i rented this movie with no other knowledge about it other than it was similar to 'The Blair Witch Project'.... and that's the way i wanted it.... i wanted to come in fresh and with no expectations.... i usually enjoy a movie more the less i know about it.... i'd heard good things about this movie.... and had even heard some people say that it really scared them quite a bit.... and it's been a while since i've been scared of a movie, so this peaked my interest even more to rent it.... a couple buy a video camera to document strange goings on in their home which they think may be paranormal.... they soon find proof to back up their gut instincts.... but this just leads to more questions as we find out that the main girl in the movie has been followed from house to house by an entity since she was a little girl.... they then call in outside help to get more information about the spirit and how to get rid of it and that's when things get really dark.... i don't want to give the entire plot away.... but it's interesting enough to be worth your time to rent this one and watch it alone in the dark....
with the comparisons to 'Blair Witch', i'd say some of them are grounded.... but overall the only real relation is that it's all very 'reality show-ish'.... it seems like it's all unscripted and that you're watching footage from a police file or something.... there's not a huge amount going on in the movie.... and the plot is sparse at best.... but the atmosphere makes up for all of that.... all in all.... a clever twist on an old theme.... very effective scares.... and some of the tactics are based in reality.... i found myself getting swept up in the storyline and got a little bit of a jump at the end of the movie.... but this vs. 'Blair Witch'....? i'd take the witch anytime over this.... 'Paranormal Activity' is worth a watch and possibly a second viewing.... but i don't know how much staying power it has.... i'd give it a good 4 out of 5 stars.... most certainly not crap....
if you enjoy this movie, check out: 'The Blair Witch Project', 'Suicide' and any of the paranormal shows on basic cable
the stand out parts of this movie involve the gore.... the effects are above average and tend to overshadow the story, which is very simple in scope.... there are some violent kills, but nothing new or too inventive.... still, it's worth the price of admission.... one thing that left me feeling a bit let down by the end, was the lack of closure.... it seemed like we got a lot of build up to a slightly abrupt and unsatisfying ending.... it pays off, however not as well as i'd hoped.... i mean, they built up this killer so much that it would have left itself wide open for a franchise.... sadly, it probably won't happen.... but i've said too much.... (or not.) 
all that being said.... if you have Netflix, it's available OnDemand right now or to rent.... and i would say it's worth a night of popcorn and brainless slaying.... you won't find any great revelations and will probably feel slightly let down, but the rest of it is so strong that it holds up to the test of an above average slasher film.... and if this piece of bloody good fun is any indication of what the director and writer have in store for the future, then i'm eager to see what's next....