Found footage films have become synonymous with horror, and for good reason Their raw, unpolished style gives them a more visceral feel, as if they are happening in real time Of course, the shaky camerawork and amateurish images may not be for everyone, but there is something chilling about watching this kind of film, and it is best experienced at this time of year, with Halloween just around the corner

For those who want to experience this incredibly tense subgenre, we have compiled a list of seven of the best found footage films currently available for streaming on the best services Grab your nightly snack and get ready to watch some true horror on the small screen

Warning: you may have trouble sleeping after watching some of these

Screen-capture style films usually always fail because most of the story takes place through a computer webcam For example, “Unfriended” and “Friend Request” are entertaining enough to watch, but their workmanship and character development are less than stellar: a tense horror set (and made) during the blockade of COVID-19; a “horror film” set during the blockade of COVID-19; a “horror film” set during the blockade of COVID-19; and a “horror film” set during the blockade of COVID-19

The “hosts” are six friends who decide to perform a virtual seance on Zoom Seeking a unique way to pass the time, they hire a medium to guide them through the session However, things quickly take a dark turn when one of the friends downplays the process by pretending to be in contact with a fake spirit This act opens the door for an actual malevolent entity to invade their call

Of course, as you might expect, supernatural forces begin to possess each participant, manifesting horrific events in their respective homes The entire film unfolds through zooming calls, making you feel like you are participating in the group's desperate struggle to survive the night

Watch on Shudder

It would be incorrect not to include “Cloverfield” on this list, given that it was one of the first found footage films I saw Angela and Pablo are confronted with the frightening fact that a mysterious infection is spreading through the building, turning people into rabid zombie-like creatures

Watch on Tubi

Those who enjoy the gentle tension leading up to a disturbing and shocking climax should watch “Creep” next weekend Its minimalist approach is noteworthy, as it focuses primarily on two characters and their interactions

In “Creep,” Aaron (Patrick Blythe), a freelance photographer, applies for a job ad on Craigslist for a one-day film shoot The ad was placed by a man named Josef (Marc Duplass), who says he is terminally ill and wants to make a video diary for his unborn child

As Aaron films Josef, he quickly becomes concerned by Josef's increasingly strange and disturbing behavior Josef's demands become increasingly bizarre and invasive, and Aaron begins to suspect that something is seriously wrong The moments when Josef's true nature and intentions are revealed definitely make the film worth watching

Watch on Netflix

One of the most famous (but somehow the most underrated) of found footage films is probably “Paranormal Activity” I made the mistake of watching this movie when I was younger, and it haunted me for days Paranormal Activity” is without a doubt one of the best found footage films ever made

The film revolves around Katie (Katie Featherstone) and Micah (Micah Throat), a young couple who have recently moved into a new home Katie believes she is possessed by a supernatural entity, and the couple decides to use a video camera to record the spooky goings-on

As the days go by, the eerie phenomena become increasingly bizarre The couple sets the camera to record while they sleep in an attempt to capture evidence of the curse The footage reveals increasingly sinister and supernatural activity in their home, including strange noises, objects moving on their own, and disturbing events that escalate over time

Watch on Max

When it comes to found footage films, The Blair Witch Project is probably the first film to pioneer the genre The film follows three students, Heather (Heather Donahue), Mike (Michael C Williams), and Joshua (Joshua Leonard), as they set out to make a documentary about the local legend of the “Blair Witch” in the Black Hills Forest near Burkittsville, Maryland in a very spooky film

While investigating the mysterious lore, they get lost in the woods Over the course of several days, strange and terrifying events occur, including eerie nocturnal noises and a missing crew member The film is presented as “recovered footage” and makes us believe that what we are seeing is real, including the group's confusion, fear, and paranoia

View on Peacock

Perhaps the most underrated (or even unheard of) of found footage films is Vigit This is one of M Night Shyamalan's better films, and it does not disappoint In fact, it is one of the best twist and turns you will ever see in cinema

In this horror thriller, two siblings, Becca (Olivia DeJonge) and Tyler (Ed Oxenbould), are sent to rural Pennsylvania to spend a week with their estranged grandparents, whom they have never met Becca, an aspiring filmmaker, decides to document their entire stay on camera

At first, their grandparents, “Nana” and “Pop Pop,” seem like normal, if slightly eccentric, old men But as the days go by, the children begin to notice increasingly disturbing and strange behavior, especially at night

View at Max