I have found in my recent film viewings that the found footage "shaky cam" genre is making quite a comeback. If asked I would likely attribute it to the commercial success of the Paranormal Activity franchise. Granted, Paranormal activity is a pretty good film with four not particularly good sequels. But nonetheless, it would be hard to argue against how well each of the films did considering audience excitement and the low cost of the pictures. But what started this all. What really brought this idea of "real life" horror leaking into film in the form of found footage? The Blair Witch Project.
In the last month I've watched two films of no particular note other than somewhat higher ratings on IMDb. Those films were Willow Creek and The Hunted. I'm going to site these movies as the films that without a doubt drew inspiration from The Blair Witch Project. With similar stories, settings and characters, they are practically clones, but they each have one element that changes them up. And those elements are what make them worth checking out.
*moderate plot spoilers*
The Hunted is a pretty cool idea. A deer hunter followed by a cameraman sets out to hunt a giant buck in an abandoned area of forest that had just been bought up by a hunting lodge. The duo have set out to hunt this thing with the intent to record it and use it as a pilot for a hunting reality show. This ties in the found footage deal pretty well. Soon enough though they hear screaming in the woods and are progressively terrorized by the ghost of an abused woman who died in the forest.
It is a well done flick with consistent acting by a small cast. The effects in the film are well done and the presentation of the ghost is low budget but creative. This film does suffer in its lack of plot or serious character conflict. I felt like it could have benefited from a little more fighting between to the two heroes. All and all worth a watch.
The Hunted is a pretty cool idea. A deer hunter followed by a cameraman sets out to hunt a giant buck in an abandoned area of forest that had just been bought up by a hunting lodge. The duo have set out to hunt this thing with the intent to record it and use it as a pilot for a hunting reality show. This ties in the found footage deal pretty well. Soon enough though they hear screaming in the woods and are progressively terrorized by the ghost of an abused woman who died in the forest.
It is a well done flick with consistent acting by a small cast. The effects in the film are well done and the presentation of the ghost is low budget but creative. This film does suffer in its lack of plot or serious character conflict. I felt like it could have benefited from a little more fighting between to the two heroes. All and all worth a watch.
Willow Creek is why I truly wanted to write this. A couple set or on a trip to visit the original site where Bigfoot was first recorded on film. That's right. Bigfoot. No spookies in this picture. Think The Blair Witch Project minus the witch plus Bigfoot and you get Willow Creek. The plot is pretty scarce and there isn't much offered here. But for the suspense and creepy factor that's in this film alone, I would recommend it. Willow Creek delivers a really unnerving horror experience while virtually showing you nothing. Everything is conveyed in the setting, sound, and acting. Like I said before though. Not much story-wise. Pretty well a clone of Blair Witch. But nonetheless, I was fault pleased with this movie.
The shaky cam found footage genre has been growing in popularity and even more recently, I have been seeing several Bigfoot movies coming out. I will likely check into these soon as well.
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