Whether you love them or hate them, found footage films has a solid place within the horror genre and are here to stay. The new documentary The Found Footage Phenomenon explores the roots of the sub-genre, along with why the films have resonated with people over the years. Filmmakers, critics, and found footage experts talk about some of the best examples in film.
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Many of us remember the days before Wikipedia and IMDb, when word-of-mouth, newspaper, and network news were king. When films such as Cannibal Holocaust (1980) The Blair Witch Project (1999) were feared to feature real people in real danger, with no way to immediately know the true story. While found footage films today are unable to replicate that type of marketing success, they can still be effective as well as be made in a variety of low-budget ways.
The Found Footage Phenomenon does an excellent job at presenting the film lineup, along with knowledgeable voices in the industry providing in-depth commentary, at times first-hand. The documentary moves at a great pace and covers the topics without much repetition. As found footage films are linked back to the times in which they were made, there are disturbing scenes of real-life violence, so sensitive viewers beware. Although these scenes are difficult to watch (admittedly, I closed my eyes a couple of times), it is always within context and never feels gratuitous.
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Over the last few years, there have been several must-watch documentaries released for horror fans, and The Found Footage Phenomenon is definitely added to that list. Regardless of where viewers stand on the topic matter itself, writers and directors Sarah Appleton and Phillip Escott effectively make the film relevant to horror history itself, and in a highly enjoyable way.
The Found Footage Phenomenon recently screened at Fantastic Fest 2021, and will be released soon.
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