Introduction by Sarah Stubbs | Bluesky | Facebook | Instagram | Letterboxd

Greetings Horrorverse readers! I’ve returned for my 3rd takeover! Third time’s the charm, as they say. Just in case you missed my last takeover or the one before that, I’m Sarah Stubbs! I’m the founder of the #100HorrorMoviesIn92Days challenge, co-host of Final Girls Feast, and Community Manager for the Chattanooga Film Festival. Long before gastro horror became my jam (pun intended), found footage and in-world camera horror were my obsession. It is still a very close second place when it comes to my favorite sub-genres of horror. 

When I was in high school, I discovered The Blair Witch Project. While I never got to see it theatrically, my vhs tape got a lot of play time. Anything and everything Blair Witch I could get my hands on, I did. I had the dossier, journal, mockumentaries, and more. From then on, I knew I would forever love the sub-genre. 

Unlike a lot of other sub-genres of horror, found footage and in-world camera has, what seems like, something for everyone. If you want supernatural, sci-fi, crime, etc, there is something for you. Personally, I lean towards supernatural and cryptids when I watch found footage because they both are topics that could be real or are far enough away from reality that I can still separate myself from whatever scares I see on screen. I still remember the first time I saw Grave Encounters at a 30 seat single screen theater, The Royale (RIP), when it played there. It was life changing. 

I hope this issue encourages you all to give found footage a shot. If you’re already a fan, I can’t imagine you won’t find a new recommendation from one us. Happy Watching! 

Make sure you’re recording… →

IN THE NEWS by Brett Petersel | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd

🃏 Dread Presents brings The Jester 2 to theaters this month
The Jester 2 will have a two-night screening event through Fathom Entertainment on September 15th and 16th. During the screenings, an exclusive look at the making of the film, along with a behind-the-scenes featurette, will be shown. Purchase tickets here.

😱📺 Scream TV’s September lineup revealed
Scream TV unveiled their September 2025 lineup for their 24/7 live channel, which can be viewed from a number of devices and online. Check it out here.

🎈 Welcome to Derry floats this October
Welcome to Derry, the prequel series to IT, which stars Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise, premieres October 26th on HBO Max. Get the full scoop on Fangoria.

🧱 Gizmo’s ready for the spotlight: LEGO set coming this October
Obviously, you can’t shine a light on Gizmo or he’ll die. That said, according to All Hallows Geek, the Gremlin star is getting its own LEGO set, which will be available on October 1st.

TIMEWARP by Bee Delores | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd

The Visit: M. Night Shyamalan's Masterpiece Turns 10

Upon rewatching The Visit this week, I was reminded of M. Night Shyamalan's utter brilliance in storytelling. He perfectly stages a creepy tale and lets it breath, building slowly until the big reveal in the third act. He's a strategic filmmaker who makes hyper-focused decisions with his characters and their motivations. He's a no-fuss writer/director, and everything is done with intention. Alongside The Village, The Visit is top-tier Shyamalan that mines familiar territory while also pushing the genre forward at lightning speed. He's in a masterclass of his very own, taking your hand and leading you through a funhouse maze of terrifying proportions.

Olivia DeJonge and Ed Oxenbould play your typical sister-brother duo, Becca and Tyler. When their grandparents, whom they've ever met, reach out to their mother (Kathryn Hahn), Becca and Tyler decide to go for a week-long visit into the country. The estate is vast, surrounding by sweeping fields and rustling woodlands. With an eye for detail, Becca mounts a documentary about their visit an documents every part of the trip. The serenity of the countryside could be good for them, but it all proves too good to be true, as they say. Things begin innocuous enough. Nana (Deanna Dunagan) and Pop Pop (Peter McRobbie) are just old recluses with oddball proclivities. Nothing to see here. That is, until the days fall into nighttime when Nana exhibits strange behaviors, like scratching doors and running around naked.

Becca and Tyler brush off these bizarre occurrences as nothing more than senile moments. They're harmless, right? Wrong. As the days unravel, Nana and Pop Pop grower more aloof, and their behavior becomes stranger and more dangerous. It's only a matter of time before the truth is exposed, and it becomes a fight for survival. Becca and Tyler quickly learn what it means to really live in harrowing ways.

M. Night Shyamalan entrusts his script with two bright young actors, who do much of the heavy lifting. DeJonge and Oxenbould work their magic in front of the camera. They're compassionate, empathetic performers that give the film a bit of weight as they invite you into their disturbed world. As the walls close in around them, Becca and Tyler feel their innocence evaporating like a puddle of water after a mid-summer downpour. DeJonge and Oxenbould craft performances that engage all the senses. By the finale, you care so deeply about their characters that you're jaw hangs open as their lives hang precariously. It's a frightening experience, even after all these years.

A decade later, The Visit remains one of found footage's finest entries. It does everything right with genre conventions, while also testing the audience with unexpected surprises. Shyamalan might not be everyone's cup of tea, but The Visit is a film that deserves a second look to be truly appreciated for the frightfest it really is.

P.S. For an extra double feature idea: The Visit would be a killer follow-up to The Taking of Deborah Logan. You're welcome.

GIVEAWAY: CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD

MACABRE DAILY: WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS

💀 First impressions of EYES OF HELLFIRE [LINK]

💀 Clay McLeod Chapman's "AQCUIRED TASTE" is a triumph [LINK]

💀 We speak with the dynamic duo behind Screambox's THE TROUBLE WITH TESSA [LINK]

💀 Interview with the men behind the madness of TRAUMATIKA [LINK]

💀 Music of the Macabre's Music for Halloween Night Vol 2 is the perfect soundtrack for scary season [LINK]

DOUBLE TROUBLE by Bee Delores | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd

Instead of watching House on Eden this Halloween season, might I suggest two other influencer-based horror films that actually get the job done. #MissingCouple, now on Tubi, went viral for posts and video clips made by a real-life influencer couple. Eventually, the truth was exposed, but the promotional cycle was akin to The Blair Witch Project's back in the day. When a fresh-faced couple buy a secluded house in the woods, to escape the rat race of the city, they get more than they bargained for. Strange things begin to happen, particularly with dark shapes emerging from the surrounding woods. Even installing video equipment doesn't stop the occurrences. The figure even breaks into the home while the couple are fast asleep. Creepy, right? Co-directors Jacques Edeline and Oliver Mauldin sure do know how to craft a insanely focused and effective chiller. Don't sleep on this one!

I'm still reeling from Sleep Stalker, which I watched just a few short days ago. Co-writers and co-directors Justin Shilton and Rob Zazzali stage a simple, all-too-familiar premise and flip it on its head. When a video influencer couple move into a new home, Shane (Josh Gilmer) starts sleepwalking. As the nights tumble like dominoes into the next, his nighttime scavenging turns violent, putting Abby's (Gabrielle Montes de Oca) life at risk. They turn to a sleep study to get answers, but it just makes the spirits, or demons, or whatever increasingly angry. The film has a nice build to it, plenty of suspense, and a fascinating character dynamic. Now on VOD!

LESSER KNOWN FOUND FOOTAGE / IN-WORLD CAMERA FILMS

Found Footage and In-World Camera as a sub-genre is vast and there are a ton of films in this category. It can be hard to know where to start. Here are some lesser known picks that are worth your time! Check out the list on Letterboxd.

WHAT TO WATCH

RIYL: GRAVE ENCOUNTERS (2011)

Asylums aren't only used in Found Footage/In World Camera films. They are a prominent setting for a lot of horror. Here are some recs that are both in-world camera and some that aren't! Check out the list on Letterboxd here.

Check out our Screaming Soon list on Letterboxd for the latest release information and what’s coming out in theaters and/or on demand.