The Blair Witch Project is one of the first films to show studios that they can make an extremely effective horror movie for next to nothing and open huge to a wanting audience. The movie was shown at the Sundance Film Festival that year and almost immediately bought by Artisan for a reported $1.1 million. They interview many of the citizens in Burkettsville, Maryland – and film at a nearby graveyard – before heading into the woods and encountering the true terror behind the lore. Sold as actual footage found in the woods of Maryland, The Blair Witch Project told the story of three student filmmakers who set out to shoot a documentary exposing a gruesome local legend. It was already creeping people out before they even had a chance to see it with the idea that this was not fiction. When the marketing began for this movie, no one knew what it would become. I understand someone hating the genre, but I think when they work, found footage movies have a chance to get under your skin and stick with you like no other type of filmmaking in existence.

You have to completely suspend your disbelief before sitting down in the theater otherwise, the movie will always be silly and will have already lost you before the first trailer plays. The genre truly asks more of you as an audience member than other horror movies. Found footage films have come a long way since Cannibal Holocaust. I know they’re never going to win everyone over, but I disagree that they’re movies that only offer cheap scares and gimmicky tricks. A small disclaimer before I jump into the list.

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