THE evil spirit which haunted Oren Peli’s 2009 low-budget horror Paranormal Activity is back and this time, things go bump in the nightmares of two little girls with an imaginary friend who’s terrifyingly real.

Structured once again as found footage, the third film in the series is probably the least scary of the unholy trilogy. However its directors, who made Catfish, deliver several effective jolts.

The film traces the malevolent force that haunts sisters Katie (Katie Featherston) and Kristi (Sprague Grayden) back to its origin.

It opens in 2005 in California, with Kristi heavily pregnant. Her sister stores two boxes in the basement, one of which contains video cassettes.

Events rewind to 1988 and the birthday party of young Katie (Chloe Csengery) whose younger sister Kristi (Jessica Tyler Brown) keeps to herself, talking to an imaginary friend called Toby.

Celebrations are captured by Dennis, the new boyfriend of the girls’ mother who sets up two cameras. Nothing much happens on the first night but events become increasingly sinister.

This is an assured opening chapter in the horror mythology, sowing the seeds of terror in childhood that reap such bitter fruit for the sisters in later years.

We glimpse impending doom on the edge of the screen and contemplate what’s unfolding just off screen.

HORROR

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3

(1hr 24 mins)

Certificate: 15

Starring: Chloe Csengery, Jessica Tyler Brown, Lauren Bittner, Christopher Nicholas Smith.

Directors: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman.

HHH