Second Sight Films, out now

A young couple become convinced their suburban home is being haunted by a demonic presence. In the hope of finding some evidence they set up a video camera in their bedroom to film the room as they sleep.

When watching writer/director/photographer/editor Oren Peli’s low budget feature, it’s hard to get your head round the cultural phenomenon that it has become, and the franchise that it has spawned – five sequels, and another movie on its way. Famously shot as an independent movie for $15K, Paramount gave it a new ending and spent $200K on it, resulting in a film considered to be the most profitable film ever based on cost to profit ratio.

But is it any good? Katie (Katie Featherston) and Micah (Micah Sloat) are a likeable enough couple, and are soon troubled by little things like keys moving, a door swinging and banging noises in another room. We see this all from a static camera that records what happens in their bedroom at night. We wait patiently as the clock ticks away in the corner, observing the wide shot of the room, nether in blue, obsessing over the slightest movement in the darkness.

Truth be told, I always thought this movie was something of a one trick pony, the quantity of sequels suggests otherwise. It’s well enough put together, but aside from a couple of frights, it’s not that scary.

Second Sight’s limited edition release boasts a rigid slipcase, a book with new essays by Sarah Appleton, Anton Bitel, Shellie McMurdo and Pete Turner and six collector’s art cards. The disc includes audio commentaries by Oren Peli, Mary Beth McAndrews and Terry Mesnard, a series of interviews (Oren Peli, stars Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat and Ashley Palmer), as well as two different endings and a deleted scene.

Verdict: A solid package for collectors, I’m just not convinced that we’re not witnessing the emperor’s new clothes. 7/10

Nick Joy

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