Horror has multiple subgenres, each with its notable classics and devoted fanbases. But with the turn of the 21st century, hardly any subgenre madequite a splash as found footage. SinceThe Blair Witch Projectpopularized the chilling concept in 1999, this current century has seen a wave of fascinatingly freaky tales, and continues to scare most audiences with its brilliant filmmaking and marketing techniques that make people believe the terror that they are seeing on screen is real.
The last 25 years have been full of terrifying and compelling found footage horror movies.From mockumentaries to desktop horror, the following are the ten scariest found footage horror films of the 21st century. They’re greatly intense and undeniably suspenseful, with just the right amount to make them seem somewhat believable. They’ll scare the pants off anyone and continue to be utterly horrifying today.
10’Paranormal Activity' (2007)
Kicking things off isParanormal Activity, the intense supernatural thriller from 2007, which scared up huge bucks at the box office. Directed byOren Peli, it’s an iconic haunted house tale that places audiences right in the middle of the terror in a plot that follows a young couple as they video document strange disturbances in their home, which gets more violent and sinister each night.
A terrifying mix of slow-burning horror and shocking jump scares,Paranormal Activityis one of the most recognizable andchilling horror films of the 2000s, and continues to have an enduring legacy. Though its plot is thin and sparked a mediocre franchise, it’s still quite disturbing and suspenseful with every rewatch. It’s the perfect found footage film to first get into, as it’s so full of legendary scares.
9’Lake Mungo' (2008)
A spine-chilling nail-biter hailing from Australia, directorJoel Anderson’sLake Mungois a fascinating entry to the Mockumentary/found footage subgenre, with a few epic scares and an eerie atmosphere that’ll have you sleeping with the lights on at night. It revolves around the tragic drowning of teenager Alice Palmer (Talia Zucker) and the strange, supernatural occurrences plaguing her grieving family soon after. Eventually, they realize their daughter is contacting them from beyond the grave.
It’s a deeply unsettling and emotional story that slowly builds with suspense and dread.There’s a building scene that leads to something completely horrifying, as it features a mystery as to what happened to Alice in the events before her death. It culminates in perhaps one of the most shocking andnightmarish jump scare moments of all timein the third act, a scene which continues to be so unnerving.Lake Mungomaintains its status as a frightful standout of the subgenre, one that’ll keep scaring up newer generations.
8’The Poughkeepsie Tapes' (2007)
A horrifying look into the perspective of a serial killer,John Erick Dowdle’sThe Poughkeepsie Tapesis an intense found footage horror mystery thriller that can send a shiver down one’s spine within seconds. When hundreds of videotapes are discovered in an abandoned building, researchers look over them, discovering countless shocking footage of the prolific murderer’s dark activities.
It’s appalling, bleak, and undeniably terrifying, chilling and thrilling audiences with its realistic concept that places them right into the shoes of a deranged killer.The Poughkeepsie Tapestakes things to the extreme without going over the top, maintaining a tone and feel that feels a little too real. It’s overall a nightmarish thriller that’s definitely for found footage fans looking for something greatly intense.
7’Late Night with The Devil' (2023)
Scaring up huge amounts of acclaim in our current decade,CameronandColin Cairnes’sLate Night with the Devilis a modern horror classic that’s endlessly terrifying. StarringDavid Dastmalchian, it follows an ambitious night show personality who, in his last-ditch quest for big ratings, hosts a Halloween-themed night, which takes a turn for the worse when a young girl, claiming to be possessed by the devil, turns out to be the real deal.
Late Night with the Devilis a fascinating found footage story with shocking terror, remarkable performances, and a well-balanced tone that mixes bits of dark comedy. It’s become one of themost recognizable found footage standouts in recent years, and continues to terrify viewers with its unique style and feel.
6’Afflicted' (2013)
A darker and twisted body horror take on vampirism that couldscare all you bloodsucker fans out there,Afflictedis an eerie found footage thriller from the incredible collaboration of filmmakersDerek LeeandClif Prowse. Starring the two as a pair of traveling friends, it sees their bond tested when one suffers a grisly, slow transformation after being stricken by a mysterious virus while vacationing in Europe.
The body transformation scenes, coupled with the film’s chilling atmosphere, make Afflicted an intense standout that’s truly unforgettable. Its indie feel and realistic handheld camera movements are a great highlight that makes it a unique entry, standing out from any other vampire film like it.
5’Hell House LLC' (2016)
Taking things to the supernatural extreme,Stephen Cognetti’sHell House LLCis one of the most chilling experiences one can have when watching a found footage movie. Intense, unpredictable, and deeply haunting, it sees a documentary crew on a mystery to figure out what went so horribly wrong on the night that led to the deaths of fifteen people at a haunted house attraction five years prior.
Hell House LLCis a prime example of an effective found footage film, brilliantly using its techniques to convey a deep sense of realism, which is easily the scariest part. It takes the audience through the ringer, delivering intense scares mixed with powerful slow-building tension, creating an unforgettable experience that’s sure to keep your heart pumping because of how scary it can get.
4’Incantation' (2022)
For those seeking immense dread, look no further thanIncantation, a 2022 supernatural found footage horror drama by Twaniese filmmakerKevin Ko. This unique folk chiller is for those looking for an intense fright, featuring a compelling story about a woman claiming to have been cursed years ago by an ancient local deity, now seeking help to lift this curse before it claims her daughter.
It’s hailed asone of the scariest international found footage moviesof the current century. With powerful suspense, a dark, greatly foreboding atmosphere, and well-placed scares, Incantation certainly knows how to hit the right spots to make you feel deeply unsettled.
3'[REC]' (2007)
One of the scariest zombie movies of all timejust so happens to be a found footage masterpiece. Directed byJaume BalagueróandPaco Plaza,[REC]is an intense survival horror thriller where things only get more chaotic and terrifying with each passing scene. It follows a nighttime reporter, her cameraman, and a team of Barcelona first responders as they fight for their lives in a blocked-off apartment building full of supernaturally infected killers.
It’s gripping, claustrophobic, and incredibly disturbing from start to finish, with a nightmarish finale that’ll have you shivering in absolute terror.[REC]is not only one of the scariest zombie or found footage movies, but just one of the scariest movies, period. It’ll never lose its scare factor and will likely remain a standout of both subgenres for decades to come.
2’Noroi: The Curse' (2005)
A landmark of Japanese horror,Koji Shiraishi’sNoroi: The Curseis an ultimate in terror that gets more unsettling with every nail-biting watch. At the heart of its frightening tale lies a mystery of what happened to a famed paranormal journalist who went missing while investigating a series of disturbing events linked to demonic legend.
There are moments too disturbing to even imagine, and it’ll leave you shivering in fear about how it ends. Featuring perfect suspense, a decent mystery, and a shockingly bleak finale,Noroi: The Curseis simply horrifying,one of the most unforgettable and hard-to-watch nightmare found footage horror movies ever made.
1’Host' (2020)
At number one takes the cake when it comes to intense and unrelenting terror.Rob Savage’sHostis truly the scariest found footage horror film of the 21st century, a nightmare-causing fright-fest that can scare anyone out of their own homes. Shot independently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it follows a group of young friends on a Zoom call as their night takes a supernaturally deadly turn after they accidentally conjure a demon during a séance.
This has some of the most startling jump scares and thrilling suspense anyone can find in a modern found footage horror film.Hostis a bona fide classic about how undeniably terrifying it is, and its moments of pure terror and dread only get more frightening with every watch. It’s chilling, unforgettable, and unquestionably scary, making it one of the scariest films of the last 25 years.
