Review of The Blair Witch Project (1999) by Clem666 — 26 Feb 2021

One of the most unavoidable of the found footage era movie. Scenario is really common for a horror movie. The cast is just amazingly impressive: excepted the people interviewed on the first phase there are only three characters all along. Their performance are decent according to me as the atmosphere is really touching. The movie perfectly manages to keep the pressure going on and on even if events starts to be interesting only after almost 45 minutes.

According to me the assumed lack of budget and lack of (special) effects is quite erased by the visceral atmosphere and the pace of the storytelling even if we know the end from the first images. Speaking of these interviews I found them quite unnessecary and meaningless since they just are **** to highlight the fact that passe event are still not clear for the 'community' (as the villagers call themselves).

As I write this review I can only think of all the movie flaws however I did enjoy it. All along there is no music. Characters only sing once or twice but that's all. However there is a music director. Search for the error. The ending (no spoil) is undoubtedly lame and cheap as it totally ruins all the emotional crescendo. The movie is sometimes (truly) funny but often despite of itself. Characters appear to be quite dumb and the empathy we create with them is often put to the test. There are way too many moments where the images are just so dark that you litteraly can't see a thing. I hated this but admit that it contributes to the atmosphere.

I recognize that 7 out of 10 is way too over-rated but as I said I watched the movie alone and enjoyed it. It is totally subjective as I am able to recognize a lot of flaws to 'The Blair Witch Project'. However I also salute the way it has been produced and directed.