Documentary-style horror movies and stories can be the scariest of them all. There is nothing like something that seems to document real events. Whether it is a nonfiction story that claims to be real, or it is a movie that is done in a way in which it removes a certain layer of doubt… it tricks the mind because the style is what we all believe to be factual.
Another type that may be considered “docuhorror” are documentaries that are on horror topics. These include The Nightmare and Scary Stories.
The subgenre is synonymous with what is often called “found footage” horror movies, but those found footage movies can be considered a component of the broader docuhorror subgenre (it’s just that sometimes it is the main part). Examples of documentary-style horror movies include Lake Mungo, The Blair Witch Project, and Paranormal Activity.
Cody Meirick on November 1, 2023