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Found-footage horror movies are a relatively niche subgenre, but they form an important part of the landscape. Bringing documentary-style realism to terrifying tales of psychological and supernatural scares, these movies have earned a place in the hearts of horror fans everywhere. And since realism is one of the genre’s key aspects, it’s not surprising that the best found-footage horror films are often the ones unfiltered enough to earn an R rating.
These are not the movies you want to watch with impressionable viewers, though some company may still be advisable. From landmark classics to contemporary favorites and more obscure, even divisive gems, here’s our ranked selection of some of the best R-rated found-footage horror movies ever made.
8
‘As Above, So Below’ (2014)
Written and directed by John Erick Dowdle, As Above, So Below follows a documentary crew as they explore the Paris Catacombs in search of the philosopher’s stone. Instead, they find supernatural horrors inspired by Dante Alighieri’s nine circles of Hell. The film stars Perdita Weeks, Ben Feldman, Edwin Hodge, François Civil, Marion Lambert, and Ali Marhyar.
As Above, So Below holds the rare distinction of being the first film shot in the actual Catacombs of Paris. The movie was critically panned when it first premiered, but it had a decent box office run and developed a cult following after its streaming release. Sure, some parts of the film are a bit campy, but it’s still a great horror adventure with an immersive set-up, a good cast, and a claustrophobia-inducing setting that it utilizes to full effect. It’s not a movie for everyone, but it’s an underrated horror flick that will definitely convince you never to go exploring around caves and/or human remains.
7
‘The Taking of Deborah Logan’ (2014)
Directed by Adam Robitel in his directorial debut, which he co-wrote with Gavin Heffernan, The Taking of Deborah Logan is a found-footage supernatural horror film that follows three students in Virginia. Trying to make a documentary about Alzheimer’s patients, they discover a sinister force when they encounter an elderly patient named Deborah Logan (Jill Larson). Anne Ramsay, Michelle Ang, Ryan Cutrona, Anne Bedian, and more appear in key roles.
A fresh spin on the possession horror genre, The Taking of Deborah Logan is a surprisingly psychological film that effectively uses standard found-footage tropes to explore the title character’s troubled mental state. Further elevated by Larson’s chilling performance, it’s a disturbing and spooky movie with a gripping plot you can’t look away from (even when you really want to). The movie received a smattering of accolades, including a Fangoria Chainsaw Award nomination, but it has remained largely underrated despite its expertly crafted horrors.
6
‘Hell House LLC’ (2015)
Written and directed by Stephen Cognetti, Hell House LLC may sound (and even look) like a real documentary, but it is a work of fiction. The faux-doc investigates an incident in the small upstate New York town of Abaddon, which is haunted by the mysterious deaths of 15 visitors and employees in one night at a mysterious hotel, which was set up as a haunted house attraction called (you guessed it) Hell House. Trying to find the real cause of their deaths, the “documentary” crew uncovers photographs, film footage, and the only known survivor, who finally reveals the truth about what happened.
A supernatural horror mystery, Hell House LLC is a chilling and effective addition to the found-footage subgenre that makes for the perfect Halloween watch. It’s technically unrated, but it certainly deserves an R. The film premiered at the 2015 Telluride Horror Show, earning generally favorable reviews. The movie has since expanded into a franchise with the release of four sequels: Hell House LLC II: The Abaddon Hotel (2018), Hell House LLC III: Lake of Fire (2019), Hell House LLC Origins: The Carmichael Manor (2023), and 2025’s Hell House LLC: Lineage, the final film in the series.
5
‘V/H/S/94’ (2021)
V/H/S/94 is a found-footage horror anthology that’s the fourth installment in the V/H/S franchise. A soft reboot of the series, the film consists of four segments directed by Chloe Okuno, Steven Kotzanski, Simon Barrett, Timo Tjahjanto, and Ryan Prows, linked by a frame narrative written and directed by Jennifer Reeder. The stories, conceived by franchise returnees David Bruckner and Brad Miska, include a SWAT team raiding a warehouse, a TV news report about an urban legend, a funeral home worker hosting a nighttime wake, a man whose body has been replaced with robotic spider-like legs, and a group of white supremacists plotting a terror attack through supernatural means.
The V/H/S franchise is a favorite among horror fans, and V/H/S/94 is often hailed as the best of the series. The movie premiered at the 2021 Fantastic Fest to critical acclaim and was later released as a Shudder Original Film, opening on the streaming service to record viewership numbers. Gory, gritty, and technically proficient, the film is a near-perfect horror anthology without a single weak segment in its collection.
4
‘Creep’ (2014)
Directed by Patrick Brice in his directorial debut, Creep is a found-footage psychological horror film co-written by Brice and Mark Duplass, who also star in the main roles. The film follows Aaron (Brice), a videographer who is hired by the eccentric Josef (Duplass) via an online ad to film his daily life for his unborn son. It’s an odd job, but once Aaron arrives at his client’s remote home, he begins to discover just how strange his client really is, and the situation quickly transitions into a violent, bizarre nightmare.
A found-footage thriller with a sharp twist, Creep has earned praise within the horror community for its well-written story and compelling performances. Drawing inspiration from classic stalker films like Misery and Fatal Attraction, the film’s biggest highlight is Duplass’ creepy titular antagonist, a performance that proves his acting talents are just as good as his filmmaking skills. The movie was critically acclaimed for its unique take on the slasher horror genre, and its success led to the release of a sequel, Creep 2, and a television series spin-off, The Creep Tapes, with a third film currently in the works.
3
‘Rec’ (2007)
Co-written and directed by Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza, Rec is a 2007 Spanish found-footage zombie movie starring Manuela Velasco as reporter Ángela Vidal. The film follows Ángela and her cameraman Pablo (Pablo Rosso) as they accompany a group of firefighters to an apartment building, where they discover a terrifying infection and are trapped inside when the authorities order a strict quarantine. Ferrán Terraza, Jorge-Yamam Serrano, David Vert, Vicente Gil, Martha Carbonell, Carlos Vicente, and more appear in supporting roles.
Widely regarded as one of the best found-footage horror films of all time, Rec premiered at the 2007 Venice International Film Festival to critical acclaim and became a commercial success after its theatrical premiere in Spain in November of the same year. It’s a contained, nightmarish film that puts audiences on a rollercoaster of terror. The movie earned several accolades, including two Goya Awards, and spawned three sequels: Rec 2, Rec 3: Genesis, and Rec 4: Apocalypse. An American remake, Quarantine, was released in 2008.
2
‘The Blair Witch Project’ (1999)
Written, directed, and edited by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 psychological horror movie that’s easily one of the most successful independent films of all time. The movie stars Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, and Joshua Leonard as three students who hike into the Appalachian Mountains to shoot a documentary about a local legend and find an unexpected supernatural power waiting for them.
The Blair Witch Project premiered at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival to critical acclaim. Audience reactions during its theatrical run were quite divided, but the film still became a sleeper hit, grossing nearly $250 million globally. The movie has since expanded into a multimedia franchise that includes novels, comics, video games, and two sequels. A terrifying found-footage movie that’s arguably the best work ever made in its genre, the film has had a lasting influence on horror cinema, inspiring countless subsequent films.
1
‘Incantation’ (2022)
Inspired by a real case of mass hysteria reported in Taiwan, Incantation is a surreal Taiwanese found-footage film directed by Kevin Ko. Tsai Hsuan-yen stars as Li Ronan, a mysterious woman who asks the viewers to help save her young daughter from an ancient curse. The film’s events unfold in a non-linear fashion, revealing that six years ago, Li Ronan broke a religious taboo and accidentally unleashed the curse of a malevolent mountain deity, which now threatens to kill her child.
A truly unique take on found-footage horror, Incantation is easily one of the most inventive films ever made in the genre, drawing viewers into the story and its supernatural terrors. The film was highly acclaimed when it premiered in March 2022 and became Taiwan’s highest-grossing horror movie of all time. With compelling performances, intricate world-building, and an intensely creepy narrative, the film is easily one of the best horror movies of the 21st century so far, and it has earned a number of awards as well.
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