an eye on.
6. Tension. I would have liked there to have been more tension from horror, instead of the excruciatingly detailed carping between attempts at reconciliation, But the movie never lulls the watcher back to sleep. After slowly baring emotional claws and supernatural spooks, the story see-saws into a brief horrific sweet spot.  An honorable mention goes to the oft-repeated (but never boring) time-lapse bedroom cam scenes, which either freeze your blood or at least set you up for more insanity.
   
7. Originality. "Activity" tries very hard in all areas. While the scares of the first half are a little quaint, those in the second half are creative and freakish. The apparent spoiler in the beginning becomes a red herring, the ending is unheralded, sharp and hellish, and everything in between is kept going through universal situations, solid writing, great acting, and a growing sense of dystopia and dread,
8. Classic horror elements. The reluctant occult expert, the Ouija board, isolation from salvation, the inexplicable: it's all here and more. Leafing through an old book lends more flavor to the movie than costly special effects have in others.
9. Special effects. There aren't many compared to high-budget CGI-fests, but what there is at the end of the movie is freakishly credible and Katie does a bang-up job of acting along with them. A few of her late-night calamities sound downright heart-rending..
   
10. The ending. It makes "Blair Witch Project"'s ending look childish and schlocky. Short and sweet, that's all I'll say.
    

And five reasons why you may not want to see it:

1. A weak supernatural antagonist. What is it? Why is it here? If it's so bad, why hasn't it done anything in 20 years? Still, it mans up nicely in the last third of the movie.
2. The script is partially overwhelmed by lack of special effects. About 95% of "Paranormal" works just great with little or no special effects, but just a few more could have made a critical difference in enjoyment.
   
3. The "spoiler" in the beginning. It's not really a spoiler. Or is it? It could be cause for debate. Either way, it thanks Katie's and Micah's families and the local police department.
   
4. Micah's occasionally dopey lines wobble his performance through the movie. Micah Sloat does well trying to keep up with Katie's devolving sweetheart act, but you can see him trying to grab a little traction off lines that could have had just a bit more punch. Still forgivable, for an $11,000 film.

The final take: I really enjoyed seeing the effort put into this low-budget effort. The movie has a spirit that carries it through the rough patches, and it could very easily be seen as an allegory like "The Yellow Wallpaper". If you decide to see this movie based on my recommendation, please leave a comment and let me know what you thought!