Just got back from the Toronto Midnight Screening. Worth the hype!

Rating: 10/10 (10 October 2009)

Just got back from the Friday midnight screening (Oct 9th) in Toronto. The crowd was buzzing and unlike some midnight screening crowds, I really felt like this one was there to be scared and to take the movie seriously. I've been hearing the hype for this since it first screened in 2007, and I've been absolutely dying to watch this. I was kind of bracing myself for the setup, that normally accompanies movies that are hyped as much as this. For instance the Blair Witch Project was supposedly this scary phenomenon, but it turned out to be a barely scary flick.
For whoever has the same doubts I did, I can tell you this much: Within the first 25 mins, you will KNOW that you're in for frighteningly good time! As soon as the night lights in the Camera go on, there's a sense of dread and I could feel everyone in the th eater just hush and wait for something to happen. This happened every time night came around and by the end people were literally groaning in fear.
Is the movie scary? YES! Is it unbearably scary? Well parts of it are, and SPOILER: The ending where she leans over him like an animal, or is standing by the bed watching him, is the scariest movie scene I've seen EVER and I've seen just about every horror flick ever made.
The movie is authentic, extremely well acted (Both Micah and Katie are as natural as you can get), and Peli is a gifted director. The effects are outstanding for such a micro budget.
There are a few corny parts that take away from the scares like the Ouija board fire and name writing on the board. But other scenes like the Attic, and the scene right before the end where Katie convinces Micah to stay (an obviously possessed Katie) are downright disturbing.
Having watched movies like the Exorcist, The Omen, Shining, Audition, The Ring, Texas Chainsaw Massacre etc I can safely say nothing disturbed me more than this movie did. It's a definite must watch! There will be some who won't find it that scary but its the scenes I mentioned above that WILL make you cringe and make you remember when you get home and close the bedroom lights (Like I did just now!)
10 Stars for taking an age old concept and making it so fresh, for the acting, direction and an outstanding ending.