Movie Review: Apartment 143

Synopsis: A team of parapsychologists sets out to investigate a series of anomalous phenomena taking place in a newly occupied apartment. Telephone calls with no caller, mysterious shadows, extraordinary light emissions, flying objects, and exploding light bulbs, are some of the events they will face while recording their every step with state-of-the-art technology. Using infra-red filming, digital photography, psychophonic recordings, movement detectors, and magnetic field alteration meters, the group’s attempts to contact the “other side” will grow increasingly dangerous as they near a point of no return...

If you've seen any of the Paranormal Activity films then you'll know exactly what to expect here. It's the same style and one might say a complete knock-off even, but personally I like those movies and I also happen to like this one because it's pretty well made. It's got a bit of Insidious, Poltergeist and The Last Exorcism as well. Throw in a few episodes of Ghost Hunters for good measure if you want.

Why is it still OK? Well the acting is solid and the story is well written are probably the main reasons. There are actually several good scares and some nice creepy moments. It gets a bit slow a few times, but at those slow times are used nicely as set-ups for crazier bits. Another key thing I think some of these directors could learn from is that the characters aren't all annoying. Everybody here (with the exception of a couple of important people who are unlikeable for a reason) is pretty likeable and seem like real people.

It's not over-the-top with any gore or kills, just scares. It's a nice little ghost story (or is it?) with an ending that leaves a little to the imagination as it doesn't answer everything, but it does give your mind directions to go in.

If you're going to whine about it being a rip-off of the films I mentioned above don't bother watching it. It's very derivative for sure, but still nicely done.

7/10