(Jacob Trussell)Īll found footage films face the same creative problem: “why are these characters filming to begin with?” Exemplary found footage films adopt scenarios that make narrative buy-in a breeze: recovered documentary B-roll, footage from a special interest news broadcast, and in this case, un-aired footage from a ghost-hunting television show. There may be a lot of subpar found-footage horror films out there, but when they work? They manage to be more effective than a traditional film: horror, or otherwise. The film itself is short, simple, and utterly effective but it’s what happened after the film was released that reinforces just why this subgenre is so powerful. Their eyes saw in The McPherson Tape affirmation of their hopes and dreams about the world beyond the stars. They believed it so much that when the director confirmed that it was only a film, the true believers wouldn’t believe it. Not only does this ultra-low-budget shot-on-video film have the unnerving vibe of a home movie you weren’t meant to see, but its simplistic approach was also so effective that for years (and I mean years ) some ufologists legitimately believed the film was real. This is why The McPherson Tape is so important in the history of the found footage. But in relegating found footage to such a narrow scope, critics of the subgenre completely miss the potential for unparalleled realism that blurs the lines between reality and fiction. Because of this, the subgenre has been viewed skeptically as the medium for mediocrity, a crutch for a filmmaker without faith in their story to rely on ambiguity and shaky cameras to surface spookiness. It quickly became oversaturated, primarily because the low-cost production values allowed anyone with a camera to try their hand at making the next Blair Witch. I understand why people don’t like found footage. If you still need convincing about found footage horror or need some recommendations on how to get your feet wet in the subgenre, check out some of our favorites as chosen by Brad Gullickson, Chris Coffel, Jacob Trussell, Rob Hunter, Anna Swanson, Meg Shields, and myself. ![]() When given the chance, found footage surprises and awes with what it’s able to accomplish in the realm of fear. Mainstream horror is catching on, too, with films like The Invisible Man appropriating techniques seen in the subgenre, such as long takes of empty hallways to hike up the tension. It’s experimental, a place for filmmakers to play with the cinematic form on a shoestring budget. But little did they know what they were missing out on.įound footage can take so many different forms, from the typical handheld camera to Google glass to even webcams. ![]() After the release of The Blair Witch Project in 1999, there was a boom of found footage horror, which over-saturated the market and resulted in more than a few stinkers that seemed to turn audiences off from the format entirely. It’s an interactive, authentic, and, when done right, terrifying form of horror storytelling. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: found footage is good! It’s more than just a shaky cam and the eerie green glow of night vision. This article about the best found footage horror movies is part of our ongoing series 31 Days of Horror Lists. Most people take that to mean highlighting one horror movie a day, but here at FSR, we’ve taken that up a spooky notch or nine by celebrating each day with a top ten list. October is defined in Webster’s Dictionary as “31 days of horror.” Don’t bother looking it up it’s true.
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