Nov 2021 *
So here is the topic where all those who are interested for these type of movies can sign up. Since December is a busy month for some I got the permission to let this challenge last for 2 months starting December 1st until 31st January 2022.
What kind of movies are allowed:
* Found footage: people went missing or dead and there is footage found that shows what happened before their fate was sealed (Blair Witch Project, Cannibal Holocaust, The McPherson Tape)
* Documentary/Mockumentary style: this also includes the faux and pseudo documentaries where people are fooled in believing what is presented is real, also includes fake news (Mondo Cane, Faces of Death, Without Warning)
* POV filmed: well self-explanatory I guess where the dude or gal filming everything that happens is also a character in the movie (84 Charlie MoPic, REC, Trolljegeren)
* Home Video style: All kind of flicks where the viewer gets an insight into the life of a person or family who consider themselves interesting enough to be filmed, real or set up and done by amateurs (Man Bites Dog, David Holzman's Diary, Paul Calf's Video Diary)
* Filmed with handcam, mobile devices like tablet or moblie phone, webcam and any other device that are not meant for professional filmmaking (Unfriended, Host)
* The flicks in this database: https://foundfootagecritic.com/hubs/hub-films/
You get 1 point per watched minute. This means shorts and episodes of TV shows are also allowed as long as they apply to the above rules.
A FTV gives a bonus of 50%. For example movie that lasts 90 minutes = 90 + 45 points. When the duration is uneven take 50% + 0,5. 91 minutes = 91 + 46 points.
I hope this will be a fun experience.
What kind of movies are allowed:
* Found footage: people went missing or dead and there is footage found that shows what happened before their fate was sealed (Blair Witch Project, Cannibal Holocaust, The McPherson Tape)
* Documentary/Mockumentary style: this also includes the faux and pseudo documentaries where people are fooled in believing what is presented is real, also includes fake news (Mondo Cane, Faces of Death, Without Warning)
* POV filmed: well self-explanatory I guess where the dude or gal filming everything that happens is also a character in the movie (84 Charlie MoPic, REC, Trolljegeren)
* Home Video style: All kind of flicks where the viewer gets an insight into the life of a person or family who consider themselves interesting enough to be filmed, real or set up and done by amateurs (Man Bites Dog, David Holzman's Diary, Paul Calf's Video Diary)
* Filmed with handcam, mobile devices like tablet or moblie phone, webcam and any other device that are not meant for professional filmmaking (Unfriended, Host)
* The flicks in this database: https://foundfootagecritic.com/hubs/hub-films/
You get 1 point per watched minute. This means shorts and episodes of TV shows are also allowed as long as they apply to the above rules.
A FTV gives a bonus of 50%. For example movie that lasts 90 minutes = 90 + 45 points. When the duration is uneven take 50% + 0,5. 91 minutes = 91 + 46 points.
I hope this will be a fun experience.
1. The Connection (1961) - FTV - 102 min = 102 + 51 = 153 points
Interesting concept but there is too much talk and the junks playing music, hanging around stoned and not much interesting happening, gets already draggy after 30 minutes with one of the only interesting moments the visit of a sister of the catholic church halfway. Camerawork feels rather static. For a drug addiction flick it's rather tame with only a few shocking moments; Given there were already drug flicks (so called educational movies) in the 30s this didn't bring anything new to the table. It's labeled as the first FF movie in retrospect which makes it mostly interesting from a historical point of view IMO.
2. David Holzman's Diary (1967) - FTV - 72 min = 72 + 36 = 108 points
Pretty good for the first half where protagonist explains why he started a video diary explaining his equipment and mostly using the camera for filming his atttractive girlfriend (who is seen full nude once, strange as full frontal wasn't allowed yet). It's nice seeing him roaming through the streets of New York. Once his girlfriend gets tired of the stalking of the camera David is forced to film other stuff and becomes mostly a voyeur filming the neighbour lady living in the apartment opposite to his. Things get quite boring and longwinded. better than The Connection but again not really memorable or forgotten classic IMO.
3. Punishment Park (1971) - FTV - 88 min = 88 + 44 = 132 points
So far the best. Nice idea of alternating between a tribunal where rebellious people are summoned by the authority leading to heated discussions and a hunt by police/army on these rebels. Anti-war, anti-authority (hippies, pacifists) are the returning themes and very much a product of its time. Can't be negative about the tribunal part, that was really convincing. Unfortuantely the part that should have been most shocking (the hunting) is far less interesting with much of the action off screen. I guess 1971 was a tad too early to show much violence on screen.
4. The Legend of Boggy Creek (1972) - FTV - 87 min = 87 + 44 = 131 points
Apparently a hit in theatre, it's a rather tame bigfoot movie. Even though the docu style seems a good idea at the start as the camera is really close on what is happening. The story is narrated which unfortunately creates a distance with the viewer as you cannot bond with the characters that way. A few times you get to see bigfoot never really sharp but it's pretty obvious it's a guy in a monster suit. He isn't very threatening either.
5. Alternative 3 (1977) - FTV - 52 min = 52 +26 = 78 points
It's an interesting concept where strange disappearances, accidents and climate change might be some kind of alien warning to move to another planet, in this case Mars. It almost sounds prophetical as that's where some humans want to make a new colony. Unfortunately this mockumentary is way too talky to be considered fun.
6. Special Bulletin (1983) - FTV - 95 min = 95 + 48 = 143 points
Even though in advance it's said the events are completely fictional, I can understand that people would actually believe that the live journal about 2 people taken hostage on a boat is real. Maybe a little low on action but wow when things escalate and towards the end you are in for a shocker. Good and easiest the best watch so far.
7. Manson Family Movies (1984) - FTV - 86 min = 86 + 43 = 129 points
A re-enactment of a series of murders in 1969 committed by the infamous sect the Manson Family led by Charles Manson, who did have a brief career as musician. Apparently the music he recorded was used for the soundtrack. That's also the only voice you will hear as there is no synchronized dialogue. It's a silent movie which was an interesting take for a movie from the 80s but the title cards are so scarce that I often didn't know who the family was pestering. The violence and sometimes rape doesn't feel convincing, there is gore but I have seen better. It will be shocking for the squeamish but for the gorehound there is nothing to be seen here. Problem is that things tend to get repetitive and tedious fast that you need to have significant background knowledge to understand it.
8. 84C Mopic (1989) - RW - 90 min = 90 points
Must be somewhere mid nineties I saw it the first time. I'm sure Blair Witch Project had not been released yet and found footage was not really defined. So it's possibly the first FF movie I ever saw. I was rather impressed back in the day and I still am now at least for the last half hour. I had forgotten the first hour is a lot of talk and not that much happening. For a Vietnam war drama it's rather unique looking through the lens of a camera following American soldiers so closely. Filmed mostly in jungle like setting it gives a real authentic feeling.
9. Ghostwatch (1992) - FTV - 90 min = 90 + 45 = 135 points
Very British and has a bit of a Paranormal Activity towards the ending but there is way too much set up, interviews and stuff shown that is not taking place in the house. Promising start but really boring overall.
10. America’s Deadliest Home Video (1993) - FTV - 80 min = 120 points
Reminds me of Belgian movie Man Bites dog released 1 year earlier. Here it's the cameraman that gets kidnapped by a criminal gang forced to film and eventually join in their criminal activities. Stereotypical sometimes but believable. And yeah much more enjoyable than the Belgian crappola flick I mentioned earlier.
11. A Perfect Child of Satan (2012) - FTV - 21 min = 21 + 11 = 32 points
I'm dedicating a separate topic on this one, atm too shocked.
12. Without Warning (1994) - FTV - 90 min = 90 + 45 = 135 points
Too much talk, not enough action. While the threat of meteorites is scary, at no point I could feel real tension in this flick.
13. Alien Autopsy: Fact or Fiction? (1995) - FTV - 50 min = 75 points
A nice closure to the challenge. It's a docu on the “Alien Autopsy” footage that was allegedly filmed by the United States military after the legendary UFO crash near Roswell, New Mexico in 1947. I love to believe it was real but I'm a critical one when it comes down to aliens or ghosts. Even it was a hoax it was incredibly well done.
Total: 1461 points