Studies suggest that human laughter might have evolved as a way of communicating that a perceived source of danger is actually harmless. That’s why it makes sense that horror comedies were invented almost immediately after actual horror films, as there’s no better way of dealing with fear than laughing at media-induced collective nightmares. This ancient […]
Studies suggest that human laughter might have evolved as a way of communicating that a perceived source of danger is actually harmless. That’s why it makes sense that horror comedies were invented almost immediately after actual horror films, as there’s no better way of dealing with fear than laughing at media-induced collective nightmares.
This ancient custom even applies to more recent and immersive sub-genres, as not even the visceral scares of Found Footage movies are immune to the occasional dose of dark humor. With that in mind, we’ve decided to come up with a list recommending six Found Footage horror-comedies for your viewing pleasure. After all, not every POV horror flick needs to be an ultra serious compilation of glitches and jump-scares.
While this list is obviously based on personal opinion, we’ll be limiting entries to original Found Footage movies only – which means no spoofs or parodies like A Haunted House or even Cartoon Network’s The Scooby-Doo Project. That being said, don’t forget to comment below with your own POV comedy favorites.
I’ve always found the idea of Bigfoot-hunting to be inherently funny, but very few films focus on the more ridiculous side of modern-day cryptozoology. Ricardo Herrera’s The Bigfoot Project is a rare exception, with the movie telling the story of a slightly incompetent group of filmmakers as they look for signs of the mighty Sasquatch in the Georgian wilderness.
While this is obviously a dirt-cheap production (meaning that there’s very little Bigfoot until the unforgettable climax), there’s still plenty of memorable banter on display here. The film also features a hilarious performance by Andy Goldenberg, who older readers might recognize as YouTube veteran Goldentusk!
All in all, this is a fun little alternative to darker Sasquatch movies like Exists and Willow Creek.
5. Tex Montana Will Survive (2015)
As a kid, I always wondered what would happen if one of those one-man survivor shows ever went horribly wrong, and Tex Montana Will Survive is proof that I’m not the only one! In this micro-budget feature, The Battery director Jeremy Gardner explores the dark side of Reality TV by having the viewer be complicit in the suffering of a hilariously underqualified outdoorsman (played by Gardner himself) as he attempts to prove he’s not a fraud by recording an extreme survival show all by himself.
While the film itself is a great time in spite (or perhaps because) of its shoestring budget, the best thing about the experience is knowing that Gardner opted to release this survival romp through creative commons, meaning that the entire movie is free to watch, edit and remix in perpetuity! And if you like this one, don’t forget to check out the director’s paranoid monster flick After Midnight.
4. They’re Watching (2016)
What do you get when two ex-Nickelodeon writers team up for a cinematic love-letter to the horror genre? Why, you get 2016’s oddball horror-comedy They’re Watching. Following the crew of a home-improvement Reality TV show as they travel to Eastern Europe for a very special episode, the film soon reveals a unique blend of exaggerated genre tropes and cartoon-inspired antics.
The movie’s peculiar sense of humor likely won’t work for everyone (though I personally laughed like a mad-man all the way through that bonkers finale), but I think They’re Watching still ranks among the very best Found Footage endeavors because of its lovingly satirical – and often atmospheric – take on classic folk horror.
3. Incident at Loch Ness (2004)
There’s an inherent element of metafictional commentary in nearly every example of Found Footage / Mockumentary cinema, but some films are more meta than others. For instance, Zak Penn’s 2004 Incident at Loch Ness absolutely relishes the opportunity to comment on the very nature of documentary filmmaking while also making fun of the genre’s many tropes.
While most of the flick’s understated humor comes from the overall absurdity of seeing a traditionally serious filmmaker like Werner Herzog support something as absurd as a hunt for a mythological cryptid (as well as a handful of hilarious celebrity cameos), Incident at Loch Ness also stands out by featuring one of the only truly intimidating depictions of Nessie on the big screen.
2. Deadstream (2022)
Described by both fans and critics as the demonic lovechild of The Evil Dead and Paranormal Activity, Vanessa and Joseph Winter’s debut feature is one of the most entertaining entries on this list despite taking place entirely within a single dilapidated house. It also boasts some kick-ass practical effects, though I’d rather not get into any details in order to avoid spoiling flick’s gruesome slapstick.
Of course, Deadstream only works because of Joseph Winter’s Bruce Campbell-inspired performance as our disgraced leading man, with the actor really selling his character’s desperation even when he’s acting opposite inanimate objects in a dark room.
My only real gripe with this one is the fact that we still haven’t seen a follow-up feature by the same filmmaking duo!
1. Dashcam (2021)
Rob Savage’s other pandemic-produced Found Footage film, Dashcam was dismissed by most audiences and critics back when it was first released due to the flick’s unwillingness to tone down its bizarre main character. While I think the backlash had more to do with the movie coming out while topics like masking and social distancing were still an all-too-common source of conflict, the film still expertly manages to explore its political undertones by combining oddball humor with some genuinely disturbing imagery.
Personally, I actually prefer this low-brow take on demonic cults and bloody road-trips to the more traditional frights of Host, but that’s because I found Annie Hardy’s extreme views remarkably entertaining despite disagreeing with pretty much everything she says (though Annie later clarified that she’s obviously playing a fictionalized and heavily exaggerated version of herself here).
