Paranormal Activity – Leeds Playhouse

All of us have a personal deep, dark fear – mine is enclosed spaces – we’d run a million miles from, but it says something about human nature that most of us volunteer to be scared half to death watching horror movies.

When the Courtyard theatre went totally dark there was a deep sense of both excitement and unease as we waited for this theatrical adaptation of the classic horror movie Paranormal Activity.

There are two types of horror – splatter or psychological – and life long fan of the macabre Levi Holloway’s adaptation was most definitely on the creepy side, messing with our minds rather than splashing us with blood. Fans of the wildly successful Paranormal Activity franchise will enjoy this, but there’s plenty for people who never saw them at the flicks to enjoy as Holloway had tweaked his version taking inspiration from a wide range of different horror sources.

The critical difference was in the movie it was based around found footage from surveillance cameras dotted around a suburban house, but here Holloway and designer Fly David had included a new battery of tech based terrors from laptops hooked up to mobile phones to the ubiquitous Alexa who had more than a cameo.

The basic narrative is the same as young couple James and Lou had moved from Chicago to London after some unexplained problems back home, and each seemed to be hiding something, which seemed to have been exploited by something they couldn’t explain that was running their lives. We were asked by Playhouse staff not to do any spoilers – and North West End would never ruin a show for anyone – but I would say that plenty does go bump in the night.

Felix Barrett’s direction played with our senses as doors creaked open, strange writing appeared on a wall and gadgets randomly blare out at disconcertedly high volumes. Shadows flick across the stage as strange things happen around Lou much to the audience’s dismay and delight as they audibly gasped. Great horror that toys with your mind will do that to you every time.

There was one really clever scare in the first half which made a bloke sat behind me let out an involuntary F word he was that shocked. Magic Circle member Chris Fisher was in charge of the seemingly simple but very effective illusions, and he conjured up one quite brilliant twist in the first act that was a wonderful example of misdirection, so our eye was only half on the trick, which earned a few screams.

The first half once again ended in the complete dark with a round of applause from the audience that seemed to be pure relief that they hadn’t actually wet their pants in fear. Great horror is about pacing a script from the mundane through to the scary bits, and Harrison proved to be a master of that, so the second act was full of jump out of your seat moments. The poor woman next to me actually yelped at a number of scares in a delicious mix of fear and excitement, which is the mark of all great psychological manipulation.

Experienced movie star Patrick Heusinger as James and Melissa James as Lou made the most of a creepy two bedroom suburban house with plenty of running up and downstairs as scary things happen. There were moments when it was a bit daft, and you were thinking you’re an idiot if you went into that room, or opened that door, but stupidity is a staple of all horror movies. Despite that there was genuine chemistry between the two leads, who skilfully navigated the gear changes from bubbling terror to all out fear.

Jackie Morrison was great fun as psychic investigator Etheline Cotgrave, and Pippa Winslow as James’ mother offered some spooky moments via WhatsApp.

It’s no spoiler to say Paranormal Activity was dark fun for horror aficionados, and anyone who just wanted to enjoy the timeless delight of jumping out of their skins.

Paranormal Activity is at Leeds Playhouse until Saturday 3rd August. To book 01132137700 or www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk

Reviewer: Paul Clarke

Reviewed: 14th July 2024

North West End UK Rating: 4