The Center Theatre Group offers Los Angeles a terrifyingly fun night at the theatre, delivering good scares, sharp storytelling, and a welcome break from today’s overwhelming world.
By John Lavitt
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 11-18-2025
The Center Theatre Group has pulled off a remarkable feat by bringing the Paranormal Activity franchise — an icon of found-footage horror — to the Ahmanson Theatre. This world premiere does not merely translate the films to a new medium. It reinvents them with a devious smile.
Hence, what emerges is a fresh, pulse-pounding theatrical event that is quite entertaining and legitimately frightening. Running through the holiday season, it is the perfect shadowy counterpoint to the holiday cheer of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanza.
Most importantly, this play is more than just a haunted house in disguise. Playwright Levi Holloway, whose Broadway hit Grey House twisted domestic horror into something startlingly original, does the same here. His script introduces a new couple, James (Patrick Heusinger) and Lou (Cher Álvarez), to the horrors of the embedded franchise.
Together, they have fled from Chicago to London in search of a fresh start. Instead, they find that the past travels with them. In Holloway’s chilling formulation, places aren’t haunted; people are. For the young couple, there is no escape from the secrets of the past.
Director Felix Barrett, known for his immersive work with Punchdrunk, transforms the Ahmanson’s vast space into something disturbingly intimate. His staging constricts the room around the audience, creating a pounding sense of claustrophobia. You feel the walls closing in as you scan the stage of irregularities. You ask yourself, “What exactly is going on now?”
At the same time, Barrett recognizes that true fear thrives in anticipation. In fact, those glimpsed, half-heard moments are what spark the imagination. His direction secures the audience within the couple’s unraveling psyche.
Technically, the production borders on wizardry. Chris Fisher, the Tony Award-winning illusion designer behind Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, conjures effects that seem to defy the laws of physics and presence. These are not just tricks; they are carefully crafted shocks that send ripples of gasps through the theater.
Sound designer Gareth Fry amplifies the sense of dread with weaponized silence, an oppressive quiet broken only by sudden, visceral disruptions. The result is an experience that takes over the entire body. You do not just watch this show; you inhabit it, seated with no escape.
Amid the fears, the play keeps a strong emotional heart. Álvarez and Heusinger give authentic, powerful performances that show a tense, tender, and ultimately heartbreaking relationship. The supernatural horror works because it is rooted in something real. In the play, as in real life, trauma refuses to stay buried. Thus, the darkest memories fight their way back into the light.
Holloway’s writing adds new depth to the Paranormal Activity universe. The story feels like a natural progression of the films and a bold new chapter. Overall, the play explores psychological horror with nuance and the complexity of human connection.
Conclusion: Do Not Go Alone
Paranormal Activity at the Ahmanson Theatre is a triumph of theatrical horror. Indeed, it is sharp, stylish, nerve-racking, and undeniably fun. It is the kind of show that leaves audiences laughing, screaming, and gripping strangers’ arms. If you are seeking a thrilling night out, you should run, not walk, to get tickets. But be careful about your choices and listen to me.
Listen to one piece of advice: Do not go alone. After all, this limited engagement disappears on December 7.
Photos by Kyle Flubacker, Courtesy of the Center Theatre Group
