People are inherently curious, especially when it comes to witnessing a recreation of real-life events, no matter how realistic they may be. Take, for example, the true crime genre's situation. If a crime series is based on real events, it surpasses even the most well-crafted fiction. Morbid curiosity is a reality, and yes, films and TV shows have capitalized on it. Let's delve into the films that have thrived on this phenomenon together.
Poughkeepsie, New York. Law enforcement raids a dilapidated house in a small town and finds over 800 tapes containing the gruesome acts of a serial killer named Edward Carver. But these are not simple murders. Carver goes to great lengths to torture his victims and always remains anonymous. As the police continue to review the tapes, they realize that the killer may have revealed where the bodies are hidden.
Marc Evans' 2002 horror-thriller film 'My Little Eye' turns five young adults into contestants on a reality show. They are offered $1 million cash to spend six months in a house in the middle of nowhere without leaving. However, as they are constantly filmed by security cameras, their minds begin to deteriorate. When strange events start to occur, their chances of winning the money plummet.
The Canadian horror-thriller film 'The Conspiracy' from 2012 is one of the most intriguing films you haven't seen. The film follows two filmmakers, Jim and Aaron, who decide to make a film about a fascinating topic they find on the internet. Terrance G. is a paranoid man obsessed with conspiracy theories and has evidence of the existence of the Tarsus Club, an elite group that rules the world in the style of the Illuminati. Terrance disappears, and Aaron and Jim fall down the rabbit hole of a mysterious organization that contacts them and starts making demands.
'The Blair Witch Project,' released in 1999, took audiences on a wild journey by claiming to be a true documentary. The film contained footage of Heather Donahue, Michael Williams, and Joshua Leonard documenting their experiences in Burkittsville while making a documentary about a local legend. Contrary to its name, the film delves into the fundamentals of universal fear, offering a very realistic portrayal. If this doesn't scare you, you might not have blood running through your veins.
In 'Unfriended: Dark Web,' the sequel to the horror film 'Unfriended,' Matias picks up an abandoned laptop in a cafe. When he opens it, he starts receiving messages demanding him to return it. He realizes the hardware may be connected to the dark web. Suddenly, Matias and his friends become part of a conspiracy game where a powerful organization may be behind it, subjecting them to all sorts of twisted games.
M. Night Shyamalan's film 'The Visit' tells the story of Becca and Tyler, two siblings who agree to spend the weekend with their grandparents while their mother goes on vacation with her new boyfriend. Initially, it seems like a great bonding experience, but they soon discover the true nature of the elderly couple: they are not the loving grandparents they should be, putting Becca and Tyler's well-being at risk.
The horror-thriller film 'The Den' takes viewers into a seemingly ordinary setting where horror stories can come to life, all within a computer screen trick format. This time, the victim is Elizabeth Benton, a sociology student who constantly logs into a chat site called The Den, where almost everyone's behaviors are under scrutiny. She eventually witnesses a crime but fails to cover her tracks. Through the use of her screen and various footage, we witness her encounter with snuff film enthusiasts.
In Stefan Avalos and Lance Weiler's 'The Last Broadcast,' we witness the investigation of real or fictional murders. On a fateful night, a man goes missing, and two people are found brutally beaten to death. These individuals were part of a documentary team filming an episode of public broadcasting about the Jersey Devil. The events of that night are documented on film reels found by the documentary director, who also serves as the film's narrator.
'Hangman' is a straightforward film. It simply tells the story of a family followed by a man known as Hangman. When they go on vacation, Hangman breaks into their home, installs numerous hidden cameras, and creates a room for himself in the attic. But he's not very clever about it. He wants them to know he's there. He leaves clues for them to find, playing mind games with them as the situation intensifies. The film opens with a scene revealing that this isn't his first job. If the Millers don't do something about the invasion, they'll share the same fate, and when we say you'll shiver at this idea, trust us.
'Lake Mungo' is a mockumentary that deals with the grieving process of the Palmer family as they try to cope with the sudden death of their young daughter Alice, whose body is found in a lake after drowning. The Palmer family cannot come to terms with Alice's death, but as they investigate, they realize she may have been familiar with the idea of an early death. The family begins to experience strange occurrences, but it turns out it's all part of a prank orchestrated by Alice's brother Mathew. Until the prank ends and the truth about Alice's death is revealed.