As a genre of horror, found-footage films add a unique twist to terror that’s very hard to forget. What makes found-footage films so creepy is that its filmmaking style places the viewer right in the middle of whatever horror is unfolding on screen. And if that isn’t scary enough, there’s an element of realism in the genre that makes viewers think that they could very easily be in that news clip, shaky camcorder footage, or FaceTime call.
When you hear the term “found footage,” chances are you’re probably thinking about The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity. While these two films are certainly scary classics in the genre, there are definitely other movies worth mentioning as well. Whether you’re preparing for spooky season or want some too-close-for-comfort creepiness to dig into, we’ve rounded up the best found-footage horror movies that you can stream right now!
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Cloverfield
This iconic found-footage film directed by Matt Reeves is the original entry in the J.J. Abrams-produced sci-fi series. Cloverfield takes place in New York City and follows six friends who are filming a farewell party. Chaos unfolds when a monster referred to as Clover breaks loose in the city and wreaks havoc.
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Unfriended
Unfriended is a cyber horror film that blends the worlds of social media and webcams. The film follows a group of teenagers who find themselves haunted by someone or something that poses as an online persona of their friend who killed herself. Unfriended is certainly one of the most chilling films about cyberbullying you’ll find.
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The Bay
Known for Rain Man and Bugsy, Barry Levinson takes on the found-footage genre in The Bay, a horror film that’s framed as confidential footage that an anonymous person leaks from the US government. In the film, an unknown parasite wreaks havoc on a small town in the Chesapeake Bay, causing masses of people to break out into lesions and die.
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Rec
This Spanish film features footage from a news anchor and her cameraman as they bear witness to a zombie outbreak in a local apartment complex while reporting. When the building is put into quarantine, the duo and the apartment’s residents are forced to face violent encounters with those infected with a rabies-like virus.
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V/H/S
Instead of one story, V/H/S is a found-footage horror anthology. When a group of hired burglars are sent to a strange, empty house to secure a mysterious tape, they end up finding a dead body in front of multiple television screens. One of the criminals decides to watch the tapes, discovering that they hold some really creepy content.
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The Blair Witch Project
The Blair Witch Project is synonymous with found-footage horror. The classic film follows three student filmmakers looking to create a documentary about the legendary Blair Witch in Burkittsville, MD. However, their camping trip in the woods takes a deadly turn when they find themselves as hapless prey to an unseeable force.
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Paranormal Activity
When it comes to found-footage films, Paranormal Activity is something of a modern indie classic. This film spotlights Katie and Micah as they deal with a supernatural presence in their home. The haunting gets progressively worse and violent with each night they record.
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Trollhunter
Stylised in the found-footage mockumentary style, the Norwegian film Trollhunter follows a group of students who embark on a documentary project about bear poaching. Shockingly, they discover that their subject isn’t a bear poacher, but rather, as the title suggests, a troll hunter.
