Why I’m Done with Found Footage Films for Now.

Going way back in horror film history, a lot of sources credit Cannibal Holocaust (1980) as the first ever found footage film. Following the new, inventive way of filmmaking a dozen other films were shot in the same manner, but the “home video” style didn’t make it on the map until The Blair Witch Project in 1999. Still, the filmmaking technique was not abused and only another handful of films were shot in the way of found footage. That all changed with the release of Paranormal Activity in 2007 and found footage films exploded into the market. Now a days you can’t pass a single horror catalogue without finding at least one (or two) of those films inside.

To be fair, I have nothing against found footage films, hence the end of my title stating I’m only done with them for now. Whether we, as horror fans, like to admit it or not – The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity are two of the most popular, mainstream, and innovative movies of the last three decades. They were able to send chills down the spine of millions because they were so realistic looking, with all the traditional Hollywood production quality stripped away and actors who gave a genuine response to the terror they were subjected to. I was only 11-years-old when The Blair Witch Project hit theaters and I can still remember how scared I was after. I believed that the witch was going to come from Maryland to New Jersey to get me…for some reason.

In 2015, however, I’m just bored and sick to death of found footage features. Although I have enjoyed some recently – and got a lot of flack for liking The Remaining – the genre of filmmaking is getting so old and so over-done. There’s two big reasons why I’m giving up on them for now:

1. They’re all the same! – Almost every film I’ve found in the last few weeks that’s found footage starts its synopsis with: “a small group of paranormal investigators…” Why is this the go to storyline for films of this category? Why can’t anyone think of anything more invigorating for horror fans? Look at The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007). Look at REC (2007). Look at Cloverfield (2008). Look at Devil’s Pass (2013). All of those films were fantastic on their own merit without using the storyline of a “Ghost Hunters” rip off, or the other overused plot of found footage features – exorcisms. Sadly, found footage films attempting to scare audiences are just going for CGI shock value – which makes no sense – and usually feature a just barely average plot. It’s gotten boring now.

2. Lack of effort – Half the time, I think found footage features end up that way because a director and his producers look over their small, independent budget (not hating at all) and think, “You know what? We could actually save a lot of money by making this found footage. Then we can put that money to use in other departments.” While that may look good on paper, that’s not what horror fans are looking for right now, at least in my opinion. There’s other ways to do cut backs in your budget than by going the stereotypical route of found footage. I know several filmmakers who have made narrative, third person films with a budget under $50,000 and made it look like a million bucks. It’s all about who you have behind you. A lot of found footage features look sloppy and appear as if the only reason they were shot in that way was to save on time and effort.

I don’t think I speak for myself when I say I’m done with found footage films for now. Do I speak for the majority of movie watchers? I don’t know. When looking at this style of filmmaking, the age old saying still applies – Sometimes less is more. The two “founding fathers of found footage” – The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity – were so successful because they were scary and managed to capitalize on the success of a brand that hadn’t completely taken off yet. What do I think can save found footage films? Isn’t it obvious? Make less of them. As with zombie films, this sudden bombardment of repeated storylines of similar film quality is causing a handful of horror fans to automatically skip over certain titles. Give ’em some breathing room, people. And in time I think we’ll all be a little more embracing of found footage films again.