 | The Blair Witch Project Starring: Heather Donahue, Michael Williams, Joshua Leonard |
What we have here is an embarrassment. Not for "The Blair Witch Project," but for Hollywood. In the middle of Hollywood's "Summer Blockbuster" season, with big budgeted films designed for the pre-pubescent crowd, along comes an unknown low budget film with no name actors, good reviews, and a creative marketing scheme that literally out smarts the opposition ("The Haunting," "Eyes Wide Shut," etc.) and leaves Hollywood execs mumbling into their resignation letters. Shot in eight days with no script, no sets, a $35,000 dollar budget, and a vague premise of a narrative, five friends just out of the University of Florida's film program decided to make a feature film. This was, indeed, pushing the envelope of the Independent Film concept. As a reviewer, I truly wanted to like the film for at least two reasons: 1) The shock waves it sent through Hollywood because of it's tremendous success, holding it's own with the top five box office leaders for five weeks in a row and grossing millions. 2) An inventive marketing approach using the Internet and other devices, which have more than likely sent many of Hollywood's "empty suits" into unemployment. May I suggest McDonalds? But, I had to ask myself, does the film hold up? Simply put, is it a good film in the horror genre? The answer is yes; it is a damn fine film. Armed with a 16mm camera, a video cam, backpacks, sound equipment and an old map, the young crew ventured deep into Maryland's Black Hills for an eight-day shoot. It has been rumored that the three actors were made to carry all the equipment themselves, were purposely made to lose their way, and were made to deal, unforewarned, with the eerie sounds outside their small tent in the freezing cold of night. One is never quite sure if the principals are acting or seriously angry with each other and frightened out of their wits. It really doesn't matter, because they pull it off admirably. This is a key to the success of the film. No games are played for the audience. At the start we realize that these three unfortunate students are doomed. At the beginning of the film we are told that film students left for the Maryland woods, for a three day weekend, to shoot a documentary based on the infamous legend of the Blair witch, who is rumored to still reside in this uncharted area. They never returned. Only recently, during the massive search for the missing three, was their film footage discovered. Imagination, creativity, along with an adept skill in montage and photography take over. The combination of Video and 16mm are used with excellent results. The video keeps the story moving and the 16mm captures the truly scary moments toward the end of the film. The tensions, anger, and fear build until the final horror of the last seconds. Is it the scariest film I have ever seen? No. But I feel "The Blair Witch Project" is a classic addition to the genre. The Hollywood system, including big budgeted "Independents" should hang their heads in shame. "The Blair Witch Project," during it's opening in Hollywood, competed effectively with "Runaway Bride" and destroyed "The Haunting." If Myrick and Sanchez can accomplish this with $35,000, imagine what they can do with a real budget. One can only hope that these talented filmmakers don't succumb to the powers in Tinseltown and sign a four-picture deal beginning with the re-make of Ozzie and Harriet. Perhaps the most unsettling aspect of this film is the feeling that the story did in fact occur, even though it is told as pure fiction. This is the chief success of "The Blair Witch Project." |