The Broadway production of "Paranormal Activity," written by Levi Holloway and directed by Felix Barrett, has opened at the August Wilson Theatre, successfully bringing the horror genre to the stage. Reviews highlight the play's ability to genuinely scare and engage audiences, with many describing the experience as akin to watching a horror film in a crowded cinema, complete with screams, jumps, and applause-worthy scares. The production runs for 2 hours and 10 minutes, including an intermission, and features cutting-edge stage effects and illusions by Chris Fisher, known for his work on "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" and "Stranger Things: The First Shadow."
The play introduces new lead characters, Lou (Cher Álvarez) and James (Travis A. Knight), a married couple who move from Chicago to London hoping to escape a past paranormal trauma. Their initial playfulness and chemistry gradually give way to terror as strange events escalate in their new home. Álvarez and Knight are praised for their convincing portrayal of love, suspicion, and ultimately, fear. Supporting roles include Eva Kaminsky as the spiritualist Etheline Cotgrave and Shannon Cochran as James's Southern Christian evangelical mother, Carolanne, who offers intrusive advice via FaceTime.
Despite some critiques about the plot occasionally being muddy or the themes overreaching, the production is lauded for its effective horror, blending long, tense silences with sudden, loud blasts of sound, slamming doors, and unsettling voices. Director Felix Barrett, from the immersive theater group Punchdrunk, creates an immersive experience that keeps the audience riveted. The play's success is particularly notable given that horror is not a common Broadway staple, and it builds on Holloway's previous work in the genre, including "Grey House." The original "Paranormal Activity" film, released in 2006 with a budget of $15,000, grossed nearly $200 million, indicating a strong fan base for the franchise.
