12 Underrated Found-Footage Horror Movies
2. Noroi: The Curse (2005)
No other country does ghosts, demons and folklore quite like Japan, but it's still rare to see the country's filmmakers delve into found-footage. That's what makes this underrated gem so astounding, as it's one of the best examples of the sub-genre you can find anywhere.
Noroi: The Curse patches together the footage of a documentarian as he investigates a string of supernatural events connecting to the legend of an ancient demon. His encounters seem chaotic and bizarre initially, but as the documentary continues, the mystery unfolds.
It's an unflinching film with harsh imagery and a deliberately ugly visual style, combining grainy reality tv-show footage with handheld cameras and sit-down interviews. The story also unravels organically as the chaotic introduction of so many elements in the first act comes together perfectly towards the end, creating a shocking film with a great mystery, solid characters and a terrifying payoff.
Overall, it's a compelling movie that is severely underappreciated in the western market, having not even received a DVD/Blu-ray release in the US.