The "found footage" technique takes a unique perspective on filmmaking. Instead of a first-person vantage point, the camera witnesses the events through the characters' eyes. From early entries such as "Cannibal Holocaust" and "The McPherson Tape," found footage has mesmerized audiences for decades. It wasn't until '90s horror movie "The Blair Witch Project" that the subgenre became a household commodity. The marketing around the 1999 feature made it seem that what you were about to behold was actually true — that the filmmakers disappeared, never to be heard from again. It broke the internet, you could say. And the film has since become not only one of the most popular found footage movies but also a classic horror film people turn to every Halloween season.
The dam burst after that, leading to a wave of found footage films over the next two decades. The genre has ebbed and flowed, as most do; but in recent times, entries such as "The Outwaters" (an essential on this list) have proven there is still life in found footage. It's not going anywhere anytime soon.
If you love "The Blair Witch Project," we've wrangled 10 other found footage movies that you'll likely love just as much. From deep dives into underground tunnels to troll hunting, our list truly runs the gamut. These are perfect complements to any classic Halloween movies you have on your watch list during spooky season.
'The Tunnel'
Nicolle Adrichem
Director Carlo Ledesma takes you beneath the streets of Sydney, Australia, for a thrilling epic about a journalist named Natasha Warner (Bel Deliá) and her crew who investigate a potential government coverup. As they venture deep within a series of forgotten tunnels, they soon realize that perhaps the government was right to lock down the lower depths. What transpires over the course of the film are some of the most frightening images and jump scares to ever exist in the found footage genre. Natasha quickly learns that sometimes things are better left alone.
Where to watch: Tubi
'As Above So Below'
Universal Pictures
Archaeologist Scarlett Marlowe (Perdita Weeks) wants to find the Philosopher's Stone. When she learns that it lies hidden within the Catacombs beneath Paris, she mounts an expedition to venture deep within the Earth to track it down. Along with her crew, she weaves in and out of the dark, shadowy tunnels in the hopes of uncovering potentially one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 21st century. Director John Erick Dowdle plays upon the senses, creating a horrifying feeling of claustrophobia with the darkness pressing in from all angles. It's nothing if not a frightful time.
Where to watch: Prime Video
'Willow Creek'
Jerkschool Productions
"Willow Creek" will most assuredly make you not want to go camping ever again. A couple hike into the wilderness and decide to set up camp, hoping to catch evidence of Bigfoot. It's Bigfoot country, after all, so luck certainly swings in their favor. Director Bobcat Goldthwait leaves much to the imagination, allowing the mind to fill in the gaps of what may or may not be lurking just outside their tent flaps. With each passing night, something in the darkness inches closer and closer — and, well, we know exactly how this all ends. The film crackles with subtle scares that blanket you like a bitter winter cold.
Where to watch: Tubi, Peacock, Plex, Prime Video
'The Bay'
Stan Flint/Roadside Attractions
Borrowing elements from "contagion" movies, director Barry Levinson invites you along for a wild and unrelenting ride. "The Bay" follows a Maryland community that becomes ravaged by a waterborne virus that worms into the brain and overtakes victims' bodies. It all begins with severe lesions before it consumes its prey from the inside out. Rookie reporter Donna Thompson (Kether Donohue) is on the scene and captures the events as they unfold, which begin at a Fourth of July celebration where numerous residents become infected. It's utter chaos from there, and it never lets up. Shot in mockumentary style, "The Bay" is perhaps one of the most underrated on this list.
Where to watch: Rent on Amazon
'Leaving D.C.'
IMDB
Mark Klein (Josh Criss) is sick of the city. After living 20 years in D.C., he decides to head out to a secluded home in the countryside. He quickly learns what a big mistake that was. Not only is his loneliness getting to him, but he gets the sense that someone (or something) is watching him from the woods. Criss, also the writer/director, keeps the scares subtle, allowing for an expert sound design to send chills galloping down the spine. It's a slow burn of the highest order. As things escalate, Mark installs cameras to capture who or what is taunting him. And it's far worse than he imagined.
Where to watch: Rent on Amazon
'The Sacrament'
Magnet Releasing
Filmmaker Ti West centers his found footage flick in the eye of religious fanaticism. When two VICE reporters Sam (A.J. Bowen) and Jake (Joe Swanberg) arrive in a commune, they hope to engage with and examine what makes this particular group tick, as well as track down the missing sister of their co-worker Patrick (Kentucker Audley). The community's esteemed leader, Charles Anderson Reed (Gene Jones), rules with tyrannical devotion, but there's something far more sinister at play. Sam just can't put his finger on it. Things quickly spiral out of control, and the group can't stop what happens next.
Where to watch: Pluto TV, Tubi, Peacock, Sling TV
'Horror in the High Desert'
Luminol Entertainment
With a penchant for well-structured narrative and well-placed scares, director Dutch Marich doesn't hold back when it comes to "Horror in the High Desert." It's grimly provocative, as it tells the story of outdoor enthusiast Gary Hinge's (Eric Mencis) disappearance in northern Nevada. The story unravels slowly and methodically, following the days leading up to his final moments. Quite literally, the film documents every single step he took and the misguided decisions that resulted in him vanishing from the face of the Earth. The film's last 10 minutes are the stuff of real nightmares.
Where to watch: Tubi, The Roku Channel, Prime Video
'The Outwaters'
Robbie Banfitch
Filmmaker Robbie Banfitch is a provocateur. He knows how to build suspense and mood, drawing you into the story without showing his hand too early. "The Outwaters" tells the tale of a group of young people who head out to the Mojave Desert to film a music video. The landscape sweeps out from every direction, and the heat is sweltering. What presents itself as a tranquil excursion promptly devolves into a bit of mayhem. An ax-wielding maniac crashes the party, and it's a total bloodbath. As far as found footage conventions go, this flips those right on their head.
Where to watch: Tubi, Vudo, Sling TV, Plex
'Troll Hunter'
Filmkameratene AS
"Troll Hunter" is the most unexpected of the bunch. It follows a group of student filmmakers, who venture into the wilderness to investigate reports of poaching, but the film quickly takes a left turn. The students soon meet a man who hunts trolls (yes, you read that correctly) for the Norwegian government. Director André Øvredal delights in building mystery around the findings, allowing the audience to go along for the ride in thrilling ways. Who knew giant-sized trolls could be so downright ghoulish and terrifying?
Where to watch: Prime Video
'Lake Mungo'
Lions Gate Home Entertainment
Directed by Joel Anderson, "Lake Mungo" is the tragic story of a young woman gone missing. Her family grieves for their loss and begins to believe that she is reaching out from the other side. Strange occurrences can't be explained, so the family sets up video cameras around their home to capture the phenomenon. And what they discover instead is just frightening. But as they dig deeper, they come closer to the truth about their relative's disappearance, and it's not for the faint of heart.
Where to watch: AMC+, Tubi, Vudu, Plex
