We’ve all heard of The Blair Witch Project. Perhaps you watched it one spooky October evening but were left somewhat disappointed with its fear-factor. Certainly, if you’re a frequent horror film watcher like me, then The Blair Witch Project might have paled in comparison to some newer, frankly more frightening films. And yet, we owe a debt of gratitude to The Blair Witch Project – the pioneering film of the found footage horror genre. Back in 1999, what made The Blair Witch Project so terrifying was its supposed realism. When it premiered at the Sundance film festival, its actors were listed as “missing” or “deceased”, and its audience were led to believe that the events of the film may be real.
However, there was a found footage horror film that existed before The Blair Witch Project called Cannibal Holocaust, but this film was particularly controversial and there were allegations that some of the violence used in it was real. As a result, this film did not popularise the genre in the same way The Blair Witch Project did, but it’s evident that from the very start, this genre has been characterised by its blurring of boundaries between fiction and reality.
This is the hallmark trope of the found footage horror genre. It plays on the premise that what you are seeing is real, recovered footage, giving the film verisimilitude which adds to the creation of fear in audiences. The destruction of the fourth wall gives you as the viewer nowhere to hide, and something about a shaky, hand-held camera gives a film a rawness and realism that adds to the terror.
The found footage horror genre has expanded rapidly since its conception, and it’s the new, creative premises that helps this genre evolve. For me, some highlights of the genre include the film As Above, So Below, which is set in the Paris catacombs and blends horror, alchemy, and mythology. Also, the VHS series is unique compilation of anthology horror ranging from a rat-human hybrid colony living in the sewers, to an undead corpse and an alien invasion.
I cannot talk about found footage horror without mentioning Grave Encounters – arguably one of the best horror films of all time. A team of ghost-hunters enter an abandoned asylum to capture videos of paranormal activity. The premise itself is scary, and you go into it knowing it will be frightening, and yet it does not matter how much you prepare yourself, the impeccable construction of suspense and the well-timed jumpscares still terrify you. The way this film induces psychological fear is also paramount to its success.
Another film with a particularly interesting and creative premise is the film Host, which follows a group of friends on an online call during lockdown. You watch the whole film as if watching a group video chat on a computer screen, suggesting that you too could be part of this call too.
So, this Halloween why not dive into the found footage horror genre – its creative concepts and terrifying realism will not leave you disappointed.
“black and white woods” by mocktech is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.