10 Found Footage Horror Movies I Recommend Watching

Found Footage horror movies are a very mixed bag for me, but here are some I liked and recommend.

I am no expert on found footage horror or anything, but I do enjoy the immersion the genre brings to the table, and while I have seen quite a few, a lot haven’t been that great for me.

Half the genre does seem to be people yelling into broken cameras while somebody trips in the woods, but here are 10 that I liked, and tha I would actually recommend.

Hell House LLC

Five years after an unexplained malfunction causes the death of 15 tour-goers and staff on the opening night of a Halloween haunted house tour, a documentary crew travels back to the scene of the tragedy to find out what really happened.

Hell House LLC is a franchise with 5 films, but I wasn’t a huge fan of any of the other installments, as the first one was peak, and it actually stressed me a bit, where a couple of scenes actually got me good.

If you don’t like clowns, might want to avoid it.

Deadstream

A disgraced internet personality tries to win back his followers by livestreaming himself at an abandoned haunted house. When he accidentally unleashes a vengeful spirit, his comeback event becomes a fight for his life.

I have mentioned Deadstream on my favorite horror comedies list I did, and for good reason, as the energy is pure panic the entire time, both funny and creepy at points, where the best thing about it is, unlike a lot of horror comedies, the comedy doesn’t ruin the horror parts.

One Cut of the Dead

Things go badly for a hack director and film crew shooting a low budget zombie movie in an abandoned WWII Japanese facility, when they are attacked by real zombies.

I almost turned this off the first time I watched it, so be warned, the first 20 mins or so aren’t a reflection on the film, as before you can blink, it becomes an incredibly smart film that actually has a lot to say, even if it is in a weird way.

The less you know, the better here, so just trust the process.

Creep

A young videographer answers an online ad for a one-day job in a remote town to record the last messages of a dying man. When he notices the man's odd behavior, he starts to question his intentions.

This movie made me deeply uncomfortable, and not in a jump scare kind of way, but socially uncomfortable.

Mark Duplass is terrifying in this very specific awkward human way, and for me, is a great example of minimalist horror done brilliantly.

Also have sequel and a 2 TV Series seasons that are worth watching.

The Taking of Deborah Logan

Mia records the daily lives of Deborah and her daughter Sarah as part of her thesis. As the days progress, strange things happen around Deborah, and it becomes apparent something has taken control of her.

The slow deterioration throughout the movie feels horrible to watch even before the horror fully kicks in, that’s how good it is, and some images from this are unfortunately burned into my brain forever.

Noroi: The Curse

A prominent paranormal journalist named Kobayashi goes missing shortly after completing a documentary. What begins as an investigation into strange noises soon evolves into the chilling mystery of a demonic entity named Kagutaba.

This one just feels cursed, that’s the best way I can explain it.

It’s slow and messy and weirdly realistic, like you actually found footage you absolutely should not be watching, which is always a good thing for a found footage film, where the atmosphere just keeps building and building until it becomes too much.

REC

A television reporter and cameraman follow emergency workers into a dark apartment building and are quickly locked inside with something terrifying.

REC is pretty well known, and is one of my particular favorites in any genre, but it’s also a fantastic example of the found footage style done brilliantly.

The film never lets you breathe, with the camera movement, the screaming, and the sheer panic of everyone involved, it’s all mayhem, but very very watchable mayhem.

Grave Encounters

For their ghost hunting reality show, a production crew locks themselves inside an abandoned mental hospital that's supposedly haunted - and it might prove to be all too true.

I thought this would be dumb before watching it, and to be honest, it kind of is, but it also works well enough, as once things start going wrong, it becomes this weird nightmare logic spiral you cannot look away from.

Host

Haley invites a medium during a conference call with her friends. Soon after one of them fakes communicating with a spirit, paranormal events begin plaguing all the participants.

This is probably the most “2020” horror movie imaginable - shot during the pandemic and done entirely remotely, I have a lot of respect for it, especially as it’s also a very good film, that’s short, mean, and incredibly efficient.

Long Pigs

A documentary by two desperate young filmmakers who stumble upon the ultimate subject, a 33 year old cannibalistic serial killer named Anthony McAllister.

Long Pigs is one people will either love or turn their nose up at, it’s an incredibly grimy film, like something you shouldn’t be watching, and while it’s not even traditionally scary really, it is deeply unpleasant and will stick with you,

I think I like it because it’s also feels a bit different.