Buzz
Many film buffs consider The Blair Witch Project to be the groundbreaking found footage horror movie that disrupted the film industry. However, some argue that Cannibal Holocaust holds the title of the first found footage horror movie. Additionally, the 1961 film, Connection, is often cited as the earliest example of found footage outside the horror genre. This genre found a whole new wave of fans with The Blair Witch Project, followed by the immense success of Paranormal Activity.
This list uncovers some intriguing facts about found footage films that you might not have known before. Warning: potential spoilers ahead.
10. The Gallows—2015
Although The Gallows didn’t impress either critics or audiences, it still managed to turn a decent profit of $43 million from a tiny budget of just $100,000. The movie tells the story of a tragic event at a high school during a performance of 'The Gallows,' where an accident results in the hanging of student Charlie Grimille, and the plot follows the eerie anniversary of the tragedy.
The story for the film is based on an account told to filmmaker Chris Lofing by his father, about a teenager who tragically died during a stage performance. According to Travis Cluff, Lofing’s filmmaking partner, a series of eerie incidents occurred during and after the making of The Gallows, including other accidental hangings, not only in Beatrice, Nebraska, where the movie is set, but also around the world.
9. The Devil Inside – 2012
This found footage horror follows a woman caught in a web of exorcisms as she attempts to uncover the truth about what happened to her mother. Her mother, having been possessed by a demon, killed three members of the clergy. The film was a box-office hit, but it faced mostly negative reviews from critics, primarily due to its highly debated ending.
The film reaches its climax when it’s revealed that the mother is inhabited by multiple demons, who then go on to possess the daughter and those aiding her. The man helping the daughter with a documentary about her mother’s possession is also taken over and crashes into oncoming traffic while driving with the daughter to consult an exorcism expert. The screen then displays a title card stating: 'The facts surrounding the Rossi case remain unresolved. For more information about the ongoing investigation visit www.TheRossiFiles.com.'
Both critics and audiences were disappointed by the film’s sudden ending, with some even labeling it as one of the most disliked and controversial conclusions in cinematic history.
8. REC—2007
REC is a chilling documentary-style Spanish film, largely without a soundtrack, following a news reporter and her cameraman as they cover a firefighter intervention in Barcelona. It quickly becomes clear that a virus is spreading among the residents, transforming them into zombies. The film was a hit, spawning three sequels. An American remake, Quarantine, was released in 2008.
The first film in the REC series was shot without a pre-written script, with the actors unaware of what they would be filming each day. By the time the final movie arrived, the franchise had also expanded into a comic book titled REC Historias Ineditas, which includes five stories explaining the origins of the virus that sparked the events of the first film.
7. Trollhunter—2010
While most found footage films belong to the horror genre, some defy the norm. Trollhunter is a Norwegian dark fantasy shot as a found footage mockumentary. It features massive trolls that turn to stone when exposed to sunlight, and the story revolves around bear killings and a troll hunter.
Writer-director André Øvredal shared in an interview that his childhood love for the images of trolls in a fairytale book, which his parents used to read to him, served as the inspiration for the trolls featured in the film. A significant portion of the film's budget was provided by the Norwegian government, and at the time of the 2011 interview, plans for an American remake were already underway.
6. Unfriended – 2014
Unfriended doesn’t exactly fall into the ‘found footage’ category but rather focuses on ‘online video chatting’-type footage. The film delves into the terrifying repercussions of cyber-bullying. During a press conference in 2015, the filmmakers revealed that the film was shot almost like a stage play in one continuous take, with the script evolving through improvisation. The infamous ‘Never Have I Ever’ game scene was even written just the day before filming.
Many viewers believed that Unfriended was based on a true story, so much so that Snopes, a debunking website, had to publish an article to set the record straight. Screenwriter Nelson Greaves confirmed that the movie was inspired by producer Timur Bekmambetov's desire to 'make a movie that’s just on the computer.'
5. The Taking of Deborah Logan – 2014
The Taking of Deborah Logan is a largely overlooked Netflix gem that delves into the complicated bond between a mother suffering from illness and her daughter. The plot revolves around a film crew documenting Deborah, an elderly woman battling Alzheimer’s, who uncovers a malevolent force lurking in her surroundings.
As the film progresses, Deborah’s dementia spirals out of control, and she abducts a cancer patient with the intention of using her for a ritualistic sacrifice. By this point, Deborah has fallen under the influence of an evil entity that is guiding her to fulfill the sacrifice, which will grant the spirit immortality. In a shocking sequence, Deborah attempts to consume the young cancer patient, Cara, resembling a serpent, forcing her daughter, Sarah, to make the heartbreaking decision to shoot her mother. Despite this, Deborah does not perish and is gently comforted by Sarah as the film concludes.
Months later, Cara, now celebrating her tenth birthday and in remission from cancer, displays a sinister smile, leading audiences to speculate that she has been possessed by the very spirit that had taken over Deborah. Viewers also interpret the serpent imagery as a symbolic representation of Deborah’s transformation, as she spits venom and strikes out like a snake while under the possession's control.
Director Adam Robitel has openly expressed his deep fear of Alzheimer’s, and has described the disease as 'a rather fitting metaphor for possession.'
4. Jeruzalem – 2015
This supernatural found footage horror film from Israel begins with a quote from the Talmud, stating that there are three gates leading to hell: one in the sea, one in the desert, and one in Jerusalem. Set during a zombie outbreak in the Old City, the film was shot on location there. These aren’t your typical zombies; they bite and scratch humans, transforming them into demons. One interesting detail that some viewers may have missed is the inclusion of a Skyrim steel sword used in a scene where a zombie is impaled.
Inspired by the Talmud, as indicated by the opening quote, Jeruzalem was made on a modest budget of $160,000, much of which was personally raised by the filmmakers. Doron Paz and Yoav Paz sold the film in multiple international markets, including the UK, US, Japan, and the Philippines. In 2016, they announced plans for a sequel, which would take place ten years after the original movie's events.
3. As Above, So Below – 2014
While As Above, So Below does not claim to be based on a true story, the location where it was filmed carries a chilling real-life history.
In the early 1990s, a man ventured into the Catacombs of Paris on his own and never returned. His camcorder and its cassette were eventually found, and the footage reveals the man in a state of panic after catching sight of something unsettling. As he runs, he drops the camcorder, which continues to record while he mysteriously vanishes. This eerie footage was later featured in a special documentary aired on ABC Family, where it was claimed that the man disappeared near the 'Gates of Hell.'
The film immerses audiences in the eerie depths of The Catacombs, a place thought to have been constructed for spiritual ceremonies. These subterranean tombs house the remains of over six million individuals and were largely forgotten until they became a popular venue for gatherings and festivities in the 1800s. Director John Erick referred to the catacombs as 'an extremely creepy place' and commented, 'It really tweaks at the mind.'
2. The Possession of Michael King—2014
The Possession of Michael King follows the tale of a man who, after the tragic death of his wife, denies the existence of supernatural forces. In an effort to prove that demons, angels, God, and the devil are mere myths, he willingly becomes a vessel for demonic possession. Naturally, horrifying events follow.
In one chilling scene, Michael sits before a television, where he can observe his reflection while being filmed by a camera. As he questions himself, he turns away from the screen, and his image appears to turn and face him on the TV.
To achieve the perfect timing for this unsettling moment, actor Shane Johnson recorded part of the scene in advance, which was then played back. This allowed him to align his real-time performance with the pre-recorded footage, creating the illusion that his image on the screen was independently turning to confront him.
1. Megan is Missing – 2011
This harrowing film follows the events leading up to the vanishing of Megan Steward, portrayed by Rachel Quinn. The story is inspired by multiple real-life child abduction cases and received the support of Marc Klaas, whose 12-year-old daughter Polly Klaas was kidnapped and murdered in 1993. Megan is Missing stirred intense controversy upon release and was ultimately banned in New Zealand after being marketed as an educational film. It faced heavy criticism for its portrayal of adolescent sexuality and its graphic depictions of violence.
Writer and director Michael Goi was aware that the movie's disturbing subject matter would cause discomfort for many viewers, so he made sure that the parents of the young cast members were present on set during the filming of the controversial scenes. Goi completed the script in just 10 days and shot the film in a mere 7 days. It quickly earned the title of '2011’s scariest horror film.'
