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Found Footage movies - is it just that I just don't get it?

posted 9 years ago by tmitch-1
5 replies | jump to latest

When I saw 'The Blair Witch Project' some 16 years ago, I admit I had some admiration for the idea - even if I didn't find it particularly scary or convincing.

What I admired was the innovation of the filmmakers - to be the first to come up with the idea that a hand-held camera carried by one or more of the characters could film the entire movie.

To me, it was a good idea that just didn't quite work. The obvious (to me, anyway) flaw was the improbability of enough relevant footage making its way into each frame to be able to tell a coherent story. To anyone who thought the footage was actually real, I posed the question - do you really think someone would keep filming as they're being chased by a really pissed-off supernatural entity? Wouldn't they just ditch the camera?

To date, no one's given me a satisfactory answer.

I thought it was an interesting idea that would end up as nothing more than a footnote in film history. Sixteen years later, I admit I was wrong. While there haven't been a whole lot of blockbusters in the Found Footage genre, it certainly doesn't look like it's going away completely anytime soon.

And I admit I haven't seen this movie. I was going to, as I like horror, and it received generally good reviews. Then I saw it was a Found Footage movie, and decided to pass.

So, does anyone else see the believability/improbability issue - or is it just that I don't 'get' the Found Footage genre?

[–] ehendrix 9 years ago

It has be observed in real events that many people continue filming, it is a subconscious way of separating yourself from the danger. It's not logical but it can and does happen.

[–] ehendrix 9 years ago

As for this movie no one is holding a camera and the action is around the computers, there is no disbelief as far as why it would be filmed.

[–] Shooting-Star15 9 years ago

As for this movie no one is holding a camera and the action is around the computers, there is no disbelief as far as why it would be filmed.

Ditto, the movie does it wonderfully.

OP, also check out Jeruzalem (2015), http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4552524/. The girl character who records the events of this film is wearing some sort of google smart glasses, I thought that was smart.

[–] ForTheNonce 9 years ago

The obvious (to me, anyway) flaw was the improbability of enough relevant footage making its way into each frame to be able to tell a coherent story.

I'd say with a small group of people (BWP had 3) who had nothing else to do but walk, talk, and film, it works. Of course they're going to catch enough story - what else would they be doing?

Wouldn't they just ditch the camera?

Through most of the movie, they don't know what is happening. They don't know if someone is messing with them or what. I don't even think it was their camera - didn't one of them borrow it and say it had to be back by X time? I can see poor college students not wanting to mux up a camera that will take thousands to replace. Also, Heather flat-out addresses it when she says, "I don't have anything else."

[–] misterbfd 9 years ago

This is not a found footage movie.