The 15 Best Found Footage Horror Movies Ranked

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The success of found-footage horror movies has experienced numerous surges since the debut of “The Blair Witch Project” in 1999, which is often seen as the genre’s origin. Despite being criticized after a string of unoriginal productions, it always bounces back when a successful movie like “Late Night with the Devil” (2023) emerges. You might question whether there are any decent found-footage horror films due to their fluctuating reputation and abundance of unimaginative attempts. However, the answer is yes, and here are 15 examples.

In this compilation, we selected titles that primarily feature unique footage captured by participants, often depicting mysterious or supernatural occurrences. We had to omit some excellent films like “Late Night,” which is partly set within the main character’s imagination, as well as “Ghostwatch” (a 1982 British production presented as a live broadcast) and “Host” (centered around a live Zoom session). However, there’s still an abundance of spine-chilling content to keep you on edge.

15. Final Prayer

In the world of found footage horror movies, such as “Grave Encounters” and “Hell House LLC”, there are numerous tales about paranormal investigators encountering the supernatural in eerie settings. However, what makes “Final Prayer” (also known as “The Borderlands”) unique is that its writer-director, Elliot Goldner, chooses to prioritize creating an unsettling atmosphere over delivering jump scares. This decision, along with a haunting finale, sets it apart from other similar works.

A group consisting of a Scottish skeptic (Gordon Kennedy), an English tech expert (Robin Hill), and an Irish priest (Aidan McArdle) are examining peculiar occurrences at an ancient church, where it is clear something ominous is occurring. However, the specifics of what is happening take a backseat to the question of how, which Goldner skillfully depicts through a variety of phenomena, some common (haunting whispers) and others rare (the fate of Father Crellick). The fear escalates to an excursion beneath the church, and for this climax, Goldner crafts one of the most daring endings for any horror film, be it found footage or otherwise. As Fangoria puts it, “This one’s got an ending that leaves a lasting impression.

Starring: Gordon Kennedy, Robin Hill

Directed by: Elliot Goldner

Year: 2013

Runtime: 89 minutes

Rating: NR

Rotten Tomatoes score: 83%

14. The Poughkeepsie Tapes

The fundamental premise of found-footage horror movies – where what viewers experience appears to be authentic – has paved the way for daring explorations into intense horror. Movies such as “The Great American Snuff Film” have pushed the genre’s limits, while John Erick Dowdle’s “The Poughkeepsie Tapes” delves into equally disturbing but less brutal territory.

The questioned tapes contain videos showing the atrocities committed by the Water Street Butcher, an unidentified, cruel serial killer who has yet to be caught. Scenes from these tapes are alternated with a fake documentary about this murderer, but it provides no new information; the Butcher’s method of operation is solely to cause suffering. The scenes are distressing, particularly those involving Cheryl Dempsey, the teenager and wife of actress Stacy Chbosky (Dowdle).

The town of Poughkeepsie is a never-ending loop of fear and suffering, which might be the reason why MGM decided not to release this film. It’s certainly scary, but also draining. As Rue Morgue pointed out, the viewing experience is more detached and objective rather than deeply emotional, sometimes giving off a chilling vibe, yet remaining emotionally distant at other times.

Starring: Stacy Chbosky, Ben Messmer

Director: John Erick Dowdle

Year: 2007

Runtime: 84 minutes

Rating: NR

Rotten Tomatoes score: 50%

13. The Taking of Deborah Logan

2014’s “The Taking of Deborah Logan” indeed falls into the category of horror films using a found-footage format within a documentary setting that spirals out of control. However, unlike other such productions, this film, directed by Adam Robitel who later went on to make “Escape Room,” utilizes the framework not just to scare, but also to delve into deeper themes and even evoke emotional responses. The crew in this film is documenting the impact of Alzheimer’s disease, but they soon uncover that the strange behavior exhibited by their subject, Deborah Logan (Jill Larson), is not solely attributable to her illness, but rather, it hints at something far more unsettling from her past.

In this film, the weaknesses often seen in found-footage horror are evident – the crew can be irritatingly slow to react at times, and the ending switches from a serious tone to an overwhelming barrage of shocking visual effects. However, before that, it offers a deeply moving portrayal of the sinister, transformative impact of illness. To give credit where it’s due, Robitel ensures both aspects are well-developed. As Oh, The Horror pointed out, “‘The Taking of Deborah Logan'” is relentlessly and oppressively foreboding until its last frame.

Starring: Jill Larsen, Anne Ramsey, Michelle Ang

Director: Adam Robitel

Year: 2014

Runtime: 90 minutes

Rating: R

Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%

12. Horror in the High Desert

2021’s “Horror in the High Desert” delivers a gradual, chilling experience by seamlessly combining found footage with a mock-documentary narrative about a missing hiker in Nevada’s desert. Writer-director Dutch Marich meticulously constructs both aspects: The documentary segments, focusing on Gary Hinge’s (portrayed by real-life hiker Eric Mencis) family and acquaintances, emulate the bland, professional style of a news program like “Dateline,” while the recovered footage appears convincingly amateurish.

As a fan, I found “High Desert” to be methodically slow, offering plenty of captivating hiking scenes and conversations with Hinge’s sister, roommate, and a detective. Yet, as iHorror pointed out, Marich skillfully constructs a chilling narrative that intensifies with each passing moment. He opts for an atmosphere of dread rather than jump scares, focusing on characters instead of an overblown plotline. The end result is a subtly eerie film concluding with an unnerving twist. It also offers a poignant portrayal of a man so yearning for connection that he puts his own life at risk – he maintains a secret blog dedicated to his hiking videos. Two critically acclaimed sequels followed, with a fourth installment on the horizon.

Stars: Eric Mencis, Tonya Williams-Ogden

Director: Dutch Marich

Year: 2021

Runtime: 82 minutes

Rating: NR

Rotten Tomatoes score: 59%

11. The Visit

Following the disappointments of “The Happening,” “The Last Airbender,” and “After Earth,” filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan shifted away from large-scale productions and introduced “The Visit,” an unconventional horror experiment in the found footage style with a noticeable comic flair, and notably, one of his more believable twist endings. Initially receiving mixed responses from critics upon its premiere, “The Visit” stands out as one of Shyamalan’s most enjoyable, straightforward films, offering a rewarding contribution to the found footage genre.

The basic idea is this: Teenage siblings Olivia DeJonge and Ed Oxenbould are sent to stay with their grandparents while mom Kathyrn Hahn goes on a cruise with a new partner. At first, they’re thrilled to meet the grandparents, but soon become uneasy due to their peculiar actions. DeJonge frequently captures these strange occurrences using her trusty camera.

M. Night Shyamalan skillfully explores the discord between family members out of touch and strange traditions, blending humor with horror effectively. When his signature twist arrives, it seems grounded in real-life experiences (particularly, childhood anxieties about unknown individuals and family mysteries). As RogerEbert.com puts it, “Screams of fear frequently give way to uproarious laughter, and he utilizes that emotional overlap, its tension and release, in nearly every scene.

Starring: Olivia DeJonge, Ed Oxenbould

Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan

Year: 2015

Runtime: 94 minutes

Rating: PG-13

Rotten Tomatoes score: 68%

10. The Outwaters

Four inexperienced movie creators vanish in the Californian desert, with their memory cards eventually found years afterwards. While “The Outwaters” might seem related to films like “Blair Witch” due to a shared premise, it stands out significantly. In comparison to other genre titles, its haunting visuals are more akin to trippy experiments such as “Beyond the Black Rainbow” or “The Endless.

In a desert landscape, siblings Robbie (directed by Robbie Banfitch) and Scott (Scott Schamell), makeup artist Angie (Angela Basolis) and singer Michelle (Michelle May) experience various mysterious entities, ranging from hidden electric pulses to axe-wielding entities. An onslaught of sensory experiences propels the movie into a nightmarish realm, as Robbie comes face-to-face with monstrous figures, seemingly jumps through dimensions, and may have inadvertently harmed his fellow travelers.

In our review, we noted that the second part of “The Outwaters” is largely an uninterrupted sequence of tension and disorder, yet it never appears completely chaotic. This is because some of these visions are scarcely perceptible, appearing merely as faint pinpricks of light or rapid camera motion, which further intensifies the constant disorientation.

Starring: Robbie Banfitch, Angela Basolis

Directed by Robbie Banfitch

Year: 2022

Runtime: 110 minutes

Rating: NR

Rotten Tomatoes score: 75%

9. The Last Broadcast

A year before “The Blair Witch Project,” another film titled “The Last Broadcast” gained less attention but shared a similar plot. In this movie, documentarians delve into the myth of the Jersey Devil instead of the Blair Witch. However, unlike the original where everyone survived, three out of four investigators meet their end while chasing the legend. The question remains: is the lone survivor the killer, the monster itself, or someone else entirely?

In both “The Blair Witch Project” and “Broadcast,” the audience is initially drawn in by the allure of unveiling the truth through found footage. However, while “The Blair Witch Project” primarily focuses on revealing the truth about the events surrounding the documentarians, “Broadcast” delves more deeply into the concept of cinematic “truth.” The film shows the gruesome incident captured during a live broadcast that appears to show the documentarians’ deaths. Yet, it later unveils that not everything is as it initially seems, offering a more complex and intriguing perspective.

Although it might not deliver the intense, gut-wrenching impact of “Blair Witch,” it still manages to be both eerie and intellectually stimulating. According to Mondo Digital, its unique blend of old-school campfire storytelling with a gritty, budget-friendly interpretation of Hollywood horror creates a chilling experience, while the judicious use of special effects adds enough intrigue to make it worth exploring.

Starring: David Beard, Jim Seward

Director: Stefan Avalos

Year: 1998

Runtime: 86 minutes

Rating: NR

Rotten Tomatoes score: 50%

8. Cannibal Holocaust

In simpler terms, Ruggero Deodato’s “Cannibal Holocaust” was instrumental in shaping the found footage horror genre, much like how “The Blair Witch Project” did later on. This 1980 Italian film, along with others of its kind, was inspired by sensationalized films from the 60s known as ‘mondo’. The plot revolves around a documentary crew who explore a cannibal tribe legend, and pay a heavy price when the legend proves true. However, what sets it apart is the realistic nature of the found footage used in the film.

The scenes appear remarkably authentic, leading to the film’s ban in many countries due to its intensity. Regrettably, to enhance authenticity, animals were harmed during filming, and the portrayal includes offensive stereotypes that are only addressed with a weak concluding comment about “true savagery.” As we noted in our review, this movie demands a viewer with a very high threshold for graphic violence and immoral content to rewatch it.

Starring: Robert Kerman, Francesca Ciardi

Director: Ruggero Deodato

Year: 1980

Runtime: 95 minutes

Rating: NR

Rotten Tomatoes score: 65%

7. Paranormal Activity

In essence, you might support numerous academic theories as to why found-footage horror films scare viewers, but the truth lies in convincing the audience that what they’re witnessing is genuine. Star power or special effects aren’t prerequisites; instead, an unsettling concept and the skill to execute it effectively are the crucial elements. This was evident with “Paranormal Activity.

Similar to “The Blair Witch Project,” “Paranormal Activity” was made with minimal resources, featuring an unestablished cast and operating on a shoestring budget (approximately $15,000). Just like its counterpart, it emphasizes the authenticity by incorporating tricks such as acknowledging the families of actors Micah Sloat and Katie Featherston in the credits, much alike “Blair Witch.” Writer-director Oren Peli skillfully taps into childhood fears through eerie sounds and inexplicable visuals, thereby creating an atmosphere that warrants suspicion. This led to the development of a successful multi-film series.

Starring: Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat

Directed by: Oren Peli

Year: 2009

Runtime: 86 minutes

Rating: R

Rotten Tomatoes score: 83%

6. V/H/S

The film “V/H/S” (2012), like most horror anthology movies, has its ups and downs. However, it demonstrated that the found-footage horror genre is not only alive but also capable of evolving. Directed by various filmmakers such as Ti West and Radio Silence, this movie paved the way for films like “Unfriended” by inventively incorporating recording devices into their narratives. This integration ranges from secret camera glasses in “Amateur Night” to video chats in “The Sick Thing That Happened to Emily When She Was Younger.” Similarly to “Host,” in “Tuesday the 17th,” the very recording technology serves as a means for horror, with camera glitches concealing a murderous entity.

The grainy texture of homemade recordings adds an extra layer of authenticity to the relatively simple special effects in “10/31/98”. As stated by The New York Times, this collection of eeriness often imitates or incorporates the quirks of analog recording, with varying levels of expertise and imagination.

Starring: Hannah Fierman, Helen Rogers

Directors: Adam Wingard, David Bruckner, Ti West, Glenn McQuaid, Joe Swanberg, Radio Silence

Year: 2012

Runtime: 115 minutes

Rating: R

Rotten Tomatoes score: 56%

5. Noroi: The Curse

In a glance, Koji Shiraishi’s “Noroi: The Curse” might appear to be just another found-footage horror film. However, much like “The Outwaters,” this movie challenges and expands the limits of the subgenre into chilling, uncharted territories.

The missing director is delving into various enigmatic occurrences – the puzzling echo of wailing babies in an apartment, the vanishing of a young clairvoyant, and an actress (Marika Matsumoto, portraying herself) tormented by bizarre whispers and visions. His exploration reveals that these events are intertwined with a village where a rite was conducted to suppress a malevolent spirit – a ritual that can no longer be carried out, as the village has been demolished.

The film “Noroi” isn’t quick to provide answers, and Shiraishi tends to create an unsettling ambiance rather than a shocking one, except for a singular intensely disturbing flashback and the chilling unveiling of the researcher’s destiny. However, unlike many other found-footage horror films, “Noroi” leaves a lasting impression. According to Vox, images from its climactic scenes will continue to haunt your mind.

Starring: Jin Murakami, Marika Matsumoto

Directed by: Koji Shiraishi

Year: 2005

Runtime: 85 minutes

Rating: NR

Rotten Tomatoes score: 74% (on the Popcornmeter)

4. [REC]

If a common issue with found-footage horror films is that they can linger too much before the action starts, the 2007 Spanish film “[REC]” is an exception. Instead of wasting time, it swiftly transforms its main story – a news crew and paramedics are stuck in an apartment building where residents become monstrous due to a virus – into intense terror. Directors Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza suggest the virus might have supernatural origins, but they smartly concentrate on capturing the chaos in close-quarter, nerve-wracking, real-time footage.

Three follow-ups explored the darker aspects of demons, showing varying levels of accomplishment as “[REC] 3” veered unexpectedly into comedy territory. Conversely, John Erick Dowdle’s nearly identical 2008 American version, “Quarantine,” demonstrated that less information can be more effective (and actress Jennifer Carpenter deserved extra compensation for her risks). Film Threat commented that “[REC]” delivers non-stop suspense and intensity from start to finish.

Starring: Manuela Velasco, Pablo Rosso

Directors: Jaume Balagueró, Paco Plaza

Year: 2007

Runtime: 78 minutes

Rating: NR

Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%

3. Creep

Just like “The Blair Witch Project” and “Paranormal Activity”, movies that tap into deep-seated fears can effectively scare audiences. The 2014 independent film, “Creep”, leverages the persistent fear of someone not being who they appear to be. This movie achieves this by casting Mark Duplass, an actor naturally liked by many, as a deceptive character, much like a wolf disguised as a sheep.

In a complex portrayal, Joe Duplass’s character, Josef, exhibits contrasting traits, from warm embraces and private disclosures to donning a wolf mask to frighten director Patrick Brice (who plays Aaron, a cameraman hired by Josef). These sudden changes in demeanor confuse Aaron, causing him to question whether Josef is excessively friendly or hiding something sinister. Even after he leaves Josef’s house, Aaron remains uncertain about the true nature of Josef, which eventually proves fatal for him as one of the most chilling scenes in found-footage horror unfolds. The original film was followed by a 2017 sequel and a 2024 spin-off television series.

Starring: Mark Duplass, Patrick Brice

Directed by: Patrick Brice

Year: 2014

Runtime: 80 minutes

Rating: R

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

2. The Blair Witch Project

Regardless of opinions about “The Blair Witch Project” – it’s often criticized for its slow pace, unclear resolution, and being excessively hyped as a ’90s horror movie – there’s no denying that this film was instrumental. It set the guidelines for the found footage horror genre, arguably more than “Cannibal Holocaust”, and continues to serve as the blueprint that every subsequent film in this subgenre should follow.

Two points about “Blair Witch” are indisputable: The movie masterfully conveys the dread associated with primal fears (such as fear of the dark, the forest, getting lost); if the scene where the main characters encounter a wooded area adorned with stick figures doesn’t send a chill down your spine, it might be that your creative faculties are beyond repair.

The film “The Blair Witch Project” effectively conveyed its authenticity better than any preceding or subsequent found-footage horror, thanks to strategic production decisions such as using the actors’ real names and a well-known marketing campaign. As Variety put it, this movie presents a smart modern take on the universal fear of darkness and mysterious noises in the night.

Starring: Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, Joshua Leonard

Directed by: Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez

Year: 1999

Runtime: 87 minutes

Rating: R

Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%

1. Lake Mungo

The 2008 Australian movie “Lake Mungo” is both a pseudo-documentary and a chilling horror tale about a family mourning their deceased daughter, who appears not to have found peace after death. The use of supposedly discovered footage is essential to the film’s haunting enigmas and amplifies its scariest scenes.

Director Joel Anderson crafted not just a largely overlooked entry in the found-footage genre, but also one that manages to unsettle viewers in ways that many other films in this category fail or choose not to. The film “Mungo” delves into the terrifying reality of grief, a subject it demonstrates can lead individuals to question their own perceptions and betray their deepest emotions.

This story ranks first due to the fact that its poignant scenes are just as impactful as its frightening ones. According to The Austin Chronicle, “Strip away the eerie feeling of supernatural unease, and what remains is a subtly told tale of a grieving family, made even more touching by the quiet resilience of the mourning individuals.

Starring: Talia Zucker, David Pledger

Directed by: Joel Anderson

Year: 2008

Runtime: 88 minutes

Rating: R

Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%

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2025-07-14 00:33