Found-Footage Horror: Raw, Real, and Terrifying Films That Changed Horror Forever

When you watch a found-footage horror, a film style that presents itself as real video recordings discovered after events occurred. Also known as pseudo-documentary horror, it tricks your brain into believing what you’re seeing actually happened. No orchestral scores. No polished lighting. Just shaky cameras, muffled screams, and the quiet dread of someone whispering, "Are you still there?" This isn’t just a genre—it’s a psychological experiment in fear.

It works because it feels real. The Blair Witch Project, the 1999 indie film that launched the modern found-footage boom with a $250,000 budget and $248 million in revenue didn’t use actors in makeup—it used real people pretending to be lost. REC, the Spanish horror that turned a trapped apartment into a nightmare made audiences feel claustrophobic just watching it. And Paranormal Activity, the $15,000 film that became a $193 million franchise proved you don’t need monsters to scare people—you just need silence, a camera, and the feeling that something is watching from the dark.

What makes this style so powerful isn’t the jump scares. It’s the slow build. The way the camera lingers too long on a closed door. The way the audio cuts out when the power goes off. The way the person holding the camera stops running and just… stands there. That’s when you realize: they know something’s coming. And they can’t escape.

This isn’t just about ghosts or demons. Found-footage horror taps into our fear of technology turning against us—cameras that record too much, phones that can’t get a signal, livestreams that go silent. It’s the horror of being watched and not knowing why. It’s the terror of realizing you’re not alone… and the camera is still rolling.

Below, you’ll find reviews, breakdowns, and deep dives into the most chilling found-footage films ever made—some famous, some forgotten, all unforgettable. Whether you’re new to the style or you’ve rewatched REC ten times, there’s something here that’ll make you check your locks again.