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Is Found Footage The Next Big Sub-Genre In Horror?

Published

7 years ago

February 7, 2017

The film industry is an ever changing beast. Directors are constantly fighting each other to create the next big thing for their respective audiences. Horror is no exception to that rule, with every sub-genre being so vastly different competition is stiff.

New films come out all the time in a steady flow, and with that much competition you either need something truly grotesque or innovative to make a ripple in the crimson ocean we all call home.

Horror has always been an expansive genre, and with that has also spawned multiple sub-genres. Be it either the slasher craze that took the 80’s and 90’s by storm, or the zombie craze of more recent years every sub-genre is a distinctive and unique as one would come to expect when viewing a horror movie.

One popular trend that seems to be taking off again is the found footage and mockumentary movement. Found footage films have always been plentiful, as they follow the same rules as slashers for the most part. They don’t require much acting experience, and are generally cheap as hell to film which makes it a good start point for any budding directors.

10 Found Footage Movies That Came Before The Blair Witch Project

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

There are plenty of terrible or obscure found footage films out there, but it’s the big name ones that truly send out the ripples and ignite the next flame other directors will try to recreate.

Some of the best known ones of course being The Blair Witch Project, VHS, and The Taking Of Deborah Logan. Each film bringing something unique and interesting to the field that helped to push the bar.

The Blair Witch Project

This mockumentary was an explosive success, and is what helped bring popularity to the found footage movement in cinema. Part of this films success was due to its marketing, which at the time was a work of true genius.

All marketing for The Blair Witch made it seem like the events of the film had actually happened. Even going so far as to creating missing person posters for the actors. This helped the film explode in popularity and brought fame to the found footage sub-genre.

The Blair Witch Project helped to popularize the found footage movement by bringing to the mainstream audience, which is where so many other found footage flicks falter.

V/H/S

VHS is another film that helped to popularize the found footage movement, however it chose a different approach compared to other films. What sets V/H/S apart from other found footage movies is that it is not only a found footage movie, but also an anthology.

V/H/S consists of three self contained stories all being played on the titular VHS tape. Each story taking a different direction, with different directors, similar to The ABC’S Of Death.

This particular entry was a great showcase as to what the found footage sub-genre was capable of, and was popular enough to warrant several sequels. After VHS low budget found footage anthology films certainly became more common place.

The Taking Of Deborah Logan

The Taking Of Deborah Logan is an absolutely disturbing and unsettling film to watch, and that is one of the highest praises a horror flick could ever hope to achieve. It takes on the role of a mockumentary and a great example to go off of when creating a found footage movie.

The plot follows a group of college students wanting to film a documentary about Deborah and her struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. As things progress however it is clear that something is very wrong with Deborah.

The blending of found footage and a mockumentary helped this film succeed tremendously. The blending of the two sub-genres together helped to introduce many horror fans to a sub-genre that is widely dismissed.

Of course there are many other found footage films and mocumentaries that helped to normalize and bring popularity to the found footage genre. The found footage genre is bursting at the seams with some great hidden gems out there.

As more and more truly great found footage flicks gain popularity, we are also seeing big name directors taking a stab at this niche in horror cinema. The most recent example being M. Night Shyamalan’s The Visit.

Of course there is no telling if the found footage genre will explode to the heights that the slasher genre had in the 80’s or not, but as it gains popularity anything is possible. If you need more mockumentary action in your life then be sure to check out our list of mockumentaries that show off their human sides.

I for one am excited at the idea of more mainstream found footage films, with an A-list horror budget and writing. After all nothing is more terrifying than grounding horror in reality.

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Jake Gyllenhaal’s Thriller ‘Presumed Innocent’ Series Gets Early Release Date

Published

10 mins ago

April 26, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Jake Gyllenhaal’s limited series Presumed Innocent is dropping on AppleTV+ on June 12 instead of June 14 as originally planned. The star, whose Road House reboot has brought mixed reviews on Amazon Prime, is embracing the small screen for the first time since his appearance on Homicide: Life on the Street in 1994.

Jake Gyllenhaal’s in ‘Presumed Innocent’

Presumed Innocent is being produced by David E. Kelley, J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot, and Warner Bros. It is an adaptation of Scott Turow’s 1990 film in which Harrison Ford plays a lawyer doing double duty as an investigator looking for the murderer of his colleague.

These types of sexy thrillers were popular in the ’90s and usually contained twist endings. Here’s the trailer for the original:

According to Deadline, Presumed Innocent doesn’t stray far from the source material: “…the Presumed Innocent series will explore obsession, sex, politics and the power and limits of love as the accused fights to hold his family and marriage together.”

Up next for Gyllenhaal is the Guy Ritchie action movie titled In the Grey scheduled for release in January 2025.

Presumed Innocent is an eight-episode limited series set to stream on AppleTV+ starting June 12.

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Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

19 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

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News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

21 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.