Paranormal Activity – Brilliant Marketing
As some of you may have already seen, I posted a Trailer Watch article for the film Paranormal Activity. From what I hear, it looks like we have a new Blair Witch Project on our hands. The big difference, you know EXACTLY what you are walking into and this should prove to be ten times more terrifying.
I got very excited for the limited release that was supposed to happen today… but I found myself to be extremely disappointed and surprised.
I have a co-worker that attended the midnight showing of the film last night. He called into the office and relayed this to me:
“Tell him that I’m running a little late. It’s because my alarm didn’t go off this morning and not because I had to sleep with every single light on in the house.”
According to my co-worker, you could feel the tension in the room when the film switched to night-time footage. People would shift in their seats and prepare themselves for an attack.
Sounds like my kind movie!
So, being me, I hop online to find local show times. Thank goodness I live in Los Angeles, where limited release films are always sure to surface. However, my location didn’t help me at all! The movie isn’t showing ANYWHERE!
Turns out the films got a limited release in theaters across America for a midnight showing ONLY.
If you were one of the lucky and privileged few, now is the time to be VERY thankful.
Paranormal Activity has had a hell of a time getting a theatrical release of any kind. Even though Paramount agreed to do it (and they did for the limited midnight showings) it would appear that they are reluctant to take it a step further.
Or are they?
This may be one of the most genius moves I’ve seen in a long time. The word of mouth on this film was already getting around, now there is even more to talk about. Viral marketing at it’s best my friends. I may not be able to see the movie now, but I think it is only a matter of time before it hit theaters nation wide. It took The Blair Witch Project awhile before it got its wide distribution.
Keep your eyes pealed for this one.
Editorial | The Maggie | 
September 25, 2009 6:45 pm
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By mardagan, September 26, 2009 @ 9:59 am
that would have sucked if you went and saw a midnight screening and didnt invite me.