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8A - Monday, October 24, 2011
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
FILM SREENINGILM RVIEW
A petrifying prequel
PAUL SHERMAN/Daily
Brothers and co-directors Chris and Mike Farah explain their inspiration before yesterday's "Answer This" screening.
By SEAN CZARNECKI
DailyArts Writer
Recently, horror film dross
like "The Thing" and "The
Human Centipede II" has suc-
ceeded in only
one thing: * .*7"
scaring audi-
ences away Paranormal
from spend-A
ing money on
a movie ticket AtQuality16
ever again, and Rave
But "Paranor-
mal Activity Paramount
3" succeeds as
the first true cinematic laxative
in months. Simply put, this film
will scare the shit out of you.
At first, this prequel seems like
the same kind of story that its
forerunners blazed, but this time
around, the bumbling fool with
the camera is Dennis (Christo-
pher Smith, "Mayne Street"),
a videographer who moves in
with his girlfriend Julie (Lau-
ren Bittner, "The Mighty Macs")
and her daughters, Katie (Chloe
Csengery, "Point of Death") and
Kristi (Jessica Brown, "Lloyd").
And they would've been a happy
family, until kitchen appliances
start flying around courtesy of
the Kristi's "imaginary friend,"
Toby.
It's a familiar plot, and some
elements of the story forgo
logic completely. For instance,
as mentioned earlier, Dennis
cannot seem to keep his hands
off his camera. He films every-
thing. There's spiritual posses-
sions, horrifying death, children
screaming for help ... and then
there's Dennis, this preoccupied
bozo passionately fumbling for
his camera so he can get it all
on tape. During moments like
these, the illusion of film disap-
pears, and Dennis seems more
like someone swindling his way
into the morning news, rather
than a loving family man terri-
fied out of his wits.
So while the storytelling
innovations are on short supply
- leaving such stock characters
as the innocent child and the
cynical parent to rule the screen
its ability to electrify audienc-
es is always competent.
The demon, Toby, has never
taken on a more sinister pres-
ence. When the family dismisses
him as nothing more than a fig-
ment of Kristi's imagination,
he quickly assures them of his
existence. He actually taunts the
family, following the babysitter
in a white sheet like Casper and
playing Bloody Mary with the
older daughter, Katie. The story
takes Toby out of a realm left to
the audience's imagination, to a
much more tangible existence,
which may have endangered his
dangerous persona, a pitfall that
was altogether avoided.
The majority of that credit
may be owed to screenwriter
Christopher Landon ("Distur-
bia"). Providing both enough
characterization and humor to
color its otherwise dull premise,
he engages the audience enough
for them to at least see the end.
But even with these precious
few moments, the film would've
failed miserably had it not been
for the dual direction of Henry
Joost and Ariel Schuman (both
of "Catfish"), and their creative
input and subtle camera gim-
micks.
In case it wasn't
'Paranormal'
enough the first
two times
One particular device proves
most effective: a camera that
swings slowly from side to side
in the living room. It's hardly a
panoramic view of the home. At
the mere patter of footsteps, the
audience is left in taut suspense
while the camera lazily turns its
eye. This limited view capitaliz-
es on the film's greatest strength:
A keen sense of claustrophobia
as unstoppable forces prowl the
home, leaving the audience to
tread within their grasp at the
whim of Toby's mercy.
1
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t
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Their filmorct
Farah brothers' doesn't use unmarked buildings driving to their parents' house
in a generic Midwestern town, in Ann Arbor, Mike used to say,
'Answer This' shows but instead celebrates the Diag, "Let's take it downtown," get-
the Big House - the things stu- ting off at an earlier exit - not
at the Michigan dents hold dear. We love Clooney because it's faster, but just to
and Gosling, but do they love us? take it all in. The Big House,
By MATT EASTON "I'd tried writing a bunch Main Street, the leaves on the
DailyArts Writer of broad scripts," said Chris, ground; Ann Arbor, their town,
the "Answer This!" writer and our town.
Last night was not the pre- director, in an interview. "(But) For 90 minutes during yester-
miere of "Answer This!" but it they weren't anchored in things day's screening event, hundreds
felt like one. As filmmakers Mike I knew or connected with. So I of individuals were transformed
and 'U' alum Chris Farah walked decided that for my next script into a community of friends cel-
onstage to the sound of raucous (I wanted) to do something that ebrating the triumph of a city.
applause, one couldn't help but was really rooted in something Every new Ann Arbor locale,
get caught up in the moment. that meant a lot more to me." inside joke and recognizable
The Farah brothers gave shout- Fewthings are more ingrained actor brought laughter, cheering,
outs to local high schools, which in people than their hometown, applause and excited chattering.
were received with loud screams, ,the place they grew up and the It wasn't about seeing a movie,
and the two actors in the audi- place they went to college. But it was about knowing that after-
ence, Chris Parnell ("30 Rock") "Answer This!" doesn't just cel- wards you would walk down the
and former University Profes- ebrate the University - it also street and pass Ashley's, and you
sor Ralph Williams, stood up to seems to transform it. would be standing where trivia
receive their dues. "Something about movies, jock Izzy threw up. Or it was see-
Sittingin Espresso Royale last and this movie particularly, has ing the theater you were inside of,
Monday, Chris and Mike were the effect of making these places in the movie, while watching the
much calmer: Scenes from their that are so familiar look incred- movie. It was a moment for hap-
first feature film "Answer This!" ibly big and epic," Chris said. piness, a giant raising of glasses
were shot near here. He motioned down State to our city, to simply enjoying
"Moving out to L.A.... it's just Street to Ashley's, the center of what we know best.
nice to come back to Ann Arbor," most action in the film, and dis- The movie showing was com-
said Mike, producer of "Answer cussed how the movie made this plimented by unreleased "Funny
This!" and "Funny or Die," in an simple piece of sidewalk seem or Die" shorts (so in a way it was
interview with The Michigan like so much more. The brothers a premiere), and a Q&A session
Daily. "It feels very comfortable, hope the entire film can allow with the brothers and Parnell.
it's a comfort zone. Just walking University students to see our They drew laughter in their
here from the car, just the smell campus and our city from a new, setup to "Answer This!" After
of leaves on the ground." epic perspective. the film the brothers and Par-
In the past year or so, film- The two also enjoyed giv- nell answered questions, any-
makers have come to Ann Arbor ing some shout-outs to some of thing from "Why was Professor
- and Michigan in general - the "traditions" around cam- Williams's name changed in the
for tax breaks and Midwestern pus. Laughing, Chris discussed movie?" to "What kind of advice
scenes. But have any of them a sex scene that takes place in would you offer young comedic
known this place well enough the Hatcher Graduate Library actors?"
to express the intimate simplic- "stacks." The three exited behind the
ity of "leaves on the ground?" "It was fantastic to see how red curtain to cheering and
To have movies like "The Ides of people here responded different- unanswered questions, inform-
March" filmed here is not quite ly than people in Hollywood," he ing everyone that they would be
the same as to see a film that said with a slight smirk. going to Ashley's - the locus of
understands what it means to The talk ended with Chris the trivia battles in the film -
be in Ann Arbor. "Answer This!" recalling how sometimes, when for drinks and food.
.4
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Students with Learning Disabilities
Need Adaptive Technology or a Tutor?
The Fund for Adaptive Computing Technology, or Fact Fund
Is offering up to $1000 gtrants
for the purchase of equipment or software, except computers, like Kindles, iPads,
SmartPens, Dragon Naturally Speaking or MacSpeech Dictate, etc.
You can also apply for help with tutors.
Only students with a current diagnosis of specific learning disabilities qualify
You must be registered with the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) Office
Go to Resources for Students on our web site for an application
http://www.ssd.urnich.edu, or stop by the office
4
their results have produced key confession. But while imagi-
CASERTA only theories, accusations and nary detectives must count on
From Page 6A even more questions. Until more their author's creativity for
proof can be found, her author- their next big adventure, the art
their graves. ship comes down to a matter of world will no doubt continue to
Even the mystery surround- professional opinion. provide its fans with perplexing
ing the Young Girl in Profile Without the help of a mystery and fascinating mysteries.
may never come to a true close. author's pen and fictional P.I.,
As historians argue over the real-life investigators must sim- Caserta needs directions
specifics of what little evidence ply continue to hunt indefinitely to Baker Street. To guide her,
they've worked hard to dig up, for that case-breaking clue or e-mail caserta@umich.edu.
Full Scale Gym, Yoga Studio, Sauna & Steam Rooms, Theat
2 Hot Tubs, BBQ Grills, Study Lounges, Group Meeting Spac
Fully Furnished Luxury Apartments With In-unit Washer & Dr
Located 3 Minutes from the Diag @ S. University & S. Forest
Private Balconies & Exclusive 14th Floor Penthouses 2
4
Congratulations
To our 31E Scholars on the
301' Anniversary
of our Class of 1931
Engineering Scholarships
The class of '31e and its Scholarship Selection Committee
congratulates and welcomes their SEVEN new scholarship winners
for the 2011-2012 academic year:
KENDRA BORCHERS DAVID HISKINS
GINA CALCO JAKOB HOELLERBAUER
DONALDCLARK JONATHAN MUNCIE
DUANE GARDNER
They will be joining the '31E HONOR SOCIETY and our SIXTEEN current scholars-
OFF
COZZI
NG
r of the Class of '31E, which will be
:obee 28', 2011 at 5:30 Pm.
pining engineering
ve gone on to
CASEY BOYLE
BENJAMIN BREUE
SARAH CLARK
ALEC COHEN
REBECCA FRANK
SHANE LARKIN
MARISSA MANTEY
PATRICIA McCORMICK
DARIN McLESKEY
KUNAL MEHTA
STEVEN PECHT
NEAL RAKESH
BENJAMIN RIZ
IAN STUART-Ht
ANTHONY TRI
XIAORAN ZHA
All of these scholars will be honored this month at the 80' Annual Reunion Dinne
held at the Four Points Sheraton Inn, Ann Arbor, Michigan on Friday evening, Oct
Since the establishment of the '31 Scholarship Programin 1982, more than 150 as
students have been helped to experience a University of Michigan education and ha
rewarding careers.
George E. Anderson
Director of Media Relations
Class of 1931 Engineering
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