Paranormal horror is here again with the debut of the fourth installment of the “Paranormal Activity” series, released last Thursday and subtitled “It’s closer than you think.” While fans of the series will find fun in the familiar horror, this installment may be one step closer to the end for a series that relies on the same stale thrills year after year.

The series began in 2009 and received attention from audiences for its unusual and unique style of filming, which imitates an up-close home-movie perspective of the abnormal events from the victims’ video camera. The first three movies generated over $500 million for its producer, Paramount Pictures.

The fourth movie, a sequel of the second film, was announced on Jan. 2 and filming beginning on on June 23. Information about the characters was kept undercover to prevent the fans from predicting the plot until trailers were released in August.

The fourth movie begins where the second movie ended, choosing the more modern plotline rather than the 1980s story from the third film, when Katie (Katie Featherston) kidnaps her sister’s son Hunter and both disappear without a trace.

The new plot unfolds as Alex (Kathryn Newton) films her little brother Wyatt’s (Aiden Lovekamp) soccer match, and first sees “Robbie,” formerly Hunter (Brady Allen), who recently moved to the neighborhood with his mom, Katie. When Katie is in the hospital Alex’s mom (Alexondra Holly) agrees to let Robbie stay in her home, at which point the activity begins.

The acting and shooting was similar to previous installments, differing only with the incorporation of laptop webcams in place of video cameras. Genuine acting and the film’s trademark style helped to create a believable story. Allen’s delightfully haunting performance as Robbie was a particular standout, a gem found in the river of homogeneity that was the film.

However, viewers might be disappointed to find many scenes from the trailer were not in the film, raising questions as to what surprises directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman might have in store for audiences.

Some critics, such as Scott Weinberg of FEARnet, mentioned there was “some fun” to be had in the film, most agreed the film was mediocre, with scenes that “played it safe,” lacked new ideas and only played to the “die-hard” fan base of “Paranormal Activity.”

Though the film boasts solid acting overall and die-hard fans of the movies will likely enjoy it, this fourth installment of the “Paranormal Activity” series has delivered audiences little more than a stale, redundant production.