There are scares from the off in the short, punchy horror Lights Out, adapted by the director David F Sandberg from his short film.

The thrills are well orchestrated in a flick that knows not to outstay its welcome.

In its own deeply contrived way, the film is just as frightening as you want it to be.

Maria Bello shines as a conflicted maternal figure but David F. Sandberg’s debut feature can’t quite formulate how to actually make it all scary.