The Found Footage Phenomenon tracks the untold story of the found footage film, from its origins before and within Cannibal Holocaust, The Blair Witch Project and The Last Broadcast, beyond its boom in the late noughties with Paranormal Activity, Cloverfield and REC. The documentary showcases how found footage horror became a global sensation with films such as Kōji Shiraishi’s NOROI: The Curse, Shirome and Occult, The Paz Brothers’ JeruZalem, André Øvredal’s Trollhunter and also the differences between how the British and American film industries took to the genre respectively. Found footage spans four decades already and films such as Host, Death of a Vlogger and Spree have proven that it’s not done with us yet.

For in-depth thoughts on The Found Footage Phenomenon, please see my colleague Mike Vaughn’s review from its original festival release here.

Video Quality

The Found Footage Phenomenon comes to Blu-Ray from Shudder with a terrific HD master which holds up every bit as well as one might hope. This feature consists of a mixture of newer interviews along with archival clips from these features plus other odds and ends to help round out the presentation. Any footage from the movies seems to be derived from the best source available at the time of this film’s completion. Due to the nature of the “found footage” aesthetic, this is a bit of a mixed bag, but most of it holds up well. The new talking head interview segments look crisp and clear with natural skin tones and some wonderfully detailed facial features from the stable filming locations. The colors on display in the footage have a robust vibrancy to them. The encoding holds firm with no digital nuisances. No one should be let down by this Blu-Ray presentation.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray disc comes with a strong DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that captures the intended experience without a hitch. This is first and foremost an interview showcase with a significant amount of talking heads to go along with some footage from the array of films. Dialogue originates from the center channel as you get anecdotes shared in a controlled environment. The score comes through with a favorable fidelity that fills the room. The material is not exactly earth-shaking but sounds great within its ambitions. There are no unwanted digital anomalies, drop-outs, or other issues spotted. This track delivers on all fronts. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Finding A Phenomenon – An Interview with Directors Phillip Escott & Sarah Appleton: A new 28-minute conversation with the filmmakers in which they discuss the origins of the project, their relationship with found footage films, the process of producing the film, and more.

Deleted Scene: The Last Horror Movie – An Interview with Julian Richards: A ten-minute interview with the director behind The Last Horror Movie in which he speaks about his experiences with that film.

Extended Interviews: A collection of unused interview segments totaling 102 minutes of material is provided.

- André Øvredal – Director, Trollhunter (2010) (5:20)

- Carles Torrens – Director, Apartment 143/ Emergo (2011) (5:26)

- Clif Prowse & Derek Lee – Directors, Afflicted (2013) (7:20)

- Dean Alioto – Director, The McPherson Tape (1989) (7:32)

- Eduardo Sánchez – Director, The Blair Witch Project (1999) (7:19)

- Jaume Balagueró – Director, [REC] (2007) (4:37)

- Koji Shiraishi – Director, Noroi: The Curse (2005) (6:50)

- Lance Weiler – Co-Director, The Last Broadcast (1998) (8:50)

- Michael Goi – Director, Megan Is Missing (2011) (6:17)

- Oren Peli – Director, Paranormal Activity (2007) (4:57)

- Patrick Bryce – Director, Creep (2014) (5:32)

- Yoav and Doron Paz – Directors, JeruZalem (2015) (4:50)

- Richard Raaphorst – Director, Frankenstein’s Army (2013) (5:57)

- Robert Savage – Director, Host (2020) (3:27)

- Ruggero Deodato – Director, Cannibal Holocaust (1980) (12:02)

- Stefan Avalos – Co-Director, The Last Broadcast (1998) (5:30)

Booklet: A multi-page booklet featuring the essay “Damaged Reality: A History of Found Footage Horror” from film critic Sam Cohen is provided here. This piece gives a well-rounded analysis of the subgenre.

Final Thoughts

The Found Footage Phenomenon is an entertaining look at one of the most distinct horror movements we have experienced in recent history. The genre is not as hot as it once was, but this documentary does a great job of explaining why it made such an impact and the artistic merits of the format. The inclusion of both found footage filmmakers and film historians allows for a more well-rounded presentation that makes you feel as if you are learning something rather than just hearing personal reflections. It delivers exactly what it sets out to do, so those intrigued by the topic should have a good time. Shudder has released a Blu-Ray featuring a respectable A/V presentation and a momentous assortment of special features. Recommended

The Found Footage Phenomenon is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Shudder and OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.