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Jason revisits The Blair Witch Project

It's been 14 years since Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez re-invented the horror and re-invigorated low-budget terror with one of the first forays into found footage. Actually, looking back, these guys set a whole new genre standard. But how does the flick hold up?

Three film students go missing after traveling into the woods of Maryland to make a documentary about the local Blair Witch legend, leaving only their footage behind. 

This movie polarized people back in the day. Either it scared the shit out of you or pissed you off. I fell into the scared-the-shit-of-you camp, mostly because of how real the film felt -- and continues to feel today. Of all the found-footage movies, this is the most convincing. I buy hook, line and sinker that this could've been cobbled together from footage found in the woods.

Blair Witch isn't scary anymore, although the final 20 minutes are still chilling. But I do dig seeing the disintegration of the three filmmakers. This is how city people react when taken out of their element and things go bad. There doesn't even need to be an alleged witch roaming around.

I admire how Myrick and Sanchez have never gone mainstream. They've stuck to making low budget, under-the-radar films. Love The Blair Witch Project or hate it, the flick changed horror forever and deserves to be called a modern classic.

A Good, in case you hadn't guessed by now.

Comments

  1. Just thinking about this movie gives me the heebie jeebies. I honestly don't think I could watch it by myself because it's so realistic. *shudder*

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    Replies
    1. That's exactly how it made me feel the first time I watched it Kara! - J

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