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apartment block in the grip of a
rage-virus outbreak.
REC
is one
of the best found footage films,
and spawned three sequels. It
also features the creepiest use
of night vision you'll ever see.
Paranormal Activity
(2007)
uses home security cameras to
capture the titular phenomenon
plaguing a young couple. It's
simple but effective, with lots
of static shots setting up ample
jump-scares. The sequels offer more of the
same and suffer from the law of diminishing
returns, but they're there if you want more.
Special effects in found footage films are
generally the rudimentary, in-camera kind but
sometimes an entry from major studio will
feature some big CGI sequences seamlessly
blended into the shakycam chaos.
Cloverfield
(2008), produced by J.J. Abrams, gives the
classic 'monster trashes metropolis' scenario
a fresh new look when viewed through
the handycam lens of a bunch of New York
partygoers caught up in its rampage. Likewise,
the effects in teen/superpower flick
Chronicle
(2012) feel like a natural part of the action rather
than a post-production addition.
FURTHER VIEWING
The internet continues to remind us there
are some things you just can't unsee, and
the same applies to the grandaddy of found
footage films,
Cannibal Holocaust
(1980). A
documentary crew shooting in the Amazon
antagonise the natives and are subsequently
devoured (in front of their own camera, of
course), with their recovered footage forming
the second half of the film. This Italian shocker
is reprehensible for its graphic violence, but
no found footage film to date has achieved
its level of realism – indeed, director Ruggero
Deodato faced murder charges
until he could prove in court that
the actors were all alive and
well, and it was all done with
special effects. While brilliant
and groundbreaking filmmaking,
only the most adventurous
and strong-stomached viewers
should check this out.
Found footage films do
occasionally venture from the
horror genre, however.
Project
X
(2012) – involving a house
party worthy of Corey Worthington –
proved it was a good match for the teen
film (like the aforementioned
Chronicle
),
as did time travel lark
Project Almanac
(2015), although its bigger budget and
glossy production values diminished the
illusion. David Ayer also used cop-cam
footage to striking effect in his urban
drama
End of Watch
(2012).
Unfriended
(2014) represents the
next step in the evolution of the found
footage format – the whole film plays
out as Skype conversation between four
friends, who discover a literal ghost in the
machine. Watch this on your laptop for
maximum impact.
Where the found footage genre goes
from here is open
to conjecture.
Many would
agree that it has
reached saturation
point and is now
creatively bereft,
but as long as it
remains profitable
there will still be
footage out there
somewhere, just
waiting to be
found.
27
TROLLHUNTER
(2012)
Footage shot by a group of student filmmakers
exposes the Norwegian government's cover-up of
the country's troll problem – and we're not talking
about social media pests.
EUROPA REPORT
(2013)
After a mission to search for life on Jupiter's icy
moon ends in disaster, footage captured by the
spacecraft's cameras and the crew's video diaries
reveal what happened. One of the few found
footage sci-fi ventures. See also
Apollo 18
(2011).
THE BAY
(2012)
Director Barry Levinson helms this faux documentary
that combines newsreels, CCTV, and handheld
footage to chronicle the chaos that erupts when a
nasty breed of marine parasite infects a seaside
town. This one will really get under your skin.
THE POSSESSION OF
MICHAEL KING
(2014)
Armed with a video camera, the eponymous
dude sets out to prove that the afterlife, the
supernatural and demonic possession are all a
load of rubbish. Needless to say, he's wrong.
HANDHELD
HIGHLIGHTS
Nordic folklore, a deep space
mission, ecological disaster and
demonic possession – found
footage is a versatile medium.