Found Footage vs. Narrative: Why “Hell House LLC: Lineage” Will Haunt You

Courtesy of Terror Films Releasing

Every horror fan has that franchise that is high on their list of favorites. It is one we rewatch, one that we constantly suggest people to watch and excitedly rush to a horror con in hopes to meet the people from the movies we enjoy. I fell in love with Terror Films Releasing’s “Hell House LLC” franchise the first time I watched it. Within minutes I was sitting on the edge of my seat as this made me feel like this franchise is going to be a nerve-rattling masterpiece of found footage horror. The Abaddon Hotel wasn’t just a spooky setting. It was a trap, a mystery, and a living, breathing entity that watches anyone foolish enough to walk through its halls. From the iconic shot of the creepy clown turning its head to the creepy girl in the background in Paul’s bedroom, these movies delivered scares that thrived on a terrifying but subtle atmosphere.

For years, this franchise stood as one of the best examples of how found footage could still be terrifying in an age when the sub-genre often felt overplayed. It gave the impression of raw authenticity, as though someone had stumbled onto forbidden footage and should never have pressed play. That immediacy is a big part of why I love found footage so much. It’s intimate, claustrophobic, and unnervingly voyeuristic.

So, when I learned that “Hell House LLC: Lineage” would move away from the found footage format and embrace a traditional narrative style, I felt a pang of worry. Could this franchise that is so rooted in the charm of its amateur camera work, pull off such a bold shift without losing its identity? Turns out, not only could it, but it did so with style, confidence, and some of the scariest moments the series has ever unleashed.

The first three Hell House LLC movies thrived on the illusion of authenticity. Found footage horror works because it locks the audience into a limited perspective, forcing us to see only what the camera sees. That means every shadow might hide a threat, and every slow pan feels like a potential heart attack waiting to happen.

The original film built dread through subtlety. Simple things like a door slightly ajar, a figure barely visible in the background, the knowledge that the characters were often filming their own demise without realizing it. In “Hell House LLC II: The Abaddon Hotel”, the mythology deepened, and the cameras became more than just tools; they were witnesses cursed to capture the hotel’s secrets. By the time we reached “Hell House LLC III: Lake of Fire”, the franchise had become a love letter to the format itself. Simply by embracing static cams, handheld chaos, and flickering night-vision shots that dared you to blink at the wrong time.

Courtesy of Terror Films Releasing

The franchise also helped revive interest in found footage at a time when audiences were growing tired of the gimmick. It reminded horror fans that the style could still feel innovative when paired with a strong mythology and carefully constructed tension. That is why the transition to narrative filmmaking in Lineage felt risky. Found footage had been part of the franchise’s identity from day one. Removing it could have been like pulling the batteries from a flashlight in a haunted basement. Sure, you can keep walking, but are you sure you want to?

What surprised me was how natural the shift felt. The mythology has always been the real backbone of these movies, not the camera format. Abaddon Hotel’s legends, rituals, its cursed history, and its connection to the living and the dead is what keeps me coming back. Lineage leans into that mythology with a sense of freedom the found footage approach sometimes restricted. All while taking a terrifying look into the domino effect of revenge can cause.

Instead of worrying about who’s holding the camera, the movie focuses on what the camera can reveal. Narrative filmmaking lets us see more of the world beyond Abaddon while keeping the hotel’s menace front and center. The result is a story that feels bigger, bolder, and shockingly more immersive than ever before.

One of my concerns (which to be honest I barely had any since in my opinion Stephen Cognetti can do no wrong) going in was that changing formats would dilute the established lore, making Lineage feel disconnected from the franchise’s roots. Thankfully that small fear was unfounded within the first couple of minutes into Lineage. The movie understands the sacred ground it walks on, both literally and figuratively.

Courtesy of Terror Films Releasing

The ghostly feel of the Abaddon Hotel still looms large, carrying the same sense of dread that made the first three movies unforgettable. We’re reminded that this isn’t just a haunted house; it’s a cursed legacy. A place where reality bends to accommodate evil. The narrative format doesn’t erase that history, it gives the filmmakers new ways to explore it, letting the camera linger on spaces we’ve only glimpsed before or adding depth to the chilling mythology of those who came before. This approach also allows the story to feel like a true conclusion. Even one that respects everything that came before it while daring to go places the franchise has never gone.

Here’s the part that really blew me away. “Hell House LLC: Lineage” has some of the most terrifying moments in the entire franchise. Especially coming from someone who still can’t think about that basement scene in the original movie without feeling the need to look down my own basement and say “Nope!”. There are some SERIOUS SCARY moments in Lineage that not only sucked me into the story, but gleefully scared the hell out of me. All I will say is carnival, stairs, red balls and fast paced scares to vaguely connect with the people who have already seen Lineage without spoiling anything (if you know you know).

Courtesy of Terror Films Releasing

By stepping outside the limitations of found footage, Stephen Cognetti and his team had room to experiment with new kinds of scares. In the earlier movies, the tension came from not being able to see everything. Masterfully filmed moments of corners cut off by shaky frames, hallways cloaked in shadows, static shots daring us to notice the smallest movements. In Lineage, the fear comes from the opposite perspective. The camera can see more, and what it reveals is often worse than anything we imagined.

This isn’t a movie that abandons subtlety for jump scares. Instead, it blends the creeping dread of its predecessors with the precision of a narrative camera. Moments are staged to misdirect, lull, and then strike with shocking intensity. It’s the cinematic equivalent of pulling the rug out from under your feet, only to discover something reaching up from the floor.

One of the many things I adore about this franchise is how deeply it reflects the passion of the people behind it. Horror isn’t just about murderous monsters, over used gore, unnecessary female nudity, and mayhem. It is about the craft of scaring an audience, the care put into atmosphere, and the small but largely felt details that make a fictional place feel like it has a heartbeat.

Lineage carries that same dedication. The performances feel raw and human, the setting feels lived-in and cursed, and the scares are executed with precision and love. It’s a reminder that horror thrives when filmmakers pour themselves into their work. They are not just to scare us, but to make us care about the world they’ve built.

I have a huge love not only for this franchise but the people involved. I have been lucky to have many of them join me for a fun chat on my podcast, but friendships I have gotten to build with them over time that has meant the world to me. These aren’t just people looking to make a quick buck off of horror, but giant horror fans like the rest of us. There is a lot of love for the genre in these movies and it shows with every frame of this and other movies in the franchise.

At its core, the Hell House LLC series has always been about more than just the way it’s filmed. It’s about the revolving madness of the past, the lure of mysteries that beg to be solved, and the human weakness that drives people to investigate despite knowing the danger.

Courtesy of Terror Films Releasing

I came to “Hell House LLC: Lineage” expecting to maybe miss the intimacy of found footage a little, but I left feeling like I’d just seen the franchise evolve without losing its soul that makes it so appealing to me and other horror fans. While I’ll always love the raw terror that comes from the POV and feel of found footage, the end of my viewing experience with Lineage feeling like the franchise had just given me the perfect next chapter we have been asking for since “Hell House Origins: The Carmichael Manor”. Lineage is bolder, scarier, and more ambitious than I dared to hope. The scares hit harder than ever, the lore feels richer, and the format shift only deepened my appreciation for what makes these movies special.

As a fan of this franchise for many years, I couldn’t ask for a better finale to a series that has given me so many sleepless nights. Do you think horror franchises should take bold risks like this, or should they stick to the style that originally scared us? Let me know online and don’t miss seeing this on the big screen, and on Shudder this fall!

Whether it’s slashers in the woods, ghosts in the attic, or killers in the cornfield, ILHM Reviews brings you the frightful horror flick recommendations worth watching. Follow us on Instagram, be sure to listen to the the "I Love Horror" podcast and remember that if you’re a true fan of horror, every night can be a FRIGHT NIGHT!