Honest Trailers Season 1 Episode 10 Honest Trailers - Paranormal Activity

In season 1, episode 10 of Honest Trailers, the team takes on the 2007 horror film that started a found footage craze - Paranormal Activity. The episode opens with a warning that the video may be too intense for some viewers, setting the tone for the dark satire of the episode. Written in a comedic style, the video takes aim at the formulaic jump scares and predictable tropes of the horror genre, poking fun at the film's attempts to scare audiences with creaky doors and unexplained noises.

The video starts by praising the film's low budget approach, noting that the film was shot for just $15,000 using basic home cameras. The Honest Trailers team calls Paranormal Activity a "masterpiece of minimalism," and praises the use of natural lighting and practical effects to create a sense of realism in the film. However, the team also notes that the use of "real found footage" creates a sense of unease for the audience, making them question what is real and what is fabricated for the film.

The episode then breaks down the formula of the horror movie, pointing out the stereotypical characters and situations that are used to create fear. The team notes that the couple at the center of the film, Katie and Micah, are both one-dimensional characters that are used as a device to propel the plot forward. Micah, in particular, is portrayed as a macho man who refuses to take the paranormal activity seriously until it is almost too late. The Honest Trailers team jokes that "if there was ever a horror movie that could've been prevented by communication, this is it."

As the video progresses, the team goes through some of the infamous jump scares in Paranormal Activity, pointing out how predictable they are and how they rely on loud noises to get a reaction out of viewers. The team then turns its attention to the film's slow-burn approach, noting that the first two-thirds of the movie are spent building tension without much actually happening. The video makes fun of the film's reliance on strange noises and creaky doors to create tension, calling it a "fetish" of the genre.

However, the video ultimately comes around to praising the film for its impact on the horror genre. The team notes that Paranormal Activity launched a new era of found footage horror films, including the wildly successful Cloverfield. The video ends by acknowledging that, while the film may not hold up to repeated viewings, it is still an important piece of horror history that created a new subgenre of horror film.

Overall, season 1 episode 10 of Honest Trailers takes a comedic approach to deconstructing Paranormal Activity, poking fun at its cliches and overused jump scares while also acknowledging its importance in the horror genre. The episode is a lighthearted and entertaining take on a film that has become somewhat of a classic in the years since its release.