"Found footage" movies...

Da Shins Kelly

Love 'em or hate 'em?

Just got thinking about it because I was watching Cloverfield tonight, and it's quite a recent phenomenon in movies seemingly. It seems that people either love it or hate it. I find it a bit frustrating to watch sometimes. While it can be quite suspenseful, and gives a real feeling of 'being there', I think it can be quite annoying to be watching something and having so many shots of just the ground or people running or a wall, while you can hear people screaming in the background. I like to know what's going on, and sometimes I feel a bit lost with hand-held camera movies, because I find it hard to get into it when I haven't a clue why everyone is scared or what the bloody hell they're talking about when they're all like, 'Oh my God!! Did you just see that?!' I thought the Blair Witch Project was the best that I've seen of the hand-held camera movies (and it is of course the catalyst that started the whole craze) because the people in it seemed genuinely scared (the rumour is that they had no idea that it was all part of a fictional movie, they thought it was real themselves? Can anyone confirm this?). I haven't seen Rec, although I hear it's very good, and I plan on watching it when my broadband stops being a d*ck.

So, where do y'all stand on this anyway?

Sad Professor

It's known as the "found footage" genre. I think Cannibal Holocaust is probably the earliest example of it, but Blair Witch really brought the concept into the mainstream.

Anyway, I hate them. All of them without exception. The idea has inspired noting but crap as far as I'm concerned.

Da Shins Kelly

Sad Professor wrote: »

It's known as the "found footage" genre. I think Cannibal Holocaust is probably the earliest example of it, but Blair Witch really brought the concept into the mainstream.

Anyway, I hate them. All of them without exception. The idea has inspired noting but crap as far as I'm concerned.

I've heard about the Cannibal Holocaust. I didn't know it was made in this style though. It sounds like utter shock sh*te and nothing else. Not sure if I'm bothered watching it at all.

Tallon

I love them, really love them.

Cloverfield is one of my favourite movies, because I followed all the online hype building up to it

Monsters was another great one imo

Also, recently I watched The Tunnel, wasn't overly impressed with it, but it wasn't bad

krudler

Blair Witch was truly a phenomenon of marketing, so many movies use viral internet stuff these days, but back in 1999 it was unheard of, and it did it brilliantly. I like The Blair Witch Project, watched at home on a pair of headphones its still creepy as hell in places, the "what the fcuk is that?!" tent scene and finale being two standout examples, Cloverfield was fun, REC was great, I havent seen Quarantine yet, I dont mind the "lost footage" movies when they're done well

krudler

RopeDrink wrote: »

I've not seen Blair Witch and have no intention of doing so.

how come? aside from all the hype its a cool little movie

MrStuffins

I saw Blair Witch in the cinema as a kid. it freaked the b'jaysus out of me.

I've seen it many many times again over the years and it gives me those chills every time. I can understand how a lot of people hated it, but I still think it's a quality horror movie.

mikhail

It's occasionally used well, but that's dwarfed by the number of times it's used badly. It seems to be an excuse for many filmmakers to be lazy in designing fights and other action, preferring instead to resort to blurry, incoherent and often hyper-edited gibberish which is maybe exciting the first couple of times you see it, but eventually leaves you yelling "What the hell is going on?" at the screen.

Tallon

mikhail wrote: »

It's occasionally used well, but that's dwarfed by the number of times it's used badly

Can you give examples if you don't mind?

jaykhunter

Has anyone seen "The Last Broadcast"? It was released a year earlier than Blair Witch but pretty much the exact same plot (amateur documentary people go into the woods to find the "Jersey Devil"; unexplained bad things happen). The film does do the "found footage" schtick but presents it more as a LivingTV documentary, with 'analysis' etc from experts; interspliced with said footage.

I feel bad for them because it came out a year earlier but only brought in a pittance. That's the power of advertising and hype! I think Blair Witch was the first real Viral marketing/use of the internet; creating false websites etc.

I've seen the Blair Witch first; so I imagine the impact of this film on me was greatly lessened; that said; this felt like a made-for-tv movie; Blair Witch was FAR more effective and atmospheric. TLB was more of a documentary which is emotionally removed from the footage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H_O1PM5fwo

Mickeroo

When it's done right I don't mind it. I've not seen Monsters yet, I enjoyed Blair Witch Project when it came out. I didn't like Cloverfield although the idea was good, it was just because the characters ere all dicks that I didn't like it. ##i thin the best one I've seen is Rec, great little movie. I'm quite looking forward to watching Trollhunter a new norwegian(I think) found footage movie thats been getting decent reviews.

johnny_ultimate

Like everything, familiarity breeds contempt. I'll be honest that I rather enjoyed Blair Witch years ago (maybe would be less fond now) - watched in the right circumstances it's fairly creepy and entertaining. But then everyone started copying it, and what was once a novelty became far too common. [rec] stands out for it's genuinely intense presentation, but going by the sequel and remakes the trick has worn distressingly thin.

krudler

[REC] was brilliant, the finale is one of most tense things I'd seen in a film in forever,

mikhail

Tallon wrote: »

Can you give examples if you don't mind?

For an incoherent one, I'm not fond of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyZU7lfGjyk

The number of times we're reduced to watching a pair of coats grappling is pathetic.

And, for comparison, here's a much steadier shot fight from the first Bourne movie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt6QDWQaHqg

Mickeroo

mikhail wrote: »

For an incoherent one, I'm not fond of this:
jyZU7lfGjyk
The number of times we're reduced to watching a pair of coats grappling is pathetic.

And, for comparison, here's a much steadier shot fight from the first Bourne movie:
Tt6QDWQaHqg

The Bourne Identity was filmed in a completely different style to the other two using 35mm I think?? Not the shaky digital cam of the other two so it's not really showing a better use of it if you know what I mean. I think the style worked very well in the two later movies though adding to the intensity of the action scenes, although I will concede it's bloody hard to know what's going on sometimes. A better comparison could be comparing The Bourne Supremecy to Collateral maybe, where the action was a lot more coherent? I could be wrong though on the technical side of things.

I don't think the OP meant this type of film anyway, more found footage type of movies?

calex71

Cloverfield does not deserve to be mentioned in the same thread as [REC] or the Blair Witch imo.

Like any other genre it has it's diamonds and steaming piles of poop. Boils down to the tastes of the viewer and the vision of the folks behind the movie.

Oh did I mention I hated Cloverfield ?

ThunderApple

I don't really like such movies, this kind of perspective is quite disturbing. These movies are mostly horrors, and I might be too sensible or something... I enjoyed The Blair Witch Project, though...

krudler

mikhail wrote: »

For an incoherent one, I'm not fond of this:

The number of times we're reduced to watching a pair of coats grappling is pathetic.

And, for comparison, here's a much steadier shot fight from the first Bourne movie:

Thats Greengrass's style though, its meant to look raw and unchoreographed, which it does

Sad Professor

I've changed the thread title to avoid confusion. The OP is talking about "found footage" horror films, not shaky cam action films.

Boo Radley

Mickeroo wrote: »

When it's done right I don't mind it. I've not seen Monsters yet, I enjoyed Blair Witch Project when it came out. I didn't like Cloverfield although the idea was good, it was just because the characters ere all dicks that I didn't like it. ##i thin the best one I've seen is Rec, great little movie. I'm quite looking forward to watching Trollhunter a new norwegian(I think) found footage movie thats been getting decent reviews.

Troll Hunter is a pretty decent flick alright and uses the style quite well.

Skinfull

Tallon wrote: »

Can you give examples if you don't mind?

I see [REC] was already suggested so how about this one... Home Movie.

Quite chilling and the general demise on the screen is believable. :cool:

Da Shins Kelly

Sad Professor wrote: »

I've changed the thread title to avoid confusion. The OP is talking about "found footage" horror films, not shaky cam action films.

Yes, thanks! Sorry for the confusion!

Corholio

Alien Abduction: The Macpherson Tapes

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0142074/

Saw this a few years ago on sky and while it may be dismissed as pretty bad now, I watched this film late and i've yet to watch a film where i've been so tense watching it. Especially with the final scene when the

family are sitting at the table and there's a long moment before the aliens enter into the kitchen

Otis Driftwood

One of the best Ive seen is The Poughkeepsie Tapes.Its a "documentary" with snippets of found footage interspersed with interviews from police,victims families etc.

Little or no on screen violence but some truly creepy moments and the ending was a total WTF moment for me.

Unfortunately this remains largely unheard of and as a result unseen as it has never actually gotten a release which is a terrible shame because compared to the crap we have been getting this is head and shoulders above them all.

The above is very much accessible (in terms of content I mean) compared to the August Underground trilogy.They are independent horror movies from the States and are as divisive a set of movies as you are ever likely to see.Basically the movie consist of home made footage of a serial killer going about his life.Extreme violence does not do these movies justice,they are the most violent films Ive ever seen but what strikes most about the violence portrayed is that it is very real looking.Definitly not for those of a nervous disposition but for the stronger willed looking for something shocking Id recommend em.

Da Shins Kelly

Otis Driftwood wrote: »

One of the best Ive seen is The Poughkeepsie Tapes.Its a "documentary" with snippets of found footage interspersed with interviews from police,victims families etc.

Little or no on screen violence but some truly creepy moments and the ending was a total WTF moment for me.

Unfortunately this remains largely unheard of and as a result unseen as it has never actually gotten a release which is a terrible shame because compared to the crap we have been getting this is head and shoulders above them all.

The above is very much accessible (in terms of content I mean) compared to the August Underground trilogy.They are independent horror movies from the States and are as divisive a set of movies as you are ever likely to see.Basically the movie consist of home made footage of a serial killer going about his life.Extreme violence does not do these movies justice,they are the most violent films Ive ever seen but what strikes most about the violence portrayed is that it is very real looking.Definitly not for those of a nervous disposition but for the stronger willed looking for something shocking Id recommend em.

Sounds very interesting, but I am truly of a nervous disposition and I think I'd be very freaked out to watch something like that on my own!

Otis Driftwood

TPT is creepy as all hell.There are a couple of scenes of the "found footage" that genuinely sent shivers up my spine,really well done.

paddy kerins

Corholio wrote: »

Alien Abduction: The Macpherson Tapes

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0142074/

Saw this a few years ago on sky and while it may be dismissed as pretty bad now, I watched this film late and i've yet to watch a film where i've been so tense watching it. Especially with the final scene when the

family are sitting at the table and there's a long moment before the aliens enter into the kitchen

That ending creeped me the fup out when I saw it

TheManWho

I wouldn't consider it a genre, more so a narrative technique. Unfortunetly at the moment it's almost entirely confined to the horror genre, possibly because it's still a relatively new structure to make films with, and people are familiar for it to be used in that way. Although I imagine that eventually someone will do something incredibly innovative with it, as a drama or some such, and open it up to be used in many other ways. Similar to how Pulp Fiction reinvigorated the whole non linear thing.

Da Shins Kelly

TheManWho wrote: »

I wouldn't consider it a genre, more so a narrative technique. Unfortunetly at the moment it's almost entirely confined to the horror genre, possibly because it's still a relatively new structure to make films with, and people are familiar for it to be used in that way. Although I imagine that eventually someone will do something incredibly innovative with it, as a drama or some such, and open it up to be used in many other ways. Similar to how Pulp Fiction reinvigorated the whole non linear thing.

It would be interesting to see it in a different genre other than horror.

Mr. Boo

Trash Humpers tbh.

Otis Driftwood

Mr. Boo wrote: »

Trash Humpers tbh.

Lol.

stiffler123

Works quite well in horror films. This movie used the technique and it's the most chilling thing I've ever seen. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1087461/

The Mad Hatter

Skinfull wrote: »

I see [REC] was already suggested so how about this one... Home Movie.

The Scary Movie/Date Movie/Epic Movie/Etc Movie people will be very disappointed to find out that someone got to this title first:pac:

Anyways, I quite like some movies in this genre, though I doubt it'll ever be used to make grand statements about the human condition.

I really enjoyed [REC], and quite liked Paranormal Activity and Cloverfield. I find in many of these films the seeming amateurishness of the camera work and presentation can really give the special effects punch, as they seem more believable (even if sometimes objectively less convincing, as in Cloverfield). They're also not necessarily without innovative tricks to generate atmosphere, as the marvellous fast-forward scenes in Paranormal Activity showed.

Peyton Manning

Corholio wrote: »

Alien Abduction: The Macpherson Tapes

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0142074/

Saw this a few years ago on sky and while it may be dismissed as pretty bad now, I watched this film late and i've yet to watch a film where i've been so tense watching it. Especially with the final scene when the

family are sitting at the table and there's a long moment before the aliens enter into the kitchen

Remember watching this on Sky a couple of years ago and loved it. The scene where

they step outside, look up on the roof and briefly see something climbing in the window, as well as the immediate scenes that follow

are absolutely brilliant.

fontanalis

So is it safe to assume a third Blair Witch won't happen?

Nothing will ever beat Ghost Watch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmSswG04zvc

It´s also amazing how silly people are too .. Ghost Watch received numerous complaints because people thought it was real .. similarly with another movie called "Without Warning"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0XuP1efXG8

Aisling(",)

I do enjoy the use of this in films because it can build tension and suspense really well but use of shakey/handy cam shots make me ridiculously car sick!

JohnnyRyan99

Corholio wrote: »

Alien Abduction: The Macpherson Tapes

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0142074/

Saw this a few years ago on sky and while it may be dismissed as pretty bad now, I watched this film late and i've yet to watch a film where i've been so tense watching it. Especially with the final scene when the

family are sitting at the table and there's a long moment before the aliens enter into the kitchen

Used to adore this film when I was young, but it creeped the **** out of me!

Everytime I found out it was going to be shown on Sky I had to invite a friend round to watch it with me!:o

jill_valentine

I liked The Last Broadcast, but think Blair Witch really did do much of the same stuff better overall. And as creepy as it is all along, the ending kind of renders it a bit worthless in that regard.

[Rec] is great. Just great. Much faster pace than most "Found footage" movies, but it definitely doesn't suffer for that.

I enjoyed Cloverfield immensely in the cinema, but can't imagine I'd be bothered watching it again on tv.

RopeDrink wrote: »

I had never bothered with it and now that it's been so many years I've already heard all the plot details, the ending etc

I just can't be bothered. I'm one of those people who would be less inclined to watch a movie the more I know about it beforehand.

I know a certain someone who has no problem looking up all movie details in the wikipedia BEFORE seeing it in the cinema - I'm the complete opposite.

To be honest, I've seen it so many times now that it's lost the creep factor, but I think it actually stands up surprisingly well as a kind of psychological drama. Heather leads her friends out into the woods, totally unprepared, and as it becomes apparent how far out of their depth they are, they start turning on each other. Seems that the actors really did start falling out as the cold and tiredness got to them, you can feel a real kind of few-days-into-Oxegen tension creep in as time goes on.

The oft parodied up-the-nostril scene is still a hell of a thing, IMHO.

Aside from Heather going on about how scared she is, she also finally realises she's basically gotten them all killed and can still only bring herself to admit it to the camera, rather than Mike.

It's a nice use of the handheld camera gimmick, it makes total sense for the character, and it's well done; the actress genuinely does seem proper drooly-snotty-ugly-cry hysterical.

Regarding the filming - as I understand it, the actors had a fairly rough script with a few key lines, and certain GPS waypoints they had to get to, but they did have to camp out and haul their kit around themselves, and they did improvise a lot of the dialogue themselves.

The producers did spring some stuff on them that they weren't expecting over the course of the thing, and ended up reshaping the plot a little around the resulting footage. If I remember correctly, one of the producer/director dudes noted afterwards that they ended up with three very different characters than they wrote in the script, because after a few days of camping the actors were just too exhausted, dirty and sick of each other to keep their own personalities in check.

Skerries

If you loved the first [REC] then definitely watch the second as it picks up immediately after the first

I actually watched the sequel to Quarantine last night, i had to look up that it was in fact a proper sequel as it was straight to dvd dirge and not even in found footage format

Mickeroo

Skerries wrote: »

I actually watched the sequel to Quarantine last night, i had to look up that it was in fact a proper sequel as it was straight to dvd dirge and not even in found footage format

There's a sequel to Quarantine? and it's not a remake of REC 2?

Goldstein

Looking forward to [Rec]3 Genesis & [Rec]4 Apocalypse out later this year and next. One of the original directors/writers, Paco Plaza, is directing the 3rd film and looks like Jaume Balagueró is slated to direct the final installment. Apparently only portions of the new movies will be in the same video camera perspective though.

Loved Troll Hunter, one of the best of this mini genre. Pure monster movie / adventure / escapism and really well pulled executed.

Noroi was another great found footage movie from Japan. Great variety of setups and doesn't get boring despite it's near 2 hour length. Watching it, you can see where the Paranormal Activity guys got a lot of their ideas.

As already mentioned one of my favourites is Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County from 1998, predating the Blair Witch & The Last Broadcast. Looks amateurish by comparison to modern efforts but it's still great fun to watch. There's one scene they should have cut alright

Where you first see the ship and the aliens, it looks so cheesy and the film works better without that part as it breaks the suspense somewhat.

Like most of this sub-genre, the fun lies in the actual process of watching these in the present, not necessarily in the resolutions or answers they provide. Bear this in mind when watching any of them and you won't be disappointed or feel cheated once it's over. Like a rollercoaster, it's not about the end but the anticipation of what's coming next.

Skerries

Mickeroo wrote: »

There's a sequel to Quarantine? and it's not a remake of REC 2?

yeah they set it in an airport after the plane is forced to land due to people trying to eat each other and not in a good way

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1699231/

LittleBook

As a genre, I can take them or leave them. I loved Blair Witch Project but hated Cloverfield, nothing to do with the style of filming, just hated those goddamn idiot teenagers going the wrong way. :pac:

Man Bites Dog was the first one I ever saw and it's bloody (pun intended ) brilliant. Won a couple of awards at Cannes back in the day.

This and Cannibal Holocaust are the only ones I know which pre-date Blair Witch so I'd be interested to check out The Last Broadcast.

jaykhunter

I'm fairly sure when people give out about a certain genre of film coming out, in this case "found footage", they're describing some useless quick cash-grab without any kind of thought :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yvSqkNPZpw

Zombienosh

Corholio wrote: »

Alien Abduction: The Macpherson Tapes

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0142074/

Saw this a few years ago on sky and while it may be dismissed as pretty bad now, I watched this film late and i've yet to watch a film where i've been so tense watching it. Especially with the final scene when the

family are sitting at the table and there's a long moment before the aliens enter into the kitchen

Amazing film, i agree with you I watched late at night by myself and it freaked me out.

I love Cloverfield and the Paranormal activity series and the [Rec] series.
It doesn't really matter to me the style of how the film is shot, a good film is a good film.

jill_valentine

Thinking about it, Paranormal Activity would qualify for this, right?

jaykhunter

RopeDrink how come you always mention your wife when you post?

yep Jill Sandwich Paranormal Activity counts alright

Tindie

Here the ones I have seen

The Blair Witch Project (1999) - Did not like at all, really boring! 4/10

Cannibal_Holocaust (1980) - I just did like movie at all 3/10

Diary of the Dead (2007) - This movies should be renamed dull of the dead 4/10

The Last Exorcism (2010) - Did not like at all, boring as well and not scary! 2/10

The Collingswood Story (2002) This was strange (Good idea) but I did not like it at all!

The Haunted House Project (2010) - Maybe the worst one I have seen, avoid this one!


REC (2007) - Loved it, one of the best! 10/10

REC 2 (2009) - Great movie 8/10 -

Paranormal Activity (2007) great movie, made me Jump 8/10

Paranormal Activity (2010) It pissed me off! 3/10

Paranormal Activity 2: Tokyo Night (2010) 7/10

Cloverfiled (2008) 8/10

Home Movie (2008) - Did not like it, dull, just when it gets good, it ended 4/10

Noroi(2005) 8/10 - Creepy

Lake Mungo (2008) - not scary, as more of Drama then horror but as some creepy
moment! (It good enough for A remake!) 5/10

The Troll Hunter (2010) -I liked Trolls scenes were good but rest of the movie was really dull 5/10

Death of a Ghost Hunter (2007)- ood movies to send you to sleep after 15mins and you wake when credits are rolling lol

The Tunnel movie (2011) - I liked this one 8/10

Atrocious (2010) - I did not like it, it was dull and really annoying with okay-ish ending! 5/10

Evil Things (2009) this was disappointing as i thought it would a lot more scary, the acting was way better then thought it be, i actually like the people in this movie 6/10

The Silent House (2010) -Good movie, it didn't feel like normal found footage at all, it 1:30am , I am so confused about the whole movie now.

I am looking forward to
And I all most missed the scene in the middle of the credits, which tells bit more of story, it felt like seen that done before! but still a good scene) 7/10

909 experiment (1999) The original Paranormal Activity! (Which I just found about two days ago) 4/10

I am looking forward to Unaware (2010) looks really good
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAn4jRm54qM&feature=player_embedded

Galvasean

After watching the boring Apollo 18 and seeing the god awful trailer for paranormal Activity 3 I am officially fed up with this genre.

Mickeroo

Galvasean wrote: »

After watching the boring Apollo 18 and seeing the god awful trailer for paranormal Activity 3 I am officially fed up with this genre.

give troll hunter a chance......