Evolution of horror cinema from Spanish classics to found footage

Spanish horror cinema has evolved from a low-budget export industry under Franco-era censorship to a critically acclaimed genre on streaming platforms. Key historical milestones include Narciso Ibáñez Serrador’s ‘Historias para no dormir’ in 1966 and ‘La residencia’ in 1969, which demonstrated the genre's potential for high production values. The industry saw a resurgence in the 1990s led by directors such as Alejandro Amenábar, Álex de la Iglesia, Jaume Balagueró, and Paco Plaza, alongside the influence of Guillermo del Toro.

In the realm of global horror trends, the 1999 film ‘The Blair Witch Project’ remains a landmark for popularizing the found footage genre. Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, the film utilized a groundbreaking marketing campaign that presented the story as a real police investigation. The film is currently available on Netflix for a limited time.