10 Lesser Known Found Footage Horror Movies You Can Stream Right Now

BEYOND THE BLAIR WITCH

Last week marked the 20th anniversary of The Blair Witch Project’s 1999 theatrical release. Love it or hate it, the film left an indelible legacy within the horror genre, shifting the paradigm to a bold type of filmmaking that would soon become an industry mainstay. With their lower budget requirements and DIY aesthetic, found footage films get a bad rap, but with an anyone-can-do-it approach also comes a trove of hidden gems. Today, we’re looking past the horrors of The Blair Witch and Paranormal Activity, and diving into some more obscure waters. Here are, in no particular order, 10 lesser known found footage horror films that are worth your time…

Lake Mungo (2008)

We covered Lake Mungo last year, but it’s one of the best films that the found footage genre has to offer. When their only daughter Alice drowns tragically, the Palmers begin experiencing strange phenomena in their home. Lake Mungo is the perfect horror mockumentary, featuring sympathetic interviews and talking heads. Forgoing easy jump scares, the film’s greatest asset is its realistic portrait of grief - the narrative’s chilling nature amplified by melancholy and real-life possibility. Streaming free on Tubi

Digging Up the Marrow (2014)

A fascinating meta mockumentary, Digging Up the Marrow follows real life horror filmmaker Adam Green as he becomes obsessed with the story of eccentric monster hunter William Dekker (the ever great Ray Wise). What can only be described as the deranged lovechild between Pokémon Go and Trollhunter - featuring creature concepts based on the art of Alex Pardee - Digging Up the Marrow is a fun little romp. Streaming now on AMC+

Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018)

Think of Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum as a Korean Grave Encounters. A hokey seen-it-before premise that gives way to truly unsettling scares and a bonkers third act, Gonjiam has become somewhat of a found footage sleeper. The film centers around a group of viewcount-hungry YouTube thrill-seekers operating a channel called The Horror Times as they explore an abandoned psychiatric hospital. Streaming now on Shudder

Leaving D.C. (2012)

The lowest budget film on this list, Leaving D.C. is an indie gem buried deep in the Amazon Prime library. Equal parts mystery and character study, the film follows Mark Klein, an eccentric that has just relocated to a house in the woods. When he starts hearing eerie sounds and music outside his window one night, he begins an investigation with some audio equipment. Leaving D.C. has a distinctly low-fi approach that manages to creep you out without resorting to ghosts, demons, or jump scares. Available to rent on Amazon Prime

The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007)

Easily the most controversial film on this list, The Poughkeepsie Tapes is a nasty bit of filmmaking that has been pulled from release not once, but twice, due to its content. And for good reason. The story revolves a police raid that uncovers a trove of 800 tapes left behind by a sadistic and manipulative serial killer. Incredibly disturbing, The Poughkeepsie Tapes is at times difficult to stomach, and is best accompanied by several trigger warnings. Streaming free on Tube

Butterfly Kisses (2018)

Creepy and ominous, Butterfly Kisses was released with little fanfare in 2018. Exceedingly well-paced and surprisingly well-crafted by director Erik Kristopher Myers, the story works as a throwback to the birth of found footage. The movie tells the story of a filmmaker that discovers a box of videotapes belonging to a film student, videotapes that investigate the urban legend known as Peeping Tom. A chilling depiction of obsession and mythical boogeymen, Butterfly Kisses is well worth a watch. Streaming free on Tube

The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014)

Mia Hu records the daily lives of Deborah Logan, a woman with Alzheimer’s, as a part of her thesis. As Deborah’s behavior becomes increasingly bizarre and violent, it becomes apparent that there’s more at work than the ravages of an incurable disease. Chock full of horrific imagery and effective scares, Deborah Logan was a quietly shelved film that saw a second life on Netflix, where it became a cult favorite. Streaming now on Amazon Prime

Savageland (2015)

Savageland, a 2015 mockumentary-style found footage film, is a particularly timely meditation on race and culture. Taking place at the Arizona-Mexico border, Savageland centers around the lone survivor of a mystifying killing spree that wipes out an entire town. An illegal immigrant being railroaded for the heinous crime, Francisco Salazar also happens to have taken blurry photographs of the brutal incident, and what he catches on film appears to be something other than human. Streaming free on Tubi

The Borderlands (2013)

Following up on reports of strange occurrences at a rural English church, a team is sent by the Vatican to determine if the phenomena qualifies as a miracle. Released as Final Prayer in the United States, The Borderlands is never quite what you expect. Sinister, Lovecraftian, and engaging thanks to its charismatic leads, the film proves to be a pleasant (or unpleasant) surprise. Be prepared for its absolutely unhinged ending. Streaming free on Tubi as Final Prayer

Capture Kill Release (2016)

What can only be described as a sadistic and twisted love story, Capture Kill Release is a 2016 found footage film that came and went largely unnoticed. A young couple, Jen and Farhang, embark on a journey to document their deepest and darkest desire - to take a human life. However, when one of them gets cold feet, things take an even uglier turn. Unsettling and uncomfortable, Capture Kill Release is worth sitting through for the performances alone. Streaming free on Tubi