A perfect demonstration of how a bunch of teenagers would deal with a paranormal situation when they're in way over their heads. The story does follow a tried and true plotline of a cautionary tale or a visual adaptation of a parable, but at the same time, it does so in a way that isn't so obvious or boring. The characters in this story are arguably caricatures of their real-life counterparts, but the consistency in their behavior and solid acting from the cast helps progress the plot rather than muddling it down with unnecessary twists or unnatural dialogue.

I would also understand those who would call this tactic formulaic, and I would agree with that, but I have to add that it has enhanced it with suspenseful pacing and graphic depictions of evil. What makes the movie truly scary is the fact that this could happen in our current time, even with all of our advancements in technology, to someone we know, and maybe someone we love. If you want an interpretation of possessions and demons that is more or less faithful to historical illustrations, then you will be pleasantly surprised by how seamlessly they fit into our modern society.