No budget horror movies continued on even into the 90's. These movies usually didn't make a lot of money at the box office. They rarely even made a ripple on the radar of pop culture. However, one movie released in 1999 made a huge, controversial impact on the horror movie world with cheap sets and a focus on suspense over gore.
The Blair Witch Project
"The Blair Witch Project" was made in 1999 on a budget of $35,000. It made over $40,000,000 at the box office, easily making it the most successful independent movie ever made. At the time, the movie was praised for its atmosphere, its homemade nature and for its promotional techniques. Many people were terrified by the movie and the fate of the three protagonists. The movie was allegedly found footage presented on the screen as it was shot.
This wasn't true. And this enraged many fans and critics of the movie. One of the reasons many of the people found it terrifying was the idea that this actually happened to people. When it was apparent it hadn't actually happened, it was much less scary. Many people also criticized it for not showing the witch during the movie or at the end. Does this movie deserve such a mixed reputation?
The basic set up for the movie, for those of you born after it was released or who haven't heard of it, is as followed: three young filmmakers are interested in the legend of the "Blair Witch." The witch was a child murderer who was burned at the stake for her crimes. However, strange things begin to happen to the filmmakers, such as small figures being placed in their campsite and their inability to find their way out of camp. Are they simply imagining things or is the Blair Witch taunting and terrifying them?
The set up is solid and many aspects of the movie do work. The acting, for example is actually very good. They often seem very terrified. This was because they actually did sleep in the woods during the filming. The dialogue is improvised for the most part. Other filmmakers came into the woods at night and changed things in the campground. They took items and left things. They also positioned themselves around the perimeter of the camp at night and made noises to scare the camping filmmakers.
This unique approach created a lot of real fear and terror in the campers. Although they were part of the experience and understood what was happening, it was hard not to be unnerved after camping in the woods alone all that time. Their reactions to what is happening is the high point of the film and are no doubt what inspires people to enjoy the movie.
However, this approach also created the main problem with the movie: it often seems plotless and directionless. Hours and hours of footage were shot and edited down into what was considered the best footage. The filmmakers still strive for reality which creates a rambling, disconnected feel to the movie at times.
This approach makes the movie more realistic and perhaps even enhances the fear caused by the movie the first time its watched. The viewer is never sure what's going to happen as the movie progresses.
However, repeat viewings are essentially pointless with the movie. Once the viewer knows what is going to happen, the movie becomes dull and unengaging. The complete lack of special effects or any view of the witch becomes more frustrating with repeat viewings.
Sources
- "The Blair Witch Project." James Berardinelli. Reel Views. 1999. Link here.
Eric Benac - I hold an MA in Writing from Northern Michigan University in Marquette as well as a Bachelor's in English from the same institution as ...
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