13 Found Footage Films That’ll Make You Feel Like You’re Right There Watching It Play Out

    The most intriguing sub-genre of 'em all.

    Christopher Hudspeth
    by Christopher Hudspeth

    BuzzFeed Staff

    1. Chronicle

    20th Century Fox

    What it makes you feel like you're experiencing firsthand: Hanging out with some pals who unexpectedly stumble into superpowers. You'll wish you had some special abilities too, especially once you begin to see what happens when they fall into the wrong hands.

    2. The Poughkeepsie Tapes

    Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

    What it makes you feel like you're experiencing firsthand: You're right there witnessing a psycho killer commit gruesome acts, but you can't do anything to help the victims, no matter how loud you yell at the television.

    3. The Visit

    What it makes you feel like you're experiencing firsthand: Going on a trip to visit some kids' creepy-ass grandparents, who get aggressively scarier each day.

    4. District 9

    TriStar Pictures

    What it makes you feel like you're experiencing firsthand: It's as if some aliens arrived a while back and were forcefully integrated into human civilization. Now, you get to be part of the film crew who is making a documentary about 'em.

    5. Cloverfield

    Paramount Pictures

    What it makes you feel like you're experiencing firsthand: A GIANT CREATURE IS ATTACKING NEW YORK AND YOU'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CHAOS TRYING TO SURVIVE.

    6. Project Almanac

    Paramount Pictures

    What it makes you feel like you're experiencing firsthand: Hanging with a group of high schoolers doing typical teenage stuff. Oh, and time traveling to the past super casually, not worrying about tearing a hole in the fabric of time or whatever.

    7. Project X

    Warner Bros. Pictures

    What it makes you feel like you're experiencing firsthand: Being in attendance for the most epic high school party, only you get to silently observe and don't have to actually deal with any human interaction.

    8. REC

    Filmax International

    What it makes you feel like you're experiencing firsthand: You're in the early stages of what's sure to be a massive, lengthy, zombie infestation. It's basically an episode of Fear The Walking Dead that takes place in Spain.

    9. Unfriended

    What it makes you feel like you're experiencing firsthand: Watching high school drama unfolding on a Macbook screen, only it's way more hardcore than your run-of-the-mill teenage beef.

    10. Paranormal Activity

    Paramount Pictures

    What it makes you feel like you're experiencing firsthand: Witnessing some unlucky folks experience all of the scary scenarios you imagine when you hear a bump in the night.

    11. The Last Exorcism

    Lionsgate

    What it makes you feel like you're experiencing firsthand: It's like you're hanging out on a farm, which could be scenic and relaxing if it weren't for someone's demon-possessed daughter attacking people.

    12. Phoenix Forgotten

    Cinelou Films

    What it makes you feel like you're experiencing firsthand: You're on a trippy journey in the wrong part of the Phoenix desert with some dangerously curious folks, and some very not chill aliens lurking.

    13. V/H/S

    Magnet Releasing

    What it makes you feel like you're experiencing firsthand: Ever have one of those nights where you have multiple, horrifying nightmares every time you fall back asleep? It's exactly like that.