Watch 30 Nights of Paranormal Activity with the Devil Inside the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
- R
- 2013
- 1 hr 20 min
-
2.6 (3,981)
30 Nights of Paranormal Activity with the Devil Inside the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a 2013 horror comedy film that spoofs a variety of popular horror and thriller movies. The movie is directed by Craig Moss, known for his work on other parody films and features a cast including actors like Ashley Martin, Austin Scott, and Heidi Kramer. Bearing a traditionally long, over-the-top title that mashes up several iconic film titles, it sets the tone for a series of irreverent and comedic takes on the horror genre.
The film is built around a plotline that parodies elements from movies like Paranormal Activity, The Devil Inside, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, among others. It brings together various horror film clichés and conventions, turning them into opportunities for humor and absurdity.
The main storyline follows a young woman named Dana Galen, played by Kathryn Fiore, who returns to her childhood home with her husband and daughter after several years. The house is infamous for being the site of bizarre occurrences and a terrible crime performed by her father, which is a clear parody of the plot from Paranormal Activity. The charm of the movie hinges on its willingness to playfully ridicule the serious tone of the films it mimics.
Ashley Martin, Austin Scott, and Heidi Kramer are among the supporting cast members that fill out the film's ensemble. Each actor plays a caricature of familiar tropes from the horror film genre. Martin might take on the role of a rebellious figure not unlike the edgy hacker Lisbeth Salander from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Scott may serve as a spoof on the skeptical spouse frequently seen in possession and ghost stories, while Kramer's role might evoke the image of an over-the-top spiritual medium or paranormal investigator.
The film begins by ramping up the typical horror setting: a family moving into a house with a dark past. But instead of taking the storyline in a menacing direction, it presents a world where everything is fair game for a laugh—be it through slapstick, wordplay, lowbrow gags, or absurd situational comedy. Viewers can expect impromptu dance numbers, exaggerated character stereotypes, and a barrage of jokes aimed at the expense of modern scare flicks.
Given the spoof nature of the film, the characters are built to be exaggerations rather than fully fleshed-out individuals. Dialogue tends to service the comedy rather than deep character development. The family's experiences in the house include encounters with specters and demons that are more funny than frightening, and the horror movie elements are twisted in a way that undermines the expected suspense and tension.
As a central feature of the spoof, references to other movies are frequent and brazen, with scenes intentionally designed to remind viewers of specific moments from the films being parodied. Other horror franchises and pop culture entities get their share of ribbing as well, with nods to the likes of The Exorcist, The Amityville Horror, Inception, and even non-horror franchises.
Production values for 30 Nights of Paranormal Activity with the Devil Inside the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo are in line with a lower budget, direct-to-video parody. However, the film's artistry often lies in its ability to recreate iconic scenes from the movies it lampoons on a smaller scale, and then turn them upside down with comedic interventions. Make-up, costume, and visual effects are employed with a clear understanding that they are not to scare but to set up punchlines.
The director, Craig Moss, is known for indulging in outrageous and sometimes crude humor, which is present throughout the movie. As such, the comedy can be hit-or-miss, depending on the audience's affinity for this brand of humor. Despite the varying comedic styles presented in the film, from wordplay to visual gags, much of the humor is grounded in familiarity—if a viewer recognizes the film or scene being referenced, there's a better chance that the joke will land.
30 Nights of Paranormal Activity with the Devil Inside the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo does not aim to contribute anything to the discourse of the genres it parodies; rather, it offers a goofy, mindless escape for viewers who may be fans of the horror genre but are also capable of laughing at its tropes. By combining elements of pop culture and the supernatural, this movie provides a deliberately less serious take on the kinds of narratives that usually aim to terrify.
Given the nature of parody, those who have a grasp of the genre conventions and tropes being lampooned are more likely to appreciate the absurdity on offer. Audiences looking for grave storytelling or chilling suspense will likely want to steer clear, as the film's objective is to mock and amuse rather than to offer genuine scares or a coherent narrative.
In summary, 30 Nights of Paranormal Activity with the Devil Inside the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a comedic romp through the horror genre, aimed specifically at those who are in the mood for some irreverent humor poking fun at the expense of some of their favorite horror movies.
30 Nights of Paranormal Activity with the Devil Inside the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a 2013 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 20 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 2.6.