Since the success of The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity, the found footage genre has offered dupes that are a dime a dozen, some better than others. There is a whole fanbase that loves these types of movies and thankfully the free streaming service, Tubi, has a whole page of titles to choose from.
We’ve picked some better-than-average movies below that are well worth your time should you decide to have a movie marathon that features a constant POV. Found footage movies break the fourth wall which adds an extra dimension to the story. The only thing is they can be hit-or-miss depending on the believability of the actors.
Sometimes it’s obvious that the actors have memorized lines which pulls you out of the film. They don’t effectively portray verbal cadence and deliver uncanny human interactions that feel improbable instead of improvisational. It’s an art form that if done right can be convincing.
Take a look at our picks below and let us know in the comments if you have seen any of them and your thoughts. Also, if you have any suggestions we’d be glad to read them.
Howard’s Mill (2021)
An abandoned piece of farmland in rural Tennessee may hold the key to multiple missing person cases spanning over 40 years.
Atticus Institute (2015)
When the US government attempts to weaponize the power of a possessed woman, they soon discover that there are forces that exist in this world that simply cannot be controlled.
Followed (2019)
Followed introduces us to aspiring social media influencer “DropTheMike.” When he is offered the opportunity to get a nice stack of cash for sponsorship of his channel, he’s joined by his video crew on a visit to one of the most haunted hotels in America. While there, he expects to have a horrific night of thrills and scares. What begins as a fun investigative challenge quickly descends into a personal hell of true evil, begging the timely question: how far would you go to pursue internet fame?
The Bornero Incident (2012)
Five friends travel from New York to Malaysian Borneo to explore one’s Iban tribal roots. Crossing into Indonesia, their guide disappears, leaving them stranded in the jungle facing crocodiles and warring tribes.
Cropsey (2009)
Growing up on Staten Island, filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio had often heard the legend of Cropsey. For the kids in their neighborhood, Cropsey was the escaped mental patient who lived in the old, abandoned Willowbrook Mental Institution and would come out at night to snatch children off the streets.
Later, as teenagers, the filmmakers assumed Cropsey was just an urban legend: a cautionary tale used to keep them out of those abandoned buildings. That all changed in the summer of 1987 when 12-year-old Jennifer Schweiger disappeared from their community. Now as adults Joshua and Barbara have returned to Staten Island to create “Cropsey,” a feature documentary that delves into the mystery behind Jennifer and four additional missing children.
The film also investigates Andre Rand, the real-life boogeyman linked to their disappearances. Embarking on a mysterious journey into the underbelly of their forgotten borough, these filmmakers uncover a reality that is more terrifying than any urban legend.
Butterfly Kisses (2018)
A filmmaker discovers a box of video tapes depicting two students’ disturbing film project featuring a local horror legend, The Peeping Tom. As he sets out to prove this story is real and release it as a work of his own, he loses himself and the film crew following him into his project.
