‘Paranormal Activity’ is truly terrifying

‘PARANORMAL ACTIVITY’: Travis A. Knight & Cher Álvarez.  Photo: Matthew Murphy.

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
Based on the Paranormal Activity films, first written & directed by Oren Peli & brought to the screen by Blumhouse & Solana Films
By Levi Holloway
Directed by Felix Barrett
Through January 3, 2027
August Wilson Theatre
245 West 52^nd Street
https://paranormalbroadway.com/
 

By Scott Harrah

Broadway has not had a truly terrifying horror drama in some time. Granted, the New York stage has had many thrillers over the years, but finding an actual scary one is another matter. Paranormal Activity may change that for many audiences. The new play at the August Wilson Theatre is creepy, surprisingly funny and, at several points, downright frightening.

What makes it work? More than its elaborate special effects. Director Felix Barrett quickly teaches us not to completely trust our eyes. An ordinary moment can suddenly become something else, and some of the biggest “scares” arrive when you least expect them.

This reviewer won’t give away any surprises. They are far too much fun to discover for yourself. But I will say this: Paranormal Activity genuinely scared me, and that’s something very few Broadway shows have managed to do.

A move takes a terrifying turn

Although it takes its name and inspiration from the hit horror franchise, Paranormal Activity tells an entirely new story rather than adapting one of the films.

Lou (Cher Álvarez) and James (Travis A. Knight) have recently moved from Chicago to London. They have been married for about a year and hope life in London will offer a chance to put their troubles in Chicago behind them.

Lou has experienced frightening episodes for years, including periods she cannot remember. James wants to help her, although he struggles to understand what she is going through. Before long, unsettling things begin happening in their London home that neither of them can easily explain.

Looking for answers, they invite Etheline Cotgrave (Eva Kaminsky), a medium, into the house. Her visit doesn’t provide the reassurance they hoped for. Then James’s outspoken mother, Carolanne (Shannon Cochran), unexpectedly arrives from Florida and becomes caught up in what is happening.

From there, the situation grows increasingly dangerous as Lou and James try to understand what is happening to them and why.

Making the fear feel real

Ms. Álvarez and Mr. Knight make a natural couple, capturing all the tensions of a young marriage on the proverbial rocks. At the same time, there is real affection between Lou and James, which makes their increasingly troubled relationship believable.

Ms. Álvarez gives Lou the right mix of anxiety, fear and vulnerability. Mr. Knight does a fine job showing James’s frustration and disbelief, while also making it clear that he genuinely loves his wife and wants to help her. Even when James has trouble believing what Lou is experiencing, Mr. Knight never makes him seem uncaring.

Ms. Cochran is delightful as Carolanne, James’s nagging, conservative mother. She regularly calls the couple from her home in Florida, wondering when Lou is going to get pregnant and even needling her about taking antidepressants. Ms. Cochran gets plenty of laughs from Carolanne without turning her into a caricature. She also provides some welcome comic relief as the tension builds.

Ms. Kaminsky is outstanding as Etheline, the proper British medium who genuinely wants to help the couple. What makes the performance so effective is how straightforward she is. Ms. Kaminsky avoids the exaggerated mannerisms actors often bring to characters who claim to communicate with the spirit world. Instead, she plays Etheline with a quiet seriousness that makes her seem completely credible. That restraint also makes what happens around her even more unsettling.

When stagecraft becomes scary

Felix Barrett’s tight direction keeps the story moving at a brisk pace. The tension rarely lets up, yet Mr. Barrett also knows when to make room for a laugh before pulling the audience back into the horror.

Scenic and costume designer Fly Davis creates a convincing London home that initially seems ordinary enough. That sense of normalcy makes it all the more unsettling when strange things begin happening inside it. The technical team plays a major role in making those scares work. Illusions designer Chris Fisher, lighting designer Anna Watson and video and projection designer Luke Halls create effects that range from subtly eerie to genuinely startling. Some happen so quickly and unexpectedly that you may find yourself wondering exactly what you just saw.

Sound designer Gareth Fry adds another layer of suspense. Every strange noise, sudden disturbance and ominous sound seems perfectly timed to what is happening onstage. At times, the sound itself becomes part of the scare, keeping the audience on edge even when nothing appears to be happening.

Broadway gets scary again

Paranormal Activity is one of the best horror dramas Broadway has seen in ages. It also makes for a fun night out as summer winds down and the Halloween season approaches. If you like being scared, this is one Broadway show that actually delivers.

Published August 30, 2026
Reviewed at press performance on August 27, 2026.

‘PARANORMAL ACTIVITY’: Cher Álvarez & Travis A. Knight. Photo: Matthew Murphy.

‘PARANORMAL ACTIVITY’: Cher Álvarez. Photo: Matthew Murphy.

‘PARANORMAL ACTIVITY’: Travis A. Knight. Photo: Matthew Murphy.

‘PARANORMAL ACTIVITY’: Travis A. Knight & Cher Álvarez. Photo: Matthew Murphy.