The Blair Witch Project (Heather Donahue, Michael Williams) 1/2
When I was in elementary school, summertime was special for me because our family went camping all the time. We went to dozens of campgrounds, sites, and wooded areas. Nighttime generally consisted of bonfires or, when it rained, evenings inside the trailer. There were times, however, when one had to fetch wood or make one's way through a section of forest in the dark, with nothing more than a flashlight at one's side. The shadows at that point sprang to life. The woodland sounds triggered the very worst in one's imagination. Getting to your destination as quickly as possible became paramount before the fear took over. There is a truly chilling scene like that in The Blair Witch Project, where that terrible sensation is expertly telegraphed, and old ghost stories come flooding back into mind, because we cannot precisely see what is physically happening to the panicking characters.
If there's one thing I appreciate about the Blair Witch Project more than anything else, it's that it retains its creepiness with each subsequent viewing. Mind you, I've portioned out my four viewings over the past three years -- so seeing it is kind of like re-visiting an old friend -- but still, the fact that I still get chills each time says a lot about its ingenuity and effectiveness.
Naturally, there are those who would disagree. It's understandable, given we as moviegoers are exposed so often to action in slasher films that showcases gore over suspense, and cats jumping out of cupboards over genuine, psychological fear. This is where Blair Witch is so thoroughly effective. It is a disturbing story told within the structures of a fake documentary. The first ten minutes and the final fifteen minutes are key to the movie's success -- for those who have not seen the film yet, make sure you are alert for them as they are the most crucial parts. The final sequence of the film lingers long after the movie is done, reminding the viewer of the historical background and context that kept local Blair residents talking about tall tales and legends long after childhood superstition would have run its course.
The film opens as a trio of filmmakers embark on a weekend trip to capture the essence of the Blair Witch. We meet Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, and Michael Williams. They prepare to interview believers of the myth and explore the actual woods where the Blair Witch was said to have roamed. Once plummeted deep into the Maryland outback, however, they begin to lose faith in their sense of direction and blame each other for their misfortunes. From there, I dare say no more, except to say the movie unfolds in such a way as to allow the viewer to experience the paranoia and fear that its characters share firsthand, particularly in light of the subject matter of their own documentary.
The Blair Witch Project caused a huge sensation when it was released in 1999, becoming one of the top-grossing films of the year. It was a phenomenal success for a film with such a meek budget (its directors, Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, reportedly spend a mere $20,000 on it), featuring a popular, highly-visited faux website, and it even spawned a sequel, which I must confess I haven't seen yet. I often hear people complain about the chaotic camerawork, but I find it integral to the effect and tone of the film. I can't imagine it any other way. Indeed, the jarring point-of-view cinematography helps make it one of the most effective horror movies I've ever seen.
