The Blair Witch Project Review
by "Ed Morris" (emorr AT fast DOT net)August 12th, 1999
SPOILERS BELOW!
After finally seeing The Blair Witch Project (TBWP), my first thought was: "I have not been affected like I was supposed to, back when I first heard about this film in February." Of course, the film doesn't live up to the hype, not that any other film in history ever did. The hype surrounding this film is comparable to that of this year's Star Wars, and quite possibly 1989's Batman, which is the most hyped film I can ever remember. But the film on its own isn't bad, it's just not very good either.
The premise, which everyone on earth is now familiar with, is that you are watching the filmed footage of three twentysomethings who went into the woods and disappeared while looking for the legendary Blair Witch. One of the major flaws of the film is that it never gives you a background on the witch, other than snippets of interviews with the locals the kids do in the first 20 minutes of the movie. And I don't want to hear that I should've visited the website, either! It should be in the movie. That's complete hogwash.
The middle third of the movie shows the kids having a group mental breakdown as they become more and more lost, even retracing their own steps. The last third deals with one of the three disappearing and screaming in the distance, and the other two's search for him. This final act of the film is the best part of the movie, but unfortunately you wait 60 minutes for it. The night scenes are tense, but not frightening. The only part that actually upset me was the last scenes of the film, when the two remaining filmmakers stumble upon a dilapidated house in the middle of nowhere, and their friend screams from within. The two forget that they are in mortal danger, and run thru the house looking for their friend. This also is the part that I didn't understand: why are the remaining two still filming? It doesn't make sense. It's just too incredulous to even consider.
The film ends abruptly, and the audience that I saw it with wasn't satisifed. But if you think about it, it can end only one way. There was much confusion from friends who saw it regarding what the remaining boy was doing standing in the corner for the last scene. After I explained that one of the interviewees briefly touched on a hermit (not the witch) who was possessed in the 1940's and made one person stand in a corner while he gutted the other, my friends said they missed that. I have to admit, I didn't miss it, but wondered why the witch would do that. The film does explain some of the ways the witch kills, but this was not one of them. After thinking about this some time, I realized it was a plot device to allow the viewer some, albeit little, closure. Another scene involves the finding of bloody teeth in the forrest after the one filmmaker disappears and his heard to be screaming in agony. I felt the scene wasn't necessary, and got away from the spirit of the film. If the film's premise is "it's best not to know", why go against it?
In any event, I rate the film ** out of **** stars and add: wait for the video.
ed morris
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