10 Recent And Upcoming Found Footage Horror Movies You MUST Watch
From V/H/S/Halloween to Backrooms and beyond, these found footage films are essential viewing.
Found footage films have a long history of being some of the most fascinating and controversial works in cinema. While the likes of Man Bites Dog and The Blair Witch Project have been championed for pioneering and popularising the genre, 1980 exploitation flick Cannibal Holocaust is still regarded as being one of the most infamous films ever made.
Over the years, the genre has become home to horror icons like Paranormal Activity and Cloverfield as well as cult classics including Grave Encounters, Noroi: The Curse, and Lake Mungo, all of which are required viewing for any horror fan. Although found footage films aren't as ubiquitous as they once were, the rise of the internet era has given this genre a new lease on life, with Host, Deadstream, and Spree being just some recent examples.
This style of filmmaking isn't going anywhere anytime soon. As filmmakers keep finding new and intriguing ways to reinvent the formula, audiences can look forward to seeing a lot more unique and terrifying offerings.
The past few years have seen some of the best and most visceral genre entries to date, and there are a lot of exciting projects currently in the pipeline.
10. Primal Darkness
Written by, directed by, and starring Dillon Brown, indie flick Primal Darkness arrived on horror streaming platform Found TV in April 2026 after premiering at Unnamed Footage Festival in March.
Drawing inspiration from The Blair Witch Project and Bone Tomahawk, the plot follows Cole (Brown), the host of a popular online hunting show, who's hired to get rid of a predator that's been causing problems in the area. As Cole explores the remote wilderness of Nevada's Big Smoky Valley, events soon take a disturbing turn when he discovers footage depicting the final moments of two anthropologists who recently went missing.
Presented as video evidence for an ongoing police investigation, the feature has a rawness to it that grounds it in reality. Scenes of Cole reflecting on his recent struggles create a sense of intimacy, while visual and audio glitches add an air of unease. Although some scenes can be heavy-handed with their exposition, the isolated setting combined with its slow-burn pace and unsettling imagery results in a sinister atmosphere that continues to tighten its grip.
Culminating in a final act that's as intense as it is ferocious, Primal Darkness is the definition of a hidden gem that horror fans must seek out.