5 Genuinely Good Found Footage Horror Films
I understand that the found footage genre is generally looked down upon, especially amongst horror buffs. However, as a horror buff myself, I am a fan of the genre. However, I also acknowledge that there are a lot of duds. This is my list of stand out found footage horror films that I believe even skeptics will love due to their originality and great writing. Hope you enjoy it!
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# 1. Savageland
Francisco is the sole survivor after an entire border town is inexplicably wiped out of existence. The authorities initially view him as a suspect but everything changes when they develop the film in his camera, changing the landscape of their small town forever.
Savageland is a truly stand out found footage film as it uses photos and interviews to slowly piece together the terrifying story of one man’s survival.
SEMI-SPOILER ALERT: A smart decision this film makes is the choice to never fully reveal the “creatures”. Instead, it only reveals disturbing glimpses of their frightening appearance. I personally believe that many times the full reveal of a horror monster actually reduces the fear factor as it is genuinely hard to creature a realistic looking scary monster. The original Alien movie is a great example of this and Savageland reinforces this idea.
Ultimately, Savageland is one of the most original found footage horror movies out there and you’d be remiss not to check it out.
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# 2. The Bay
After a deadly ecological disaster erupts in Maryland, USA, a reporter pieces together all the footage she can find of the terrifying ordeal and the government’s suspected involvement in the coverup.
Once again, The Bay is an engaging film due to the variety of footage used including newscasts and cctv footage. This means no relying on one shaky camera for the entire film. Additionally, the quick escalation of the film’s narrative, as well as it’s conspiratorial nature, make it a thrilling watch. Death and destruction abound, The Bay is definitely not one to miss.
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# 3. Grave Encounters
The hosts of a ghost hunting reality show make the inevitably terrible decision to lock themselves inside a supposedly haunted, abandoned mental asylum. Ironically undeterred by the belief that ghosts don’t actually exist, things quickly begin to go awry for our ill-fated crew.
Grave encounters is a fresh take on an overdone genre. Personally, I am not a big fan of the “haunted house” format, but I believe that if a movie is done well, it doesn’t matter which genre it belongs to. Grave encounters definitely supports this theory by presenting a well crafted, well presented ghost story that draws the viewer in and leaves them wanting more.
BONUS: The sequel is also very good, picking up where the first film left off.
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# 4. The Tunnel
An overly ambitious reporter leads a film crew into a system of underground abandoned tunnels reportedly being hidden from the public by the Australian government. The news team soon finds out that some secrets are better left buried.
The Tunnel is one film in a long line of underground found footage films but it definitely manages to stand out from the rest. Blending CCTV and handheld camera footage with documentary style interviews, The Tunnel presents an impressive narrative rife with emotion and terror. A thrilling ride right to the very end, The Tunnel is a great addition to anyone’s horror hit list.
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# 5. Be My Cat: A Film for Anne
An aspiring Romanian filmmaker goes to extreme lengths to impress actress Anne Hathaway.
Don’t be put off by the strange name, Be My Cat: A Film for Anne is truly a surprise smash hit that probably no one saw coming and many unfortunate souls have passed by! With a gritty, creepy realness that is simply unmatched, Be My Cat: A Film for Anne is the brain child of Adrian Țofei who wrote, stars in, and directed the film. Țofei as the lead character somehow manages to be quirky, unsettling, hilarious and terrifying all at once. If you’re looking for a truly original film with a lead character and storyline like you’ve never seen before, this film is the one for you!
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Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this list, I will be publishing more lists for all different genres, so please check back regularly! If you watched any of the movies from this list because of this article, please comment and let me know what you thought of it, I’d love to know!
