The documentary styled "found footage" genre has been hit and miss at the best of times. With most of the movies either giving its audience a severe bout of vomit inducing nausea or going the other end of the spectrum by boring them to death, there is a lot that can go wrong unless done "right". Sadly, this is rarely the case. As far as I'm concerned, only a handful of these are considered to merit any modicum of noteworthy respect. However, what of the original successful "phenomena" that was The Blair Witch Project released back in 1999? Reports of people declaring it "the scariest film of all time" or passing out from pure fright, were only too frequent. So, was the very first movie that paved the way to it's own dubious genre actually any good at all?
A group of young student filmmakers set out to uncover the mystery of the "Blair Witch". A demonic female entity known to inhabit a nearby wood and suspected of abducting numerous children many years ago due to their inexplicable disappearances. After having interviewed several of the locals in the odd town of Burkittsville in Maryland, the trio made up of Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams and Joshua Leonard set out into the heart of the actual forest where the witch is said to dwell in. As they venture further in, our three protagonists come across strange artefacts gathered around their tent as well as hear strange noises out there in the pitch dark at night. Slowly realising things in the wood may not be all that they appear to be, it doesn't take long until the unimaginable horror of the "Blair Witch" seems more real than they could ever have dreamed of...
I still remember the excitement at going to watch this movie for the first time. The buzz and hype encompassing this movie was frenzied, to say the least. I, of course, got sucked in too. So what of this "new" style of film where it relies solely on the premise of a bunch of recovered missing video tapes? Well, to sum it up, the hype was real. Very real. This is one hell of a terrifying ride into the unknown where only unsuspecting mere mortals dare to tread. You must remember that this was a first of it's kind back then. So the theatre-goers curious intrigue together with a punchy plot and great overall acting from our "amateur" cast members, pushed it into the territory of sheer greatness. It is obvious from the get go that the movie directors went through great lengths to make this project look at authentic as possible. A few "innocents" at the time, wondered how on earth it was legal to show this disturbing real-life footage for a baying public audience to enjoy and finance. I still laugh at that to this very day.
It still staggers certain individuals to learn that this movie was made on a shoestring budget of only $60,000. Yet went on to make nearly $250 million! So it most definitely struck a chord with it's legions of supporters out there. And all for the right reasons. The key difference between The Blair Witch Project and it's countless copycats, is the solid backstory. Movies directors Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez get this down to a tee. The lore behind the witch herself is terrifying and sets the tone of the rest of the movie effortlessly. This is thanks to the chilling interviews carried out in the first part of the film. Including one with a woman who, you'd be forgiven for thinking, may not look too dissimilar to the actual witch! The attention to details is fantastic and when are hapless protagonists delve into the final part of the movie, they all turn in a performance that'll leave you mulling over how damn near "real" everything looked. This is a "found footage" production at it's finest. So, you have been warned. Be prepared to get the **** scared out of you. Yes, The Blair Witch Project is that damn scary...
This movie is the pinnacle of excellence when it comes to pulling off what it set out to do in the first place. Make a 90-minute long film about a group of young twenty-something's and have them experience ultimate supernatural terror in it's purest form. I absolute loved this movie and am not one bit surprised at the cult status in has now earned. Of course, the dreaded "shaky cam" is present sporadically here and there. But those moments are few and far between and to focus on them too much would be missing out on a classic A-grade horror movie of our times. If you like your flicks gripping, intense and downright blood-curling, you could do a whole lot worse than the original The Blair Witch Project.
My Verdict: (9/10)
This movie made me so scared back in the day - XD
What I love about it is that it shows that you don't really need much money to do a movie right, you just need talent. Heck, I think having too much of a budget is actually a detriment - it becomes a crutch!
They think that they can just buy their way into a good movie, and that is just not so. Hundreds of movies that have had huge budgets but sucked hard show that.
Oh yes, the incredible atmosphere! Really, bro. Blown away by this movie. And I so agree with you that sometimes an over inflated budget kills the essence of what it's makers are trying to convey.
Great comment and totally agree with everything you said, as always... :)
As usual, I appreciate your thoughts. Honestly, I'm not a big fan of horror films, and while I find them unsettling, they have a limited sphere of impact; my suspension of disbelief can only stretch so far. The Blair Witch Project, though, was so vividly disturbing that I might even suggest that your 9/10 is too low. It's a first-rate film, for sure.
I remember years after the film was released hearing a friend say "I don't know man--either those were the best actors of all time, or something really was going on."
I think it designates it as one of the great cinematic achievements in history that over a decade later a film has generally-levelheaded people pondering out loud whether it could possibly be fiction.
I totally agree. I find that "horror" element not in masses of blood and guts and gore in general! But more in the psychological impact of a movie. And this one hit home perfectly! It is amazing how many people actually thought they were watching "real" footage. Just goes to show what a great job the team did. :)
Yup. I think the idea that necessity is the mother of invention rings true; it's easy for lazy filmmakers to assume that the psychological impact of a film is tied to how grotesque the images are, when they've got a sufficiently large budget to be lazy with, rather than figuring out what it is about ourselves, other people and the world around us that elicits genuine horror.
I was one of those innocents you laughed at, LOLLL, it was a spur of the moment decision to go to the theater that day, so I had no idea what I was getting into- and at the end I had a few moments of, Was this a true story???
It was really well done, I loved it, we appear to have similar taste in films!
Lol! You are too sweet, @dreemit! But it's not your fault. It all looked so authentic so I understand why you'd think like that. So happy we seem to share the same taste n our movies.
Bless... Hope you keeping well, lovely @dreemit. :)
I really like it. It's scary as hell. But not because of the supernatural stuff. Being lost in the woods like that would suck, and I find it terrifying.
Once I went to a matinee on the weekend it opened with a buddy and his GF.
I really liked it, and so did my buddy, but his GF thought it sucked, and didn't mind telling us as much.
We went back to my folks place to hang out. Our living room had big sliding glass doors looking out onto the yard, When the sun went down, and the yard got dark, the patio doors just looked pitch black...and that's when she started to freak out. In the end, we had to draw all the curtains and turn on all the lights to get her to calm down @ezzy
Lol, what a great story! I think she was just trying to put on a brave face in front of you guys. But as they say, "actions speak louder than words!!" :)
Haha true :D Glad you like it mate :D Following you for more :D
Congratulations on becoming my 5th following ♥ @ezzy
Well, if these projects' main intention was to frighten the viewers, I think the most successful of all was "Paranormal Activity" (the first film in the series)
"Paranormal Activity"... Will be reviewing that shortly. (Hint: I share your sentiments.) :)
I saw it in a sold out theatre. Halfway through the theatre lost power. Scared some people so much they started screaming. It definitely made for a memorable experience.
Wow! Talk about "theatre participation"! That's the last thing you want to happen whilst watching this movie, lol! :)
Darwin would be proud of those ppl xD
Never watched the Blair-Witch Project, need to watch that movie too... now i have 2 movies to watch because you recommended them (the blair witch project and abraham lincoln biography), you NEED TO stop giving me this movies to watch, ain't nobody got time for that, the day only has 24 hours
Lol... Good to check out when curled up on the sofa on a cold, winters evening. (p.s. love the Darwin comment... So true.) :)
It was a very clever concept. However, if you suffer from motion sickness I would not recommend it hehe :) Peace
Yes, I know some suffered from that, however maybe I was one of the lucky ones. :)
dear @ezzy thanks for sharing your personal information or story with us
so #RESTEEM Free
Just found an following you love your review style and writing bless do some series to
Many thanks, @naturalog. :)
I have finished reading your story, this story is really interesting
I remember seeing it at the theater. There was so much hype that the showing I went to sold out. What sucked was I went with a group of 7 people and we all had to sit in different areas because it was packed. I just felt let down. The build up was cool but the ending was not worth it imo, especially in the packed theater. I also felt it was one of the movies that doesn't have any replay value. I was once and done. Glad I saw it just wish the circumstances could have been different and it was way over hyped.
Maybe the environment you watched it in had a lot to do with it. You need "perfect isolation" away from any distraction to watch the movie through their eyes I guess... :)
I can see that. A quite dark living room would have been best. Sucks cuz once I've seen it, it looses it's surprise factor. Kind of like 6th Sense.
The thing about the Blair Witch Project was that at the time found footage was a very new thing. They even advertised this film as though it was real footage and most people thought that it was.
Even after the shocking ending..... most people still thought it was real footage.
It took people telling you a few days after you saw it that it was actually fake for you to find out.
Having said that...... I really did enjoy it.
Lol, yes. The "is it real or fake" argument was soooo damn funny, lol! Glad you enjoyed it though... :)
wow..awsome post.....& good writing...thanks for sharing your personal information or story with us.....dear @ezzy
You know, when I was 15, I watched the sequel, the totally non-found footage one.
And it already freaked me out lol.
Lol. Then you absolutely "must" check out the original. :)
I might!
it must be a nice movie anyway.thanks for sharing @ezzy
i haven't heard of the story before. but man, it's spooky. going to watch the movie for sure. seems really interesting.
was steeming in a pitch black here and came across to your post..
if u can understand in what conditions i am commenting on this post @ezzy
I have been arguing in favor of this film for years. I thought it was an incredible process, execution, and result. Lunopolis and Banshee Chapter are 2 other films done in this style and it turned out really good.
Up vote and follow me bro plzz, I also voted and followed you