#–A–B–C–D–E–F–G–H–I-J-K–L–M–N-O-P-Q-R–S–T–U–V–W-X-Y-Z

A

As Above So Below
Released: 2014
Director: John Erick Dowdle
Synopsis: A woman and her crew explore the catacombs beneath Paris as they hunt for the legendary Philosopher’s Stone. While down there, they discover just how hellish the centuries-old catacombs really are.
Verdict: This film had so much potential. It starts off fairly mediocre but builds to an interesting twist of sorts, then only to be let down with a weak ending. Its premise had the means to make the whole thing much darker, but the filmmakers apparently decided to play it safe. 3/5

B

The Blair Witch Project
Released: 1999
Directors: Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez
Synopsis: A group of student filmmakers embark on the creation of a documentary film about a myth known as the Blair Witch, and upon their eventual disappearance, the footage they shot is found and compiled in a bid to find out exactly what they found and what happened to them.
Verdict: A groundbreaking horror that very much revived the ‘hand-held’ style of filming and storytelling, It continues to terrify audiences, with its lack of score, frightening atmosphere and masterful shocks and scares. Many have attempted to do justice to the found-footage framework, but not so well as the OG. 4/5

Blair Witch
Released: 2016
Director: Adam Wingard
Synopsis: After the disappearance of his sister and her friends (in the 1999 film), James (James Allen McCune) takes some friends along to the woods in which she disappeared to try and track her down, unaware that they are likely to suffer the same fate as James’s sister and her friends.
Verdict: Coming soon

The Borderlands (US: Final Prayer)
Released: 2013
Director: Elliot Goldner
Synopsis: A group of three men consisting of a sceptical religious brother, a tech expert and a priest are sent to Devon in the English West Country to investigate supernatural occurrences eminating from an old church that has recently reopened, the apparent location of a “miracle”.
Verdict: This film gets off to a bit of a slow start, though the casual shots of apparently empty interior and exterior locations work well to build tension. There are elements of films such as The Omen and The Blair Witch Project that make it ever so creepy, and although the story itself might be a little up and down, the terrifying ending is one of the best film pay-offs ever. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes The Borderlands review.

C

Cannibal Holocaust
Released: 1980
Director: Ruggero Deodato
Synopsis: When a documentary film crew goes missing in the Amazon rainforest, an expedition crew set out to find them, discovering only the film recordings they left behind, recordings that portray horrific acts that had taken place.
Verdict: This film has been extremely controversial since its making, historically banned in many countries and still banned in some. It’s horrifyingly graphic, depicts real animal abuse and is absolutely not for the faint of heart (tough enough for even just regular human beings with a conscience). It was a long debate as to whether to watch and include this film in Terror Tapes, but like it or not, it is an important chapter in the history of horror films, albeit a dark, bleak one that tries to make a commentary on exploitation while being exploitative itself. Be warned.

Chronicle
Released: 2012
Director: Josh Trank
Synopsis: Three very different high school students form a bond when they gain telekinetic powers after encountering a strange object in a cave. They start to mess about with their powers, until one of them starts to take things too far.
Verdict: As most horror films of found footage framing are geared towards an adult audience, this one works well for a younger audience who want to become familiar with this subgenre. It’s mild with the frights but has plenty of thrills and suspense and adds depth to the lives of each of the three lead teens. The CGI leaves a lot to be desired, being not particularly convincing, but that can be forgiven for a film from 2012. The climax is decent and the performances are excellent, particularly from Dane DeHaan. 4/5

Cloverfield 
Released: 2008
Director: Matt Reeves
Synopsis: During Rob’s (Michael Stahl-David) going away party in Manhattan, the city is attacked by a large Godzilla-type creature and tons of smaller ones. Rob and a group of his friends try to find their way out of the city, but decide to take a detour to rescue Rob’s estranged friend/lover, Beth (Odette Yustman).
Verdict: This film does a fantastic job of keeping the creatures a mystery and makes good use of the New York City setting to create creepy scenes, from the darkness of the subway to the heights of toppling apartment buildings. The performances are excellent and the suspense will keep you enthralled from beginning to end.

Creep duology
Released: 2014, 2017
Director: Patrick Brice
Synopsis: Aaron (Patrick Brice) is hired by terminally ill Josef (Mark Duplass) to help him make a film for his unborn child. As Aaron comes to find out, not everything about Josef is at it seems. Then, Sara (Desiree Akhavan) is hired by Josef for the same job, but will she suffer the same fate?
Verdict: The first film has a lot going for it, particularly where Josef is concerned, and as the tension builds alongside Aaron’s fear, we can feel an inevitable climax heading our way. The second replaces that momentum and focuses instead on the psychological aspects of Josef (and Sara), meaning it loses that “fear of the unknown” angle. The first is not the strongest “creep”fest, but the second falls completely flat amongst the heavy dialogue and lack of action.

D

Deadstream
Released: 2022
Directors: Joseph Winter, Vanessa Winter
Synopsis: An online streamer goes on a live in a supposedly haunted house in order to repair his reputation after a previous disasterous stunt.
Verdict: A found footage satire that pokes fun at streamers and the horror genre, sometimes to its detriment, other times in an entertaining fashion. Don’t expect much, if any, genuine frights, but expect a few laughs. 3/5

Diary of the Dead
Released: 2007
Director: George A. Romero
Synopsis: While making a horror film as part of their studies, a group of film students are caught amidst some kind of outbreak that is causing people to attack each other. They all embark on perilous journeys to find their friends and loved ones, in the hope they haven’t become zombies.
Verdict: Coming soon

District 9
Released: 2009
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Synopsis: In 1982, over a million aliens become stranded on Earth in Johannesburg, South Africa. Over the following decades, the aliens barely survive in a make-shift camp that quickly becomes slum-like. When Wikus (Sharlto Copley) is ordered to help move the aliens to a new camp, he unintentionally becomes involved in their plight to leave Earth.
Verdict: A fantastic premise that mirrors many of our own real problems revolving around immigration and racism. The characters are interesting, aliens included, the story is solid and is framed well in its documentary style, with a mix of interviews, news footage, CCTV and found footage. 4/5

G

Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (Korean: 곤지암 )
Released: 2018
Director: Jung Bum-shik
Synopsis: After hearing about an abandoned haunted asylum, the crew of a horror web series head to the asylum to film a live stream with the hope of capturing paranormal events, but they all get a whole lot more than they bargained for.
Verdict: With clear inspiration from the likes of The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity, Gonjiam doesn’t present much in the way of originality story-wise, however the scares are pretty decent, particularly in the third act, and the performances are strong. 3/5
Read the Tiny Tapes Gonjiam review.

H

Hell House LLC series
Released: 2015-2025
Synopsis: Follows the haunting of a house turned into an attraction named Hell House LLC, formerly a hotel named Abaddon, then delves further back to the origins of the hauntings at the Carmichael Manor.
Verdict: This series started off average but then slowly descended into abysmal. All films are done in the found footage style, and for most of them that’s the best thing going for them, until the final film, Lineage, where they scrapped the found footage and shot a traditional film, leaving the series with nothing left to give. 2/5
Read the Tiny Tapes Hell House LLC: Lineage review.

House on Eden
Released: 2025
Director: Kris Collins
Synopsis: Kris, Celina and Jay (all playing versions of themselves) head to a house named House on Eden that is supposedly haunted in order to film some creepy stuff for their online audience. However, the spirit(s) of the house don’t take too kindly to their presence.
Verdict: There are some truly creepy moments, subtle and not over the top, that give it some legitimacy as a horror film, it’s just decidedly unoriginal. Writer/director Kris Collins shows potential as a horror filmmaker, so it would be interesting to see her come up with something more original. 2.5/5
Read the Tiny Tapes House on Eden review.

I

Incantation (Chinese: 咒 )
Released: 2022
Director: Kevin Ko
Synopsis: A woman visits her boyfriend’s family and disturbs a ritual, cursing her and her unborn daughter. After a few years and seeking some psychiatric help, she is reunited with her daughter, only for things to take another turn for the worse.
Verdict: In this film, the found footage techniqueis executed very well with some great visual effects and framing. It is a genuinely creepy movie that also has a pretty scary realistic vibe to it, particularly thanks to the narrator who bookends the story with some terrifying revelations. If you enjoy the likes of The Blair Witch Project and REC, this will certainly be right up your Elm Street. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes Incantation review.

M

The Medium (Thai: ร่างทรง)
Released: 2021
Director: Banjong Pisanthanakun
Synopsis: When the niece of a shaman in the Isan region of Thailand becomes possessed, the shaman has to do everything within her (questionable) power to help her niece while also dealing with some family issues that come to the fore when the girl becomes increasingly violent.
Verdict: A very well-paced found-footage style film, building up to the possession by slowly increasing the girl’s strange behaviour and planting good foreshadowing. The frights are mostly frightening indeed, though interspersed with the odd gratuitous jump-scare here and there, and the performances are excellent and immersive. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes The Medium review.

N

Noroi: The Curse (Japanese: ノロイ)
Released: 2005
Director: Kōji Shiraishi
Synopsis: A documentary filmmaker investigates an ancient curse that is far darker and widespread than he realises.
Verdict: An early example of the found footage technique being used to create some intense and realistic horror and doing it effectively. With an interesting plot that keeps you hooked, you’re sure to be creeped out, though the occasional use of a non-diegetic soundtrack takes viewers out of the immersion at times and the time between creepy events is sometimes stretched. 3.5/5

P

Paranormal Activity series
Released: 2007-present
Synopsis: Beginning with 2007’s Paranormal Activity, the series follows different yet linked families that are stalked and haunted by a demonic presences often known as “Tobi”. The films swing between sequels and prequels and build the lore of “Tobi” and its existence to haunt these people.
Verdict: The first is excellent, as terrifying as any good horror film, using the found footage technique to fantastic effect. The following films don’t ever quite match up to the first, with the barely audible noises adding an intense creepiness, and the camera angles that build with suggestive shadows that plant seeds of fear. The series is worth a watch, but the first film may be enough to set you on edge for a while.
Check out DOTT’s Film Club – Paranormal Activity.

The Poughkeepsie Tapes
Released: 2007
Director: John Erick Dowdle
Synopsis: When a house is raided in Poughkeepsie, New York, police discover hundreds of video tapes, mainly snuff films, chronicling the depraved actions of a serial killer.
Verdict: Coming soon

R

REC quadrilogy (Spanish)
Released: 2007-2014
Director: Jaume Balagueró/Paco Plaza
Synopsis: While reporting from the night shift at a fire station, news reporter Ángela (Manuela Velasco) heads out to an apartment building with the crew where there has been a mysterious outbreak affecting the building’s occupants. Following these events, the outbreak spreads to other areas and people.
Verdict: REC and REC 2 are excellent films, full of suspense, horror and shocking revelations. The other two films that round out the quadrilogy aren’t nearly as good, with number four being particularly disappointing, not to mention unnecessary. Best to also avoid the American remakes, Quarantine and Qurantine 2: Terminal. 4/5

T

Troll Hunter (Norwegian: Trolljegeren)
Released: 2010
Director: André Øvredal
Synopsis: When a series of apparent bear killings draws their curiosity, a group of students head to the forest to find out what is going on. While there, they follow a hunter, only to discover that he is hunting something much, much bigger than bears.
Verdict: A great play on the classic Nordic folklore of trolls that features great performances, human and troll alike, with some fun dry humour mixed in with the terror of finding massive trolls out in the Norwegian wilderness. The shaky camera style can make you feel a little motion sick in this one, but if you can get past that, it’s an entertaining thriller. 4/5

The Tunnel
Released: 2011
Director: Carlo Ledesma
Synopsis: As New South Wales suffers a drought, the government opts to recycle water found in abandoned tunnels beneath Sydney. But when the plan suddenly falls through and the goverment pulls out amidst rumours of homeless people going missing in the tunnels, a journalist and her crew take it upon themselves to find out what the government is trying to cover up in the tunnels.
Verdict: The premise is good and it has a good set up, however the intimate and claustrophobic atmosphere isn’t used as well as it could have been. Unlike most other found footage films, in which the filmmakers have ‘diasappeared’, this one frames it as interviews with the survivors, which takes away a big aspect of this genre being full of mystery and based on fear of the unknown. 3/5

U

Unfriended
Released: 2014
Director: Levan Gabriadze
Synopsis: When a group of teenage friends gather for a Skype call, they begin to realise that something else is present on their call, a presence that means them all harm due to their own awful actions.
Verdict: This is one film that really screams Millennial/Gen Z, as it utilises something very familiar to them and previously used (and still used but perhaps not so much) for connection with friends and family and turns it into a weapon used against them. It was executed well, even if the story is rather unoriginal, as it gives a new framework to the neverending tale of bullying, abuse and suicide. 3/5

V

V/H/S series
Released: 2012-present
Synopsis: A horror anthology franchise that delves into multiple sub-genres of horror, from abuse to murders, vampires to aliens, hauntings to stalkings, and beyond. Each film features multiple shorts that are linked via a framing episode that usually consists of the discovery of some bizarre VHS tapes that affect peoples’ behaviour, or interwoven with an episodic story.
Verdict: The series is a wobbly one. The first three entries are a bizarre mix of creepy tales that come across like a teenage boy’s weird wet dreams, while the latter five, considered more of a reboot, finally feature female writers and directors and stories that are able move the series away from the weak gratuity of the first three, providing more well-rounded story-telling while retaining much of the scares and gore that the series is known for, taking things much further. 3/5
Read the Tiny Tapes V/H/S Halloween review.