Ever since Oren Peli’s Paranormal Activity conquered the US box office, people have been wondering what he’d do next. While you’d have thought that all sorts of Hollywood doors would have swung open, he seems to be taking a measured approach by making Area 51, which may have a massive budget by Paranormal Activity’s standards – $5 million versus $15,000 – but it’s nothing compared to eaven the cheapest Hollywood flicks.
Up until now though, while we knew it was called Area 51 and that it would be another ‘found footage’ mockumentary, we’ve known nothing about the plot. However, Latino Review got a look at the script outline, which revealed that it’s basically Paranormal Activity with aliens, and is about three guys, Chris, Paul and Rob, and a woman, Natalie, who claims her father was abducuted by aliens.
They set out for Vegas but end up trying to break into the infamous and heavily secured Area, 51 after meeting a guy who used to work there, and who says he heard about human/alien co-operation going on at the base, but couldn’t get any proof. The film will be shot as if it’s all being documented by one of the guys on his new video camera.
As the plot itself feels pretty standard, it’s all going to be down to the execution, with Oren Peli having to try and pull off the shakey-cam trickery once more. Maybe he can do it, but you can understand why he’s staying out of the Hollywood system for now, because it is a risk, and there’s only so many of these running around with a camcorder movies that audiences can take.