Uncertified Paranormal Activity causes panic attacks in Italy
Paranormal Activity causes panic attacks in Italy
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Thursday, 11, Feb 2010 11:47
By Richard James.
The low-budget horror film Paranormal Activity is reportedly causing people to suffer prolonged panic attacks in Italy after the country's film board released the film without any age restrictions.
Thousands of children are said to have been left terrified after watching the film, with emergency services treating dozens of people.
The US film, which cost just $15,000 (£9,000) and went on to make millions, was rated as a 15 in the UK and given an R rating in the US, but was released in Italy without a certificate.
The Daily Telegraph reports children around the country have been left traumatised, with the most severe case involving a 14-year-old girl who was taken to hospital in a "state of paralysis".
The reports have caused the Italian MPs and parents groups to weigh in on the matter and call for the film to be given the upper age limit of 18.
Parents have claimed even the film's trailer, which has been screened extensively in Italy, has left young children terrified.
Italian defence minister Ignazio La Russa declared: "For the past two weeks a trailer has been shown obsessively on TV and is terrifying thousands of children.
"It's a terrible thing. I took notice because my seven-year-old son told me: 'Daddy, I'm scared'."
Paranormal Activity was shot by director Oren Peli in his own home and features a young couple struggling to cope with paranormal activity in their house.