I can definitely feel a kind of Paranormal Activity backlash in the air. It's unavoidable. Considering that the Paramount release is going to be one of the biggest sleeper hits in a long time, some skepticism and cheap shots are bound to come with the territory.

First, there will be the horror junkies who claim that a) it's not a scary movie at all and b) there are much more deserving horror films out there that should be on the receiving end of all the hype that PA is benefiting from. Then there are those who will just refuse to go along with the ride. PA is far from a masterpiece, and if you approach it too analytically it falls apart. It's best to check your brain at the door and just enjoy the communal experience of sitting in a theater with a bunch of strangers who are yelling at the screen and shrieking at just the right moments. I highly doubt PA will play as well when it lands on DVD. It's a movie that you need to see in a crowded theater.

You can bet that the fifth installment of the Scary Movie franchise will take more than a few jabs at PA. Since the series is receiving the reboot treatment, hopefully those jabs will be as shamelessly funny as the Blair Witch gag in the original.

In the end, it doesn't really matter that PA will have its share of detractors. Enough people are enjoying it, and Paramount is laughing all the way to the bank. Plus, the film's method of release will be imitated for years to come.