10 Best Horror Movies Under 90 Minutes
4. Paranormal Activity (2007)
They say what is left unseen is often scarier than what is actually shown on camera, and 2007’s Paranormal Activity abides by that rule to no end. Oren Peli’s found-footage fright fest was made for a scant $15,000, only to go on and earn a whopping $193 million in the box office, due to sensational word-of-mouth, making it one of the most profitable movies ever made in terms of return on investment.
The supernatural smash hit details the lives of a married couple who become convinced their house is haunted and decide to set up cameras all around their home to document the strange goings-on. Unlike similar films in the genre, Paranormal Activity makes the economical choice to not show any demonic spirits on camera until the final frames, instead electing to create an almost unbearable tension using only its lead actors and minimal effects all the way through its 86 minutes. By making genius use of its shoestring budget and limited sets, Paranormal Activity is a paragon for doing a lot with a little.