Best to Worst Found Footage / Mockumentary Horror Movies Part 4: The Best

HALLOWEEN SPECIAL!

[REC] (2007)

Experience the true fear with the Spanish 'found footage' horror phenomenon "[REC]" - the most inventive, unpredictable, shocking, tense, scary and utterly claustrophobic movie in cinematic history. Prepare to be blown away by its terrifying brilliance and bone-chilling climax!

My Rating: 10/10

Trolljegeren a.k.a.
The Troll Hunter (2010)

Thanks to its chillingly-original concept, pitch-perfect execution and mind-blowing visuals, "The Troll Hunter" is an absolute mocku-masterpiece and one of the most unique horror movies ever.

My Rating: 9.25/10





The Blair Witch Project (1999)

It won't be a lie if we call "The Blair Witch Project" the mother of all 'found footage' horror movies, because back in 1999 it showed us all that a movie can be SUPER-scary and effective, without featuring any gore, blood or creepy images.

My Rating: 9.25/10

[REC]² (2009)

Unexpected, brain-twisting, creative, scary and fantastically-gory, "[REC]²" is an absolutely brilliant sequel to an amazing original.

My Rating: 9.00/10

Cloverfield (2008)

Wonderfully-crafted, highly-entertaining and edge-of-your-seat thrilling, "Cloverfield" is a one of a kind 'found footage' horror that delivers everything it promises.

My Rating: 9.00/10

Paranormal Activity (2008)

The triumph of "Paranormal Activity" is in the fact that it's made for so little, but has the ability to terrify so many. It works on so many levels, and is scary enough to make even the most hardened horror buffs wince in fear!

My Rating: 8.25/10

Best to Worst Found Footage / Mockumentary Horror Movies Part 3: The Good

The Tunnel (2011)

Atmospheric, incredibly tense and utterly claustrophobic, "The Tunnel" may not be the scariest 'found footage' horror movie you'll ever see, or as innovative as its online campaign, but it's certainly one of the most finely-crafted and realistic mock-docs ever made.

My Rating: 7.50/10

Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)

Effective, believable and at times brilliantly terrifying, "Paranormal Activity 2" is a rare sequel that not only complements the original, but also works on its own. It successfully feeds your fear, leaving almost everything to the imagination.

My Rating: 7.00/10

Quarantine (2008)

Although it's nowhere nearly as frightening and superbly-crafted as the original film, "Quarantine" is an above average shot-by-shot remake that delivers thrills, chills, scares and then some.

My Rating: 7.00/10

Evil Things (2011)

"Evil Things" is a completely underrated POV slasher flick with a supernatural twist, that shows a whole new different side of the 'found footage' horror sub-genre, and works perfectly thanks to its authentic originality, skillful camera work and brilliantly believable characters, plus, it's super-tense and actually scary.

My Rating: 7.00/10

The Last Exorcism (2010)

"The Last Exorcism" is great character-driven horror/drama, that also succeeds as a mockumentary, because of its strong characters and storytelling, and its intense atmosphere.

My Rating: 7.00/10

Diary of the Dead (2007)

Shot in the effective POV style, "Diary of the Dead" the most satisfying movie George A. Romero has made in a long time, and also a solid, tense and scary zombie flick.

My Rating: 6.75/10

Best to Worst Found Footage / Mockumentary Horror Movies Part 2: The Passable

Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)

As expected, "PA3" is 'more of the same' in terms of style and shocks, and is the least scary of the three, however, it goes in a slightly different direction than its predecessors, and as a result it feels a bit refreshing, and is still creepy, and effective enough to leave most fans satisfied.

My Rating: 6.50/10

Lake Mungo (2008)

"Lake Mungo" is an honest mystery, full of secrets and lies, wrapped around a paranormal thriller, that is as gripping as it's chilling.

My Rating: 6.50/10

Grave Encounters (2011)

Although it gets a bit ridiculous and unnecessarily over-the-top towards the end, "Grave Encounters" is still a well-made, often chilling, and utterly claustrophobic mockumentary, that fans of the genre will enjoy.

My Rating: 6.25/10

8213: Gacy House (2010)

Although, the conclusion is a bit disappointing, "8213 : Gacy House" is a spooky moc-doc, which premise feels fresh and unique, and which offers plenty of good old-fashioned jump scares and some truly creepy images.

My Rating: 6.25/10

Paranormal Activity 2: Tokyo Night (2010)

Though not as terrifying and effective as its two American predecessors, "PA2: Tokyo Night" features some incredibly sympathetic characters, plenty of spooky visuals, and a couple of truly chilling scenes of terror.

My Rating: 6.00/10

Atrocious (2011)

"Atrocious" delivers some believable performances, a couple of truly tense and chilling moments, and a shocking twist at the end, that not only works, but also manages to make up for the screenplay's shortcomings.

My Rating: 6.00/10

Best to Worst Found Footage / Mockumentary Horror Movies Part 1: The Mediocre + BONUS

Haunted Changi (2010)

More creepy than scary, "Haunted Changi" offers some dark, ominous settings, and a couple of tense moments, but it does pretty much nothing else to distinguish itself from every other POV horror film.

My Rating: 5.25/10

The Fourth Kind (2009)

"Fourth Kind" has its eerie moments and decent thrills, but it never really rises beyond that.

My Rating: 5.00/10

Deserted House (2010)

Dull, hardly scary and amateurishly executed, "Deserted House" is a ghost story at its worst, and a poor entry in the 'found footage' sub-genre.

My Rating: 4.00/10

The Tapes (2011)

Featuring annoying characters, shallow dialogues and dull story, and lacking in suspense and genuine thrills, "The Tape" is a rather poor attempt at 'found footage' horror. (Review coming soon)

My Rating: 3.75/10

+ BONUS:

UPCOMING 'FOUND FOOTAGE' HORROR MOVIES

Tape 407 (2011)

Plot summary: Survivors of an airplane crash find themselves within the borders of a government testing area and pursued by predators.

Release date: Oct 31, 2011

[REC]³ Génesis (2012)

Plot summary: In a clever twist that draws together the plots of the first two movies, this third part of the saga works as a decoder to uncover information hidden in the first two films and leaves the door open for the final installment, the future "[REC] 4 Apocalypse".

Release date: Mar 30, 2012

The Lost Coast Tapes (2012)

Plot summary: A cynical investigative journalist and his documentary team travel to a remote cabin to debunk a Cryptozoologist’s claim of finding a dead Bigfoot, but their film quickly becomes a record of their life and battle against an unseen horror.

Release date: 2012

Haunted Poland (2012)

Plot summary: A couple travel to Poland but find themselves disturbed by an evil force when the girl returns to her home town where she once played a Ouija board.

Release date: Apr 20, 2012