Our lives are modern, civilized, and devoid of the horrific dangers that our primitive ancestors faced on a daily basis. As a result, we sometimes have a yearning to be horrified, to be disturbed down to our very core.

If you’ve got that yearning, go see “Paranormal Activity.” The film is an example of a decent idea brilliantly executed. The first-person view throughout the film, with the slightly-blurry high definition camera, makes it eerily believable.

The bits of humor scattered throughout really help the audience to identify with the characters, flawlessly setting up the suspense that dominates the film.

The filmmakers have been very persuasive in convincing the audience that the film chronicles true events. The three-actor cast and handheld camera, coupled with great acting and a lack of credits at the end, make the film seem like a homemade movie.

The believability created by that is far more terrifying than the events themselves, something predecessors like “The Blair Witch Project” tried, but never fully exploited. Suspense is what “Paranormal Activity” does best. As the events grow slightly more fearsome throughout, viewers come to dread the approaching night just as the characters do.

The subtle movements and sounds make the entire film, and will leave the audience wondering about and fearing the movements in the corners of their eyes that we all so quickly dismiss. In a time when horror movies are so eager to abuse the “jump-out-and-getcha” technique, this film relies on subtlety and true psychological horror.

Every part seems to be skillfully orchestrated towards building fear. It wouldn’t be surprising if the filmmakers had hired an on-staff psychologist, because the progression pulls at the nerves and tweaks the mind in every way that a good horror film should. In short, “Paranormal Activity” is a brilliant horror film that everyone should see.

The whole premise is believable, the characters are people we become familiar with and care about, and the ending absolutely capitalizes on the maddening suspense throughout the film. If you fancy yourself brave, see it. If you fancy yourself easily scared, see it with a brave friend. Neither of you will sleep.