i_buy_most_things at 2011-01-14 21:24:39:

I'll never understand why so many people like these types of movies. All they seem to be are pop-out scares.

As in anything popping out for a quick easy scare. Sure you're going to jump but it's not because what's jumping out is scary - a fluffy bunny jumping out of the grass into the camera would make people jump all the same.

But I guess we all have our opinions...

Scott at 2011-01-15 08:18:28:

@ibmt: Does raise a practical question: Why are these found film movies so popular? Going back to Blair Witch that's over a decade now. Has to be some key dynamics that work in terms of viewers.

Jeff at 2011-01-15 10:51:21:

It's brilliant marketing, really. When I first saw the Paranormal Activity campaign I certainly felt a need to see it... In fact, I was one of the rubes who signed the online form to "help bring it to your town." (yeah right, like it wouldn't have made it here anyway...)

I think the IDEA of these films are far more compelling than the films themselves... which, ultimately, takes us back to the days of William Castle... 13 Ghosts, House on Haunted Hill, The Tingler. The guy, through his gimmicks and trailers, made you think you were going to have the bloody pants scared right off you... only to have mostly a semi-lackluster night at the movies punctuated by guys running around the aisles in sheets, skeletons on strings, and, if you were really lucky, having your ass zapped by a electric buzzer planted in your seat cushion. (see Joe Dante's brilliant "MATINEE" for more on this subject).

In essence, everything that's old is new again. I don't intrinsically have a problem with this whole found-footage thing. I just kinda' wish they were better movies, y'know?