Jul 2020
I can count the amount of found footage movies that I think are truly good on 1 hand: Cannibal Holocaust, Trollhunter and since yesterday I can add finally a third.
Apparently shot in 1989 even though it feels it is even older. I have seen the year 1983 circulate as well. So it predates the first popular and widespread full found footage horror movie The Blair Witch Project by at least 10 years. It remains rather unclear to me why the director decided to release this immediately on video but afterwards it seemed only a happy few got hold of a copy of the videotape and spread it among each other. Especially among alien enthusiasts the movie was believed to be authentic and apparently the NASA wouldn't confirm either it was actually all put in scene. This was probably as the end credits were erased and the movie ends withpictures of the missing 'family' members.
Imagine there was widespread internet at that time could it have been a hit just like The Blair Witch Project. BWP I don't like it at all mostly because the protagonists are all unlikable and I really didn't have the feeling it was realistic and it did felt acted and put in scene. I didn't have that with The McPherson Tape. It's all shot with a heavy handcam and the picture quality is not really good. You don't get to see much of the aliens but you do actually see them a few times (you don't get to see The witch in BWP nor any other possible threat if my memory serves me right). IN other words there is a real threat and not just some sounds or the aftermath of a nightly visit. The movie takes place in and around the house all in the same night where family are celebrating their daughter's 5th birthday. And guess what this kid isn't the whiny brat and sounds braver than most of the grown ups. The threat and the fear they have that at any point those aliens could take a leap at them feels genuine. Actually I rarely have seen that so convincingly.
Hopefully this one gets a DVD or BRD release with some nice extras, I think it deserves the recognition.
A real SOV and a good one IMO.
Apparently shot in 1989 even though it feels it is even older. I have seen the year 1983 circulate as well. So it predates the first popular and widespread full found footage horror movie The Blair Witch Project by at least 10 years. It remains rather unclear to me why the director decided to release this immediately on video but afterwards it seemed only a happy few got hold of a copy of the videotape and spread it among each other. Especially among alien enthusiasts the movie was believed to be authentic and apparently the NASA wouldn't confirm either it was actually all put in scene. This was probably as the end credits were erased and the movie ends with
Imagine there was widespread internet at that time could it have been a hit just like The Blair Witch Project. BWP I don't like it at all mostly because the protagonists are all unlikable and I really didn't have the feeling it was realistic and it did felt acted and put in scene. I didn't have that with The McPherson Tape. It's all shot with a heavy handcam and the picture quality is not really good. You don't get to see much of the aliens but you do actually see them a few times (you don't get to see The witch in BWP nor any other possible threat if my memory serves me right). IN other words there is a real threat and not just some sounds or the aftermath of a nightly visit. The movie takes place in and around the house all in the same night where family are celebrating their daughter's 5th birthday. And guess what this kid isn't the whiny brat and sounds braver than most of the grown ups. The threat and the fear they have that at any point those aliens could take a leap at them feels genuine. Actually I rarely have seen that so convincingly.
Hopefully this one gets a DVD or BRD release with some nice extras, I think it deserves the recognition.
A real SOV and a good one IMO.
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https://www.amazon.com/McPherson-Tape-U-F-Abduction-Blu-ray/dp/B085R72PPP/