Directed & Written by

Oren Peli

Release

October 16, 2009

This low budget thriller with no CGI special effects scared the living crap out of me. Though superficially similar to the Blair Witch Project, the plot was more meaningful and the characters had depth. I was pulled into the story from the beginning and kept there throughout. So much so that I came to despise the boyfriend as a major asshole:

• How can you not live up to the spirit of a promise you made to someone you love? How can you try to weasel your way out semantically?
• When you're partner is crying, pleading for you to do something, no matter how irrational, either do it or get the fuck out.
• Beware the man who gets his honor (read, "Doesn't want anyone to question his manliness") caught up in an issue. It becomes all about him.

See, I'm telling you, Peli put together a masterful story. I'm still seething. Well, when I'm not jumping at noises the house makes. Doesn't help that we're in the middle of a blizzard.