A closer look
Why beg Hollywood executives for millions when you have a camcorder and a squeaky door? Oren Peli decided to shoot his supernatural thriller in his actual suburban home, entirely utilizing unknown actors and absolutely no crew. The microscopic budget covered basic camera gear and some home renovations. The film ended up grossing over nearly two hundred million dollars worldwide, turning his incredibly cheap DIY haunted house project into one of the most profitable return-on-investments in cinematic history.
