After last night's release of Paranormal Activity 4, PurpleMonkeyBird takes a look at some of the greatest films within a much-maligned subgenre.
5 Troll Hunter (Trolljegeren)
A group of students set out to make a film about mysterious bear deaths in the Norwegian woods, and instead discover that government-appointed Troll Hunter’s have been working for years to fight dangerous mythical beasts. Irreverent and knowing fun, with surprisingly convincing special effects.
4 The Blair Witch Project
The genuine frustration and terror experienced by a group of teenagers shooting a paranormal documentary whilst lost in the woods, coupled with a perfect PR campaign, led Blair Witch to break box office records upon its release. A simplistic, yet chilling, teenage rite of passage.
3 [REC]
A documentary on firefighters suddenly becomes a pulsating fight for survival after a seemingly viral outbreak in a tower block. Ending and sequels aside, [REC] is an incredibly immersive and exciting zombie horror, which excites, terrifies and outrages in equal measure.
2 Cannibal Holocaust
The original ‘found footage’ movie was banned in the UK for unforgivable scenes of animal cruelty; and led to the arrest of director Ruggero Deodato in his native Italy due to the film’s vérité ultraviolence leaving many to believe they had watched a genuine snuff film. Not for the faint hearted, Cannibal Holocaust’s commentary on the amorality of the sensationalist news media makes it as relevant today as it is shocking.
1 Man Bites Dog (C'est Arrivé Près De Chez Vous)
Similar to Cannibal Holocaust, Man Bites Dog illustrates the possible depths to which the gutter press will stoop for a scoop. As a film crew shoot a documentary about a psychopathic killer, they are gradually dragged into his world of nihilistic violence, mania and contempt for human life. A challengingly dark, yet charismatic, central performance from Rémy Belvaux makes for an uncomfortable and interesting cult thriller.
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