The Blair Witch Project

	U.S. 1999 Director: Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez Cast: Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, Michael C. Williams Release Date: July 30th 1999 Rating: R Running Time: 1 hour 20 mins 59 secs The Movie Review		THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT Storyline: Cast: Ending: Overall:
	The Blair Witch Project, simply put, is one of the greatest masterpieces coming from the 90s in the horror movie realm. The movie is unique, different and most importantly clever, it can also be said as the best follower of the 70s extremely-controversial horror cannibal movie, Cannibal Holocaust, which "taught" how to use Handheld Camerawork technique. The Blair Witch Project was the one terrorized, flabbergasted and shocked all the audience in the dusk of 20th century. A movie that proofs that the power of mind and in-depth exploration of creativity could defeat most big-budgeted movies. The Blair Witch Project is a must to see. But before you decide to watch, I simply tell you that the review will contain minor and major spoilers since it is unavoidable (unlike other horror movies). But for your convenience I will put those possible-spoilers in the lower section of this page. Okay, now let's have a look-see. As you can figure out from the first film still above, that this whole movie is based on what people have found from what is left remain from three filmmakers' disappearance. This movie is their first and last testimonial of the Blair Witch Woods. In the beginning of the film, we get to know characters in the movie which are Heather the director who acts also as cameraman, Joshua and also Mike. They are a group of filmmakers who decide to venture on the depth of the Woods to record some exciting scenes. The movie opens with a scene where these three brave young people pack up their gears and head to the city of Burkitsville, Maryland. The place where the Woods is located nearby. Heather and her crew begin to ask questions to the townspeople about the legend of Blair Witch, which turn out that most people there are truly believe that the witch is indeed exist. Feeling thrilled and spirited, Heather, Mike and Josh drive through the lonely streets to the woods and learn more about the story of the Coffin Rock from the local fishermen, which they say as a place of grisly demise. Certainly as dedicated filmmakers as they are, they set up camp and go further into the woods. But...What they find is something that they never expected before and never even crosses their mind. What they find is something that should not have been exposed to the outside world. And when they find it, then they will witness what the word Terror, Horror and Fear are truly stand for... That's it, that is all I can give if you decide to watch it soon. Any comment, critic and praise I give would ruin the intensity of watching. Even starting from the 9th film still (movie screenshot), they could also be spoilers. So, if you decide to know, then the paragraphs below contain the movie review which spoilers are unavoidable. Some of you might already familiar the internet hype relating to a horror movie entitled Snakes on a Plane with Samuel L. Jackson's mother-f words fiesta. The Blair Witch Project was also quite an internet phenomenon back then with all the captivating rumors that it was actually a real incident. Although several townspeople being interviewed in the movie are not actors. Nevertheless, based on numerous accounts, e-mail, magazines and websites, The Blair Witch Project is merely fictional. And that is why I call the movie as "clever". And by the way, to give you a bit of info, there was already a movie released a year earlier (in 1998) which has strikingly similar resemblance to TBWProject, it's called The Last Broadcast, only this movie is about the legend of Jersey Devil in New Jersey’s Pine Barrens. And if there are 2 men and 1 woman (which are amateurs) in TBWProject, then in the Last Broadcast, there are 4 men (which are TV professionals, hosts of "Fact of Fiction"). But that's a whole different story. Anyway, back to The Blair Witch Project. Scary and clever is what describe this horror film the most. The Blair Witch Project is a movie that truly stands out amidst their horror film competitors in the 90s, movies like Scream trilogy, I Know What You Did Last Summer trilogy, and Urban Legend trilogy might have captured the teenagers' attention as well as millions of dollars of revenue. But TBWPoject is something for those who seek real horror as in really "terrifies the audience". The one that lingers in mind, and even giving you a short-time phobia of entering the woods, well I don't know about you, but I sure did experience that fear for a couple of weeks. In watching TBWProject, you will anticipate every moment, you will hear every words and tries to see everything through their "real-time" camera lens. And I hate abusive use of boo scares, but any single boo in this movie might make me jump off my seat. Of course the acclaim also should be share with choice of the camera which absolutely on the other side of the world from what mainstream horror movies (and even the independent ones) are using. You might think/misjudge that it's just like and you and your friends are buying a camera and decide to record something in the backyard or in the woods near you, but it's not. This is a movie with uniquely-articulated script. And talking about the acting quality, they are good. Donahue (Heather Donahue), Joshua (Joshua Leonard) and also Mike (Michael C. Williams) act normally. By normally in terms of The Blair Witch Project film, means that they are performing perfectly. They walk through the woods with tension arising among them which are surrounded by the fear of lost and the fear of the unknown which they eventually seem to almost lose their minds. Sudden cry, sudden laugh, and sudden anger are what we are hoping to see from people who are in their positions. And concerning their dialogue, I'm not sure that the whole dialogue is written in their script for it's like that the words are instantly-created by the situation and not something being made up earlier. And if it's indeed like that, than those actors were very creative, and if it is scripted before, than the writer is a very talented one. -- Start of Absolute Spoiler Alert -- The Blair Witch Project is a type of movie which exploits psychological fear of its audience, we will never get to see who the villain is. And the horror is playing around the border of supernatural and real person horror. But you will get hypnotized by the story and the pace which guarantee a good experience in watching a horror film. However, the ending might not suit everybody. It's left hanged and is open for interpretations from the audience. If you would like a conclusion after spending time watching a movie, than it will disappoint you deeply. But if you like the idea, than the ending alone will make you want to discuss it with other moviegoers or your friends. However, still the Ending is shocking indeed. -- End of Absolute Spoiler Alert -- After all said and done, The Blair Witch Project is definitely a worthy watching time for horror fans and general moviegoers alike. © iwan pranowo of Movielogy.com

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