“Paranormal Activity 3” came out just in time for the nearing Halloween holiday, and it would seem that fans who were looking for scares got exactly what they were looking for.

According to Rotten Tomatoes, critics gave this third visit to the franchise (this one directed by the directing duo of “Catfish”, Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman) a 72%. The critics, according to the site, felt that “[w]hile the jolts and thrills are undeniably subject to the diminishing returns that plague most horror sequels, ‘Paranormal Activity 3′ is a surprisingly spine-tingling treat.” However, audiences were a little more generous, giving the film a 74%. On the whole, the film was successful. Of course, if you’re taking the pessimistic route, you could also read into the ratings (and the critics’ general thought quoted above) that the film was just above average.

The critics are of one mind, and the audience is of another (slightly), but what do you think about the film? If you’re a fan of the franchise, do you think this one holds up to the others? Or, if you’re a fan or just a casual horror watcher, do you think this film pales in comparison to the original “Paranormal Activity”? Give us your opinions in the comments section below.