The footage may not be real, but it’s truly terrifying.
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
Directed by: Ruggero Deodato
Written by: Gianfranco Clerici
For better or worse, Cannibal Holocaust set the stage for much of what's followed in found footage horror. The story is familiar: A documentary crew goes missing, and the unedited footage they left behind reveals the horrifying truth behind their disappearance. Cannibal Holocaust remains highly controversial — at the time, it was realistic enough to be mistaken for a snuff film. And while that particular claim has been dismissed, the violence toward animals was sadly not faked.
Grindhouse Releasing
The Last Broadcast (1998)
Directed by: Stefan Avalos and Lance Weiler
Written by: Stefan Avalos and Lance Weiler
The Last Broadcast walks the line between mockumentary and true found footage. Ultimately, however, it's as much about the raw footage as it is about the finished product that filmmaker David Leigh (David Beard) is trying to assemble. To make things even more meta, Leigh is investigating the murders of Steven Avkast (Stefan Avalos) and Locus Wheeler (Lance Weiler) — note the names — a pair of TV documentary hosts played by the filmmakers of The Last Broadcast.
Heretic Films
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Directed by: Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez
Written by: Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez
A surprising smash hit, The Blair Witch Project brought found footage to the mainstream and demonstrated the undeniable power of the genre. With a tiny budget and a trio of unknown actors — Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, and Joshua Leonard — The Blair Witch Project terrified audiences with an aesthetic that seemed firmly steeped in reality. The iconic final scare is unnerving not because of what you see, but because of what you don't.
Artisan Entertainment
The Last Horror Movie (2003)
Directed by: Julian Richards
Written by: James Handel
In the tradition of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer and Man Bites Dog, The Last Horror Movie offers an uncomfortably intimate look at a serial killer and his crimes. The brutal violence is hard to withstand, but the closeness to the perpetrator is what makes the film so unsettling. At one point, Max (Kevin Howarth) even breaks the fourth wall to accuse the viewers of wanting to see more carnage — the worst part is, he's not wrong.
Bedford Entertainment
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