"Paranormal Activity" is a frightful examination of things that go bump in the night, told in a format of realism meant only to accentuate the elements of fear. It succeeds for the most part, confirmed by the chills that ran up and down my spine, along with eyes that watered from extreme attentiveness and a back that stiffened due to a similar sense of forceful focus.

But what "Paranormal Activity" isn't, is scary. Creepy? Yes. But scary is reserved for more in-depth explorations of fear and what evokes it. "Paranormal" is merely a one-trick pony; a couple that believes they're being haunted sets up a camera while they sleep and we watch the results. Yet, despite the gimmicky nature of it all, the film is still an anomaly in what is typically released as "horror" these days.

Katie and Micah live together as a couple, and the former has felt a presence following her since the age of 8. It is said to be a demon, and boyfriend Micah buys an expensive camera to document the oddities and unexplained phenomena that have been occurring.

Much like "The Blair Witch Project", to which the low-budget film has been compared, "Paranormal" is shot in a documentary-style, hand-held format to illustrate veracity in a blatantly unreal situation. It is successful in asserting the realness, and even more so in bringing on the anxiety.

Nights pass, and the camera, set on a tripod, captures every hour of the couple's slumber. As each night progresses, the stranger things get. Things make sounds, doors slam shut, Katie finds herself sleepwalking without any knowledge of the fact; it increases each time to build up the suspense of what's to come. The entire film is a harbinger, combining suspense and mystery to raise the audience's apprehension of what is in store for the two people on screen.

While the night elements deliver the fretfulness, the day scenes bring on the drama. Micah and Katie fight and fight and fight. Katie is sick of the camera and thinks Micah is just making a joke of her situation, which he is.

With constant sarcasm and insensitive comments, Micah is a boyfriend who I could only describe in words unfit for print. Let's leave it at that. It is said near the beginning of the film that the demon is provoked by drama. Leave it to this dumb couple, after being told that, to create as much drama as humanly possible.

The day scenes lack and the night scenes make up for it, but as a whole, "Paranormal Activity" is a one-time viewing experience, for me at least. It efficiently performed the job I wished it to, which was to give me a sense of "fear" that I haven't felt at the movies in a long time. The only film to ever truly instill cold, hard fear inside of me was "The Sixth Sense", and since then I've only encountered disappointment.

This is truly an audience film. While I was somewhat perturbed at the people constantly yelling in fright in the theater, others will find enjoyment in the collaborative exclamations of shock. I personally feel I would've been more frightened if watching the movie alone, for the frequent bursts of noise surrounding me only reminded me of the fact that I was, indeed, watching a movie.

Regardless, "Paranormal Activity" thrives in its simple goal of provoking dread. The movie finishes with no credits, but rather a title card thanking the families of Micah and Katie, and another regarding the ending that I'll certainly withhold. The lady behind me rose from her seat and exclaimed, "Fake!" No kidding, but the fear is real.

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Greg Vellante is a graduate of North Andover High School who is currently attending UMass-Lowell. He has been reviewing and writing about movies for The Eagle-Tribune since 2007.