15 Horror Movies You Really Shouldn't Watch Alone

10. The Blair Witch Project (1999)

The Blair Witch Project may be a fairly divisive film among the mainstream, but it is rightly credited with popularising the found footage subgenre, even if this tale of three filmmakers venturing into the Burkittsville woods in search of the titular folk legend is so much more than that.

If you're old enough to remember this movie's release, it was propelled to success largely thanks to a ground-breaking viral marketing campaign, which convinced millions that the footage was in fact real, and the three stars themselves were actually still missing.

That might seem laughable to the switched-on audiences of 2018, but two decades ago, watching The Blair Witch Project was an utterly nerve-shredding experience, and even viewed through a modern lens, it's still bracingly effective.

From the naturalistic performances to the well-placed morsels of lore and that heart-stoppingly terrifying ending, it's a classic example of imagination and ideas trumping a huge budget.

Just don't even bother with either of the sequels, though.