From Blair Witch to Archive 81: horror’s love affair with ‘found footage’

Netflix's new eight-part series is the latest of many in the genre to employ 'real' footage to chilling effect.
Found footage plays a key role in Archive 81 Image: Clifton Prescod/Netflix

Sarah Baker, Auckland University of Technology

Archive 81 pushes the style further, creating an innovative form that changes the use of found footage. The show is broad in its use of horror, the narrative covering a demonic cult, a pan dimensional god called Kaelego and supernatural mystery that bends space and time. It is the use of found footage that cements the various horror/thriller themes in the program.

Unlock Padlock Icon

Unlock this content?

Access this content and more