Let's set 🎥 cameras to [Rec] ...

1. The Blair Witch Project (1999) 81min = 81 points

2. Curse of the Blair Witch (1999) 44min = 44 points

3. What We Do in the Shadows S3/E3 (2021) 25min + FTV 13 = 38 points

4. The Devil's Familiar (2020) 60min + FTV 30 = 90 points

5. Invoked (2015) 85mins + FTV 43 = 128 points

6. Screamers (2016) 85min + FTV 43 = 128 points

7. A Warning to the Curious (2013) 80min + FTV 40 = 120 points

8. Wolfwood (2020) 73min + FTV 37 = 110 points

9. The Levenger Tapes (2013) 86min + FTV 43 = 129 points

10. What We Do in the Shadows S3/E4 (2021) 25min + FTV 13 = 38 points

11. Crone Wood (2016) 86min + FTV 43 = 129 points

12. No Men Beyond This Point (2015) 80min + FTV 40 = 120 points

13. Encounter (2016) 85min + FTV 43 = 128 points

14. Unidentified (2013) 90min + FTV 45 = 135 points

15. Found Footage 3D (2016) 100min + FTV 50 = 150 points

16. We Are the Missing (2020) 83min + FTV 42 = 125 points

17. What We Do in the Shadows S3/E5 (2021) 25min + FTV 13 = 38 points

18. Hangman (2015) 85min + FTV 43 = 128 points

19. Phoenix Forgotten (2017) 87min + FTV 44 = 131 points

20. What We Do in the Shadows S3/E6 (2021) 25min + FTV 13 = 38 points

21. M.O.M: Mothers of Monsters (2020) 98min + FTV 49 = 147 points

22. Stay (2021) 82min + FTV 41 = 123 points

23. Followers (2017) 82min + FTV 41 = 123 points

24. Haunted (2013) 90min + FTV 45 = 135 points

25. Death of a Vlogger (2019) 88min + FTV 44 = 132 points

26. Untitled Horror Movie (2021) 87min + FTV 44 = 131 points

27. Dwellers (2021) 80min + FTV 40 = 120 points

28. What We Do in the Shadows S3/E7 (2021) 25min + FTV 13 = 38 points

29. The 16th Episode (2018) 84min + FTV 42 = 126

30. Creep 2 (2017) 78min + FTV 39 = 117

31. Into the Forest (2019) 67min + FTV 34 = 101 points

32. Haunted 2: Apparitions (2018) 87min + FTV 44 = 131 points

33. Spree (2020) 93min + FTV 47 = 140 points

34. People Just Do Nothing S5/E6 (2018) 30min + FTV 15 = 45 points

35. Behind the Sightings (2021) 81min + FTV 41 = 122

36. What We Do in the Shadows S3/E8 (2021) 25min + FTV 13 = 38 points

37. The Legend of Six Fingers (2013) 75 min + FTV 38 = 113

38. What We Do in the Shadows S3/E9 (2021) 25min + FTV 13 = 38 points

39. What We Do in the Shadows S3/E10 (2021) 25min + FTV 13 = 38 points

40. The Crying Dead (2011) 77 min + FTV 39 = 116 points

41. Dybbuk Box: The Story of Chris Chambers (2019) 60 min + FTV 30 = 90

42. Nosferatu.com (2020) 70 min + FTV 35 = 105 points

43. Savageland (2015) 82min + FTV 41 = 123 points

44. 1972 Yellow House (2013) 52 min + FTV 26 = 78 points

45. Black Eyed Children: Let Me In (2015) 69 min + FTV 35 = 104 points

46. Bigfoot at Millcreek (2017) 81 min + FTV 41 = 122 points

47. Searching (2018) 102 min + FTV 51 = 153 points

48. Haunted 3: Spirits (2018) 87 min + FTV 44 = 131 points

49. Always Watching: A Marble Hornets Story (2015) 92 min + FTV 46 = 138 points

50. Be My Cat: A Film for Anne (2015) 87 min + FTV 44 = 131 points


Points: 5277

Found Footage Challenge 2021

I am a fan of the FF genre and I really liked this challenge as it gave me that extra push to seek out a number of new movies to watch. I was like a kid in a toy shop searching through amazon prime, Sky TV and youtube trying to track down as many movies as I could. As I think we all know though, FF is notorious for a seemingly endless stream of really poor films being added to the genre. Of the FTV’s I watched I’d say that around 90% of them were poor to mediocre. There were though four that stood out for me.

Crone Wood – This was about a witches coven in Ireland. Perhaps the plot may be a little telegraphed but I felt they built it up nicely. The ending was not as strong as the rest of the story but the movie sticks in my mind for the build-up of tension.

Death of a Vlogger – A tried and tested formula of ghostly spirits in an apartment, but this had a few creepy factors that I really liked and these have stuck in my memory.

Dybbuk Box: The Story of Chris Chambers – I have seen some documentaries about dybbuk boxes and so this film intrigued me to see what they would do with the subject matter. I saw a lot of people complain on IMDB that this was dull and boring and nothing happens. I thought it was the exact opposite. I loved how the experience that Chris Chambers was having tied into the folk lore.

Be My Cat: A Film for Anne – This was my favourite movie of the challenge. Although very simple in it’s approach, I have never before found myself both laughing out loud while at the same time feeling extremely uncomfortable at what I am watching. The main guy was a total headcase, but even though he was dangerous and deranged, there was also a very sad side to him where you could actually feel sorry for the things he has endured during his life.

I would also like to pass comment on The Blair Witch Project. I wanted to start the challenge off with this film due to its significance in the genre. I was and still am a big fan of this film and I went and saw it as soon as it hit the cinema all those years ago. I was hooked into the way it was presented and it sticks in my mind as an example of how to build fear and tension while making it all look real. Fast forward to modern day though, and with the numerous FF films I've watched, the plot of TBWP actually seems very run of the mill. In fact if I were to rate it relevant to the many FF films I've seen I think it would actually come in as just middle tier. I feel bad about saying that, especially due to its significance and due to the pedestal I put it on as a viewer. I guess what this shows though is that the format has been copied to the point that watching TBWP now makes it seem very formulaic and that it could essentially just fall into a sea of 'other FF movies'. I could even argue with myself that it is only its position in the genre that keeps it afloat. A bit unfair indeed as it was basically the 'blueprint' that cast the mould for a great many to follow. Although a large majority of FF films that followed are quite poor, there are still a number who have been IMO better movies and indeed have changed the format and structure to give us something more. Of course this does not change TBWP's place in history one bit, but it was just something that was on my mind as I rewatched it and something I wanted to mention here.