The Blair Witch Project indoors. That’s Paranormal Activity in a ghostly nut shell. It was cheaper to make too; at $15,000, it probably would have barely covered the cost of the opening credits to something like 2012. But certainly in this case, less is more.

Katie (Katie Featherston) and Micah (Micah Sloat) are a young couple living together in a newish build home. After something going bump in the dark one night, Katie confesses that this kind of behaviour isn’t unusual around her. So, in a show of support, her boyfriend Micah decides to bring a video camera home with him, so he can record any unusual nocturnal events.

There were two in the bed and the little one said...

Night after night, with the camera in the corner of the room, slightly odd things would be captured on tape. Feeling more than slightly spooked, Katie calls in a ghostbusting psychic, who, on his arrival, immediately picks up on the bad demonic vibe and tells them he can’t help them.

With the strange goings on becoming more prominent during the middle of the night, both of them soon realise that whatever it is that is haunting them, it isn’t prepared to leave quietly.

Considering that there are only really two actors featured throughout, Paranormal Activity does a sterling job of holding an audience’s attention. The fact that they are unknowns certainly adds to the illusion that this is a home-made film; as does the fact that there are no opening credits or real end credits to speak of.

It also proves that you don’t need a mega budget or 3D gimmickry to put your viewers on the edge of their seats. For so-called hardened horror fans, who may well measure how horrific a film is by its gore content, this will be a disappointment. Virtually all the fear the film manages to muster is created purely psychologically; an eerie knock in the dark here, a frightened look there, with the minimum of theatrics thrown in. It works well, but it is certainly more effective if you have a few people around you who are of a nervous disposition.

To that extent, this film really is one to see at the cinema. If you wait to catch it on DVD, it will certainly offer a different, possibly slightly watered down experience.

Considering this is his first directing gig, Oren Peli - who also wrote the thing, has made quite the first impression. He’s certainly made an impressive return on his budget too, with the film having already surpassed the $100,000 mark at the box office, making it the most profitable independent film to date.

It’s understandable that some people will walk away from this and simply not get it. For many, the lack of any Hollywood sheen and polish will probably make it look too amateurish to be taken seriously. However, it really has to be commended for being exactly that. If you are willing to accept its admittedly basic style and premise within the first 10 minutes, you’ll be handsomely rewarded.

The fact that the horror genre is so very tired at the moment – can anyone really get excited about Saw VII? Of course not – anything with a hint of originality about it has to be embraced. Although, rather disappointingly, there already appears to be a sequel in the works. Perhaps someone should sit Peli down and force him to watch Book of Shadows: Blair Witch Project 2, as this would surely change his mind.

Although there really isn’t anything terrifying here, Paranormal Activity at least dares to be different and that has to be commended. In fact, the more scaredy cats you can drag along to see it, the better your chances are of having a spook-filled time.