[Nightmares Film Festival 2017] ‘Found Footage 3D’

Has audience interest gone out the window when it comes to found footage movies? Mine certainly has. I’ve already talked about this at length of late, but it takes a lot to get me interested in a new found footage movie. At this point, even the better new ones have a sizable “been there, done that” air about them. I knew walking into Found Footage 3D that it was a horror comedy skewering the genre and its tropes, so I was already sold. The fact that it was actually shot and screening in 3D was an added bonus.

The somewhat humorous part is that this film has been in the works long enough that 3D has also died out in popularity. Many of the big studio tentpoles are still released in the format in theaters, but home 3D is dead. The manufacturers aren’t even making 3D televisions in the U.S. anymore and even the newer 4K TV models have dropped 3D compatibility. This is not a detriment to Found Footage 3D, but actually adds a perhaps unintentional extra layer of satire to the proceedings.

The best horror comedies know that the horror itself is less important than the cast of characters interacting with it. Found Footage 3D has managed to conjure up a charming cast. Coupled with its pristine look and biting humor, what we have here is a terror-fueled laughfest that should probably be playing to a wider audience than it actually is. That’s a shame, but many who happen upon it in the future will grow to love its charms.

I know that the film is currently available for your viewing pleasure on Shudder. Given that it’s only available in 2D on the horror streaming service for obvious reasons, I’d recommend tracking down a 3D theatrical screening of the film somewhere if you can manage it. I’m not sure how much longer it will be travelling on the festival circuit in this format or if it will even screen again in such a fashion. Just know that if it arrives that way in your vicinity, you might want to considered giving it a whirl. It’s pretty damn entertaining.

UPDATE: It seems that NFF was this film’s final festival screening. While it is already streaming in 2D on Shudder, 3D streaming versions will be available through the horror subscription service beginning Friday, October 27th, 2017. Big thanks to director Steven DeGennaro for the update!