Don't buy the hype. If you really want to be scared watch "Noroi" or "Rec" instead.

Rating: 3/10 (23 October 2009)

Paranormal activity wasn't terrible, but it wasn't the best of the "found footage" subgenre of horror either. And it most certainly isn't "the scariest movie of the decade" as I've heard claimed. It doesn't even come close to the Blair Witch Project, lacking the intelligence and the longevity of the final sequence altogether.
In fact, it's just a pretty average hand-held style movie with one or two creepy moments towards the end. Nothing that will keep you up (unless you only watch Dora The Explorer) and nothing particularly inspired. The acting is proficient enough and the night-time setpieces are samey but well done. It brought to mind the old BBC Ghostwatch mockumentary that was in fact much scarier. I would put this one on a par with the lower level found footage movies like "The Last Broadcast" or St. Francisville Experiment." If you want to be really scared by works in this genre I recommend "REC" or "Noroi: The Curse" -- both of which leave Paranormal Activity in the dust.