10 Horror Movie "Facts" That Aren't Actually True
3. The Blair Witch Project Was The First Found-Footage Horror
The Blair Witch Project was directly responsible for popularising found-footage horror. Considering the fake documentary made over $4,000 for every $1 put into it, directors realised they could earn a fortune by making similarly styled films with a dirt-cheap budget.
The Blair Witch Project appeared so authentic, many viewers assumed it was genuine. It was so convincing, the parents of the "victims" received sympathy cards! Because of its influence, The Blair Witch Project is often hailed as "the first found-footage horror".
But Cannibal Holocaust, which was released in 1980, was the first film that was styled like a documentary. In this "true story", a film crew try to record a docudrama about a tribe of Amazonian cannibals. Upon encountering them, the savages kidnap, torture, and devour the crew. People were so convinced it was the real deal, director Ruggero Deodato, was brought to court for murder since he didn't stop the slaughter of the victims. The actors had to show up in court to prove they were very much alive.
The Blair Witch Project's style may not be as original as one once believed but it definitely revived the found-footage genre with movies like Paranormal Activity, [Rec], and Cloverfield.