Eight Found Footage Genre Movies You Want to Watch

What exactly is this genre called the found footage genre? Found footage genre or recordings found genre is a relatively new genre in movie making (mostly used by film makers for horror movies), which is presented in the form of edited recordings as it is recorded by the victim of a mysterious event.

Although this genre was started in 1980 with the movie “Cannibal Holocaust”, it began to become more popular in the 21st century beginning with the movie “Blair Witch Project” which was very popular in 1999.

Here is a list of eight of the most popular and the best found footage genre movies.

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

“The Blair Witch Project” is the best selling independent movie screened at the end of the ’90s. With a small budget, which was only USD$35,000 and which took only eight days to shoot, it has been watched by more than 250 million viewers around the world.

It revolves around three students of filmmaking who tried to uncover the mystery of the Blair witch who is said to inhabit the hilly forest of Maryland but then eventually became the victims of their own project. This movie was not only successful at the box office, but it has become the epitome of movies of the found footage genre.

Watch trailer of The Blair Witch Project.

[REC] (2007)

Spanish movie critics choose this as the best movie of the found footage genre. Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza who are the directors of this movie choose to combine elements of found footage, and possessed zombie hauntings in an apartment building to create a most horrifying horror movie.

The movie may have started quite slowly in building up the suspense but as soon as the real action begins, you will be at the edge of your seat until the movie ends. In fact, Hollywood has adapted this movie to produce its own version with the title Quarantine. However, Quarantine cannot rival the brilliance of the original movie. There is nothing more frightening than seeing something scary in a language you do not know!

Watch the trailer of [REC].

NOROI (2005)

Noroi or “The Curse” is a Japanese horror movie which was screened in 2005 but was only shown to audiences in Southeast Asia in 2008. The king of Japanese found footage genre named Koji Shiraishi has used 25 actors to play 25 characters in his movies that contain elements of magic and the worship of Satan as the subject.

In “Noroi”, Koji’s found footage recording features a documentary director who had disappeared after inquiring about a series of eerie mysteries that were apparently inter-connected and eventually led to a tragic end for everyone involved in the documentary. But be forewarned! It is likely that you might develop a phobia with ‘bacteria’ after watching this movie.

Watch the trailer of Noroi.

Occult (2009)

Koji Shiraishi really loves the found footage genre and has more than five movies using the same technique. Another movie with found footage recordings is Occult or Okaruto made in 2009.

The story is quite funny but creepy too at the same time. It centers around the obsession of a victim who believes he has a mission in the world after the tragedy that befell him. It is also a tribute from Koji for HP Lovecraft’s works and Cthulthu – Lovecraftian creatures well-known to fans of the horror genre. Watching this movie will leave you wondering, “Is Koji in a trance when shooting this movie?”

Watch the trailer to Occult.

Cloverfield (2008)

“Cloverfield” is a movie of this genre of horror that ran slightly away from the usual mold. The movie is directed by Matt Reeves and produced by director of “Lost”, JJ Abrams. It tells of a  love story between two people who are in trouble when a monster attacks New York City. Imagine Godzilla, Romeo and Juliet and your uncle’s video camera all in a movie.

Watch the trailer of Cloverfield.

REC 2 (2009)

REC 2 or [● REC] ² is a sequel to the first movie and released in 2009. But what makes this movie more powerful than the first is that the two directors not only use a movie camera but also the way the movie was shot. Watching the movie feels like playing the video game “Call Of Duty” or “Silent Hill”. If you are used to playing video games, you will know how this feels like.

Watch the trailer of REC 2.

Paranormal Activity (2007)

When it was first screened, Paranormal Activity drew such widespread attention because of its somewhat different technique of using a CCTV camera to shoot the whole movie.

The popularity of Paranormal Activity spawns two sequels and another movie spin-off with characters from Japan. It revolves around a pair of lovers Katie and Micah who are haunted by supernatural presence in their home.

Watch the trailer of Paranormal Activity.

JUNE 9 (2008)

If you think Paranormal Activity or The Blair Witch Project is not frightening enough, then June 9 will scare the living daylights out of you. Using the technique of video recording by a group of teenagers who like to cause trouble where they live, at first you will feel anger and hatred for the main characters of this movie. But what lies at the end of this movie is likely to make you not feel like eating for a few days.

Watch the trailer of June 9.