The Blair Witch Challenge sparked a revolution within the discovered footage horror film style, however there are different discovered footage movies that beat the Nineties basic. Although it wasn’t the primary film to dabble with discovered footage, The Blair Challenge was definitely the movie that launched the idea into the mainstream.
The low-budget movie turned a global sensation because of viral advertising that utilized the fledgling web to unfold the phrase and develop the film’s mythos. It did not take lengthy for different filmmakers to leap on the discovered footage bandwagon, and the style grew within the 2000s. Since 1999, different films have been capable of enhance upon discovered footage horror.
There is not any denying that The Blair Witch Challenge is a quintessential piece of Nineties cinema, however the movie itself is overshadowed by its manufacturing and advertising. Although discovered footage is itself a gimmick of types, different discovered footage horror films rely much less on novelty and ship a coherent cinematic expertise.
The Taking Of Deborah Logan (2014)
Discovered footage naturally lends itself to creativity, and The Taking of Deborah Logan is an ideal extension of the style’s important idea. A scholar’s thesis movie entails her recording the each day lifetime of a lady with Alzheimer’s illness, solely to find one thing sinister is occurring. Each second builds upon itself, and the indie horror gem embraces horror.
One huge concern with The Blair Witch Challenge is its obscure conclusion, which is a bit disappointing. The Taking of Deborah Logan would not have that drawback and as an alternative commits to a stunning ending that, whereas a bit overstated, is at the least distinctive. Each second of the movie is jam-packed, and that comes from an abundance of concepts, not a dearth.
The Sacrament (2013)
Loosely based mostly on the real-life occasions of Jonestown, The Sacrament continued Ti West’s rise as a brand new voice in horror. Investigators journey to a mysterious spiritual commune and are met with suspicion and violence from its chief. Methodical and deliberate with its tempo, The Sacrament makes use of its stunning moments sparingly however successfully.
Loads of movies have been made about Jonestown, however The Sacrament is the one one to seize the abject horror of the occasion. Whereas it is not as unique as The Blair Witch Challenge, its execution advantages from greater than a decade of enchancment within the discovered footage style. Ti West’s different horror movies proved that The Sacrament was no fluke.
The Bay (2012)
Completed director Barry Levinson tried his hand on the discovered footage style, and The Bay was the completed consequence. The movie facilities on a distant seaside city that’s besieged by a mysterious sickness that comes from their polluted water provide. Whereas The Bay definitely follows the discovered footage system, it breaks away from it as properly with ugly scares.
The Blair Witch Challenge leans closely on gimmicks and subterfuge, however The Bay goes for the gusto from the very starting. Whereas the discovered footage side is a bit contrived, it’s by no means a distraction that takes away from the legitimately scary eco-horror story. The Bay is a surprisingly distinctive movie in a style identified for its sameness.
REC (2007)
It took some time for different filmmakers to leap on the discovered footage practice after The Blair Witch Challenge, and REC was one of many earliest examples. The Spanish movie issues a TV host who will get trapped in an condo constructing throughout a zombie outbreak. Combing two overplayed horror subgenres, REC deftly blends the tropes of each.
REC was adopted by three sequels in addition to an American remake named Quarantine.
Apart from delivering real scares, REC additionally shines due to its gritty realism. Most movies battle to blur truth and fiction like The Blair Witch Challenge, however REC truly does it higher. It improves upon its predecessor as a result of its payoffs are legitimately harrowing, and the gimmick of discovered footage is not used as an excuse to scrimp out on the horror.
Creep (2014)
Mumblecore mainstay Mark Duplass had his arms throughout Creep, and the discovered footage movie is an unorthodox horror comedy. A filmmaker agrees to assist a dying man movie a video for his unborn son, just for issues to take bizarre and darkish turns. The horror comes from the film’s creepy scenario, however the humor comes from its unabashed absurdity.
In contrast to The Blair Witch Challenge, which is earnest, however not very complicated, Creep is a multi-layered dissection of style and an entire upending of discovered footage and comedy. Regardless of this, it manages to be fairly horrifying at instances, largely due to the unhinged efficiency of Duplass. It is no marvel that Creep turned a horror franchise.
V/H/S (2012)
Simply because the discovered footage gimmick was hitting its breaking level, V/H/S arrived to make it enjoyable as soon as once more. The anthology movie issues thieves who’re dispatched to steal a tape, solely to find dozens of tapes every with odd issues on them. With a number of visions all through the movie, V/H/S is not restricted in the best way it delivers its scares.
Whereas earlier discovered footage movies like The Blair Witch Challenge have been simply concerning the footage, V/H/S can be concerning the discovery of stated footage. This provides depth to the narrative, as the thriller surrounding the tapes is as necessary because the tapes themselves. Apart from all that, V/H/S is a enjoyable and fast-paced romp that options all kinds of chills.
Lake Mungo (2008)
The Blair Witch Challenge supplied a brand new strategy to horror via discovered footage, and Lake Mungo took up the banner and ran with it. Following the loss of life of their daughter, a household begins to reconstruct occasions via discovered footage and documentary segments. Beneath every little thing is the horror of grief, and Lake Mungo is a strong meditation on the topic.
It is not an easy discovered footage horror film, but it surely beats The Blair Witch Challenge in its efficient use of rigidity. Each movies may very well be thought-about disappointing for horror followers on the lookout for one thing bombastic, however Lake Mungo chills a lot deeper regardless of being simply as ethereal. Each are atmospheric, however the latter has one thing to say.
The Go to (2015)
Director M. Night time Shyamalan has been a controversial determine in horror for many years, and The Go to isn’t any much less divisive. Two youngsters are despatched to stick with their estranged grandparents, however quickly discover that nothing is because it appears. Full together with his signature twist, The Go to may be very a lot an M. Night time Shyamalan movie.
Although the discovered footage side is extremely contrived, it helps to slender the main focus and make the film’s absurd scares appear extra practical. It hearkens again to the unfiltered horror of older many years, and eschews the earnest strategy of The Blair Witch Challenge. Whereas not as scary, The Go to has much more rewatch worth than its predecessor.
Paranormal Exercise (2007)
Although The Blair Witch Challenge is liable for blowing the lid off the discovered footage style, Paranormal Exercise is liable for its explosion within the early 2010s. A pair strikes into a brand new home and begins filming what they imagine to be supernatural occurrences. Using viral advertising, the movie scared audiences earlier than that they had even seen it.
Each films characterize an necessary shift within the horror panorama, and each got here at a time when shopper cameras have been changing into extra accessible. Each additionally rely closely on suspense, although Paranormal Exercise truly offers the viewers a payoff. The Paranormal Exercise sequels went off the rails, however the unique continues to be an efficient thrill journey.
As Above, So Under (2014)
As Above, So Under was completely lambasted by critics, however it stays one of many discovered footage style’s greatest movies by far. A treasure hunter delves into the catacombs under Paris solely to discover a hellscape ready for her and her crew. The discovered footage framework truly provides one thing to the story, and it is a claustrophobic nightmare.
Whereas the movie is not practically as sensible because it performs itself off to be, it has a honest tone that’s harking back to The Blair Witch Challenge. Nonetheless, it rockets previous its predecessor by having some genuinely creepy moments and an open-ended idea that’s attention-grabbing and distinctive with out counting on irritating vagueness.
- Launch Date
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July 30, 1999
- Runtime
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81 minutes
- Director
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Eduardo Sánchez, Daniel Myrick
- Writers
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Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez
