Behind the Couch

When it was released into cinemas back in 2007, Oren Peli’s minimalist creeper, Paranormal Activity , absolutely terrified audiences and garnered critical praise for its chilling, low-key execution. It tells of a young couple who try to document supernatural occurrences in their home by setting up cameras throughout the house. Peli’s suggestive, slow-burning and highly atmospheric approach effortlessly exploited collective fears of the unknown and of the dark. Handheld camerawork provided a sense of intimate urgency, placing us within the action, while long, static shots from the various security cameras prompted us to gaze into the dark abyss of the screen, searching for the vaguest hints of threat in the corners of the frame. The creeping power of Paranormal Activity rendered our own homes unsafe spaces full of shadows, threat and possible demonic invasion. Now, nearly 20 years later, Paranormal Activity has been adapted for stage, inviting theatre audiences into a whole new creepy...