Didn't Go In Expecting Much...

Rating: 10/10 (5 January 2010)

....But walked away pleasantly surprised.
I will admit there were times I was incredibly bored, especially in the beginning, but once the night sequences were being shown, I found myself completely involved, to the point where it felt as if I was alone in a sold out, over packed theatre.
Micah and Katie sold me. Many critics have claimed that Micah was obnoxious or ruined the movie, but to be honest, he was my favorite part of the movie. Katie had her moments of believability, but I kept feeling annoyed by her incessant whining. Not to say I wouldn't be whining too if I was getting harassed by a demon! But sometimes I found myself thinking, "Ok enough is enough, shut this girl up!"
Some of the most nail-biting and just plain ol' freaky moments for me include the small things. Such as doors slamming, or blankets moving. I found myself starting to worry for my sister a tad when Katie stood over Micah for hours, in a trance...cause I remember MANY nights when my sister did things like that, or had conversations with me in her sleep, all of which she NEVER remembered in the morning...doctor's called it night terrors, now after watching this, I'm not convinced Doc! I was on the edge of my seat 85% of the movie, not 100% only because the beginning, as I stated before, was bland. But it was needed to develop a backstory, which helped make my decision to rate this movie a 10.
The final whammy for me was when Katie was dragged out of bed. I STILL find myself wondering how in the world they did that. It looked so real and believable that it literally made me scream at the top of my lungs...embarrassing, I know.
As for the end, I was scared, genuinely 100% freaked out when I walked out of the theatre. I felt more relieved when I walked out and saw another girl with the same look I had on my face and shaking just as much! I'm a stickler for horror films, have seen a million and one of them and nothing has ever affected me the way this movie did. Maybe because growing up, I am convinced there was a ghost living in my room...not a malevolent force, just a ghost. For example it would turn off my radio as I slept, and turn on my TV.
When my husband and I got home from this movie, he knew what I was in for...I believe the words were "You aren't gonna be able to sleep tonight, which means I'm screwed huh?" It didn't help that I sleep with my bedroom door shut with 2 dogs who could sleep through an earthquake...while my 2 kittens terrorize my house EVERY night.
Made me wonder as I closed my eyes that night, "Is it only my cats, or something more?" Needless to say, since then, I sleep with my TV on at night, sort of a comfort thing for me...against my husband's wishes...