Thanks to the inaugural Hello, Darkness Horror Film festival here in Melbourne – the film I was looking forward to oh so recently (and thinking I had to wait til December) opened up the festival. I had to go!

Well, Paranormal Activity certainly lived up and exceeded expectations. Even as the film progressed, I wondered just how I would even write the review – because much like District 9 the film’s power lies predominantly in its surprises. I can say definitively that this is not a case where all the best parts appear in the trailer (Tropic Thunder, I’m looking at you).
Firstly, I think this will be another Blair Witch Project/Cloverfield love-or-hate type movie. You’ll either absolutely appreciate it and its eery subtlety, or you will think nothing happened and be bored.

The film unfolds through the night vision of live-in couple Katie & Micah’s camera turned on overnight, in hopes of documenting the strange noises and so forth that Katie feels she is experiencing. Whilst I won’t go into any of what eventuates (and maybe I couldn’t tell you as I was watching it mostly through the gaps between my fingers as I held my hands over my eyes for protection) its the moments between Katie and Micah (played by Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat) that make the viewers relate to them even more – Micah wanting to use the camera for nefarious means, trying to communicate to the spirit cheekily and the way that Katie would simply roll her eyes at Micah’s early theories of what it could be, both trying to come to a compromise and stay as calm in light of an unknown adversary. Of course you’d want it to be kids next door, tapping on the door, or just messing with them. You’d want it to be that.

I think Paranormal Activity’s biggest strength is not just in the escalating ‘paranormal activity’ that unfolds in Micah and Katie’s house, but in the way their absolutely believable chemistry between the two of them, conveying the increasing fear felt throughout each event and bump in the night. It even seems to strange to call them characters as it seems even more raw than the Blair Witch Project’s characters were out in the wild. This is a fly-on-the-wall documentary style look at approximately 3 weeks in the private life of a young couple, trying to figure out if there is a genuine haunting happening, or if its just hooligan kids next door.

Whilst this film is more subtle than most would expect – don’t bother waiting for a high-pitched violin shriek, shower scenes, scary mirror reflection scenes, or a ghost in a white sheet (okay, so maybe you wouldn’t expect that) Paranormal Activity immerses you in their experience much more – due to how relatable Katie and Micah are as characters. I definitely didn’t want to go home to an empty house after watching this film – and the fact that the mysterious happenings occur when the couple are sleeping; well, that doesn’t inspire much comfort before switching the lights out! Also – though I thought I would in my teaser post here I am pleased to announce I was not responsible for shrieking in the cinema! Go me!

(And usually when I’m talking about a mouth watering icon, I’m generally talking about a handsome celebrity!)

In this case, its all about dessert.

Ah, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. If you haven’t heard of this iconic brand, then have you watched any TV or movies at all? As famous for its ice cream flavours as the green & white box of Krispy Kreme donuts seen in many a program, Ben & Jerry’s is the tub of ice cream one reaches for after a break up, or when you have a crush that will never quite know the power of your affections. Its the tub of ice cream shared amongst friends – who needs a bowl – with two spoons reaching in to get the bigger lump of cookie dough. And this brand is coming to Australia..

Let me tell you, when a lovely (generous!) friend offered me the opportunity to share a few sample Ben & Jerry’s flavours with my workplace, I was thinking at first it would be just my company, 30 or 40 people maximum. But the opportunity, and the invitation grew – and I coordinated the whole building (four floors, approximately 8 business units) to share in the day. Sadly, it was to be the drizzly, greyest day of the week – but Melbourne locals know not to expect continued sunshine for too long, and it certainly didn’t dampen the anticipation levels of anyone in the building. The building manager said she had never received so many happy emails after sending out the notification that there was to be free Ben & Jerry’s.

If you haven’t heard of Ben & Jerry’s – here are a few of the famous flavours -

→ Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (Vanilla Ice Cream with Chunks of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and my personal favourite)
→ Chunky Monkey (Banana Ice Cream with Fudge Chunks and Walnuts)
→ Strawberry Cheesecake (Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream with Strawberries & a Thick Cookie Swirl)
→ Phish Food (Chocolate Ice Cream with Gooey Marshmallow, Caramel Swirls and Chocolatey Fish)
→ Cherry Garcia (Cherry Ice Cream with Cherries & Dark Chocolatey Chunks)
→ Coffee, Coffee, BuzzBuzzBuzz (Coffee Ice Cream with Espresso Bean Chocolatey Chunks)

As soon as the Ben & Jerry’s ‘Rolling Cone’ came around – heck, other people were window-watching and called reception before I had a chance to unpack! Girls upstairs, that I’d never met had tea-towels tucked into their dresses ready to dig in! (And if you think I’m embellishing that, seriously.. I’m not!) A generally stoic colleague from another floor sent a lovely email to me saying there is nothing like ice cream to bond people together – it brings out the ‘child’ in people, he commented. And during a work day, coming up to the silly season.. it felt really good to bring so much joy (and then ice-cream hangovers) to a whole building!

There are no store locations at this stage in Australia, its that early in the launch! But if you’re lucky enough to know me in person, well I may or may not have about 5 litres of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough in my freezer..

If you want to check out other flavours or circle on your calendar when a scoop shop will be opening near you, check out their website here or follow them on Twitter to scavenge for ice cream.

Just when I think Buffy or Angel may be as ‘nerdy’ as I go (though for the longest time, I thought everyone watched those shows!) I have become somewhat hooked on a show that I think may have completely tainted me as a nerd.

A friend of mine was giving away DVDs and box sets that he no longer needed (only to save space, after he’d copied them to his hard drive) and thus I had a bit of a squee bonanza in grabbing some DVDs I wouldn’t have thought to buy but either myself or family/friends would love.

Then I saw the Dr Who box sets. I know these cost a pretty penny (well, anything from BBC is expensive here) so I suggested he sell them on Ebay. Rather than give them away, because I know it has such a following. Then I hesitantly asked; what is all the fuss about? So.. this guy, travels through time? In a phone box? What else? He suggested I watch a particular episode.. and the addiction began.
After that first episode (from Season 3) I had to begin from the start. And no, definitely not the 70s version! Whilst I was a snuffle-upagus with a cold yesterday, I pushed the nerdiest DVD into my DVD player, ever.

Starting with Christopher Eccleston and ole Billie Piper (Cos we want to!) and I’m loving it! Although the ‘aliens’ are quite imaginative (the first episode had walking store mannequins) and a subsequent episode had fake pig-headed aliens. No really, they had pig heads. Talk about swine! But the quirkiness of the Doctor’s character alone, the fantasy element in travelling through time and space, as well as the human elements of the bond between Doctor and Rose Tyler . I’m loving it.
I already feel like my DNA has changed. Will people know? Will they see that now I’ve watched Dr Who? Is it plastered across my forehead like the guilty pleasure of enjoying the High School Musical series?

I have to take comfort in that now, my absolute no-go shows are Battlestar, or any of the Stargate series. THEN.. that’ll be the ultimate dark side! What TV shows equate to your dark side?

Let me tell you, I watched this trailer at work, with no sound (thanks dodgy, second-hand work laptop) and STILL felt jittery. I still got goosebumps.

Even now, as I post this, I attempted to watch it with sound, and had to turn it off before 10 or 20 seconds had elapsed. This is a movie I will need a few friends to watch it with, oh.. and I’m definitely not going to be in an empty house! Every review I read, from those that are even non-horror or non-thriller film afficionados say that that you will not be able to sleep after this one.

Its the type of movie that cannot be described too much (in order to avoid ruining the elements of surprise and unpredictability – much like District 9 I imagine) but in essence, it can be much like ‘The Blair Witch Project meets Amityville’ or another haunting type flick. This may be even bigger, as the original out-in-the-woods mockumentary proved to be divisive – you either loved it or hated it as some felt it didn’t deliver. Paranormal Activity is said to provide the suspense, the unpredictability but give the audience much more in terms of scares and still be outside of the horror convention.

Which of course means for me (as one who was terrified and chilled by the Blair Witch Project, Open Water, & Cloverfield -just to mention a few that have most likely been inspired by the mockumentary presentation of Blair Witch) that I may need to bring along a cushion to scream into at the cinema. Paranormal Activity is likely to be this generation’s Exorcist. This generation’s nouveau indie horror.

Paranormal Activity is already playing in U.S theatures – but is at this stage slated for a December 3rd release in Australia.

I know, I know its been a while. Life happens! Although I’m still watching as many movies, and TV shows (Glee, FTW!) I’m working on more posts, trust me.

In the meantime, I’ve been inspired to watch more comedies in general to stay perky, to stay giggly, and FunnyOrDie has proven to be just the celebrity endorsed sketch comedy (online) I need. If its not Zach Galifianakis interviewing Bradley Cooper, or Breckin Meyer impersonating Perez Hilton (hysterically) there is this – a video featuring Alyson Hannigan, Emily Deschanel, Kat McPhee, Minka Kelly and Jaime King at what must be an ordinary ‘slumber party’ between celebrities, getting ready to do a breast check. Very tongue in cheek, but timely as October is national Breast Cancer Month. Take a look – it can’t hurt. Though I’m not sure I’d have friends around to perform this check. But that’s just me!