Found Footage is now a huge sub-genre of Horror which has crossed over to show blockbuster potential in films such as Cloverfield and Chronicle, but before that it was The Blair Witch Project which was widely considered to be the first of its kind.
In truth, its a trope which has been utilised on many occasions before Eduardo Sanchez & Daniel Myrick's classic horror, but without the same fame & success. Films such as the Belgian student film turned cult horror classic Man Bites Dog spring to mind, but Tony Bicat's SKINFLICKER is one of the earliest examples that I've seen.
This 1973 41min short is a suspenseful and at times unsettling film about a trio of radicals who plot to kidnap & murder a public figure, and record themselves doing so as a protest against what they deem to be 'tyrants and oppressors' in order to fight for a better world.
The film captures its violence in a uniquely harrowing way, using silence effectively during some scenes, and overall it's a worthy watch for anyone who wants to trace the potential origins of the found footage genre. It feels dirty and grubby in an oddly satisfying way due to it's decidedly (and purposely) cheap film-work, editing and locations. This is all propped up with some genuinely great acting from it's main stars.
7/10.
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