The 'found footage' genre, in my opinion, is one of the most compelling ways to shoot horror films. The events on screen are usually seen through a camera of one or more characters involved, who often speak off screen. The filming is done by the actors themselves as they recite their lines off camera. It generally has shaky camera work and naturalistic acting is often used. This genre dates back to at least as far as the 1980s in Cannibals Holocaust, it then became increasingly popular after the release of the Blair Witch Project, 1999, and Paranormal Activity, 2007. The 'footage style' really allows the viewer to believe in what they are seeing; it more relates to the viewer, like it is something that they could have recorded on their video cameras at home.
The Paranormal Activity series has most definitely become one of my favorite movie series because of the way that it is shot. It really makes me believe that all these events are true. Sorry for the spoiler if you actually believed that this series is real. One of my favorite camera shots throughout this series was used in Paranormal Activity 3.
The device that created this amazing shot was the "fan cam." One of the actors in the beginning placed a camera on top of an oscillating fan allowing the camera to record multiple rooms. This creates a lot of tension in many different scenes throughout the movie, not only from the speed that the camera was oscillating but also the placement of the camera. Having the camera set up in the living room which is between the kitchen and the dining room. There were so many scenes that used this camera to scare the hell out of people.
Having the movie being recorded in more of a naturalistic way, but also having unique shots, and having the movie be part of the found footage genre definitely work for these movies. When I watch these movies I have to admit I get a little frightened to sleep alone at night. These are must watch movies in my book!
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