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The “Paranormal Activity” film franchise has successfully made the leap to Broadway with a stage adaptation that brings genuine scares to theatergoers. Originally created as an independent film shot on a modest budget in 2006, the franchise has since generated nearly $200 million at the box office and built a devoted fan base. After premiering in England in 2024 and touring multiple North American cities, the production now opens on Broadway for a limited engagement.
The stage version reimagines the story through a theatrical lens, positioning audiences as active observers rather than passive viewers of found footage. Rather than relying on camera angles and editing tricks, the production uses a cutaway set revealing a haunted two-story house lit to create an atmosphere of dread. The narrative follows Lou and James, a couple who relocated from Chicago to London seeking escape from paranormal disturbances, only to find themselves confronted by supernatural forces in their new home. When unexplained electrical problems and mysterious occurrences escalate, James becomes convinced of the haunting and the couple seeks help from a spiritualist.
Illusions designer Chris Fisher creates effects that prove hair-raising rather than merely spectacular, while the two leads deliver compelling performances that balance humor with mounting terror as events intensify. Though the script occasionally stumbles with muddled plotting and overreaching thematic elements, the production succeeds in translating the franchise’s core appeal to live performance, demonstrating that horror can indeed thrive on Broadway when executed effectively.
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Originally reported by Variety →
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