The Blair Witch Project
The Blair Witch Project was an interesting film for a few reasons. Firstly it rewrote a few movie making rules, especially regarding cameras. The film was recorded on handheld cameras which, unlike the cameras we have today, do not have any image stabilisation. This meant that the footage we see shakes around and never really stays still enough to see what exactly is going on. This has the effect of putting the viewer in the shoes of the characters and so making the view distressed and confused along with the characters.
Roger Ebert says "At a time when digital techniques can show us almost anything, "The Blair Witch Project" is a reminder that what really scares us is the stuff we can't see." (Ebert 1999) The viewer never sees the 'Blair Witch' and yet is still scared or made to feel uneasy throughout the film. It is possible to argue that horror films in a world of CGI are less scary as the scare comes from the fear of the unknown rather than a fear of whats on screen.
In an Empire review they say "Many classic literary ghost and horror stories pretend to be manuscripts left by mysteriously-disappeared narrators, who often let their pens drop in mid-sentence as the monster comes to get them. First-time writer-directors Myrick and Sanchez opt for an update of that format" (Thomas 2000) This is an interesting genre of story writing as it always leaves it up to the reader to guess what happens next, which can make a story much better. The Blair Witch Project also is said to have multiple endings that were cut from the film, "The endings appear to have made their way online, and it's pretty clear they don't come close to the sinister effectiveness of the film's original ending, with some even looking downright silly." (Loughrey 2017) Some of the endings made the supernatural element of the film more prominent, another where the character of Mike is hanged from a noose with a wooden man through his chest and another where Mike is tied to a wooden man.
Ebert, R 'The Blair Witch Project" (1999), On Rogerebert.com, At https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-blair-witch-project-1999 [Accessed on 14/05/18]
Thomas, W 'The Blair Witch Project Review' (2000), On Empire.com, At https://www.empireonline.com/movies/blair-witch-project/review/ [Accessed on 14/05/18]
Loughrey, C 'The Blair Witch Project had some pretty dumb alternate endings' on Independent.co.uk, At https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/the-blair-witch-project-alternate-endings-horror-crucifix-hanging-stick-men-a7675841.html [accessed on 14/05/18]
Roger Ebert says "At a time when digital techniques can show us almost anything, "The Blair Witch Project" is a reminder that what really scares us is the stuff we can't see." (Ebert 1999) The viewer never sees the 'Blair Witch' and yet is still scared or made to feel uneasy throughout the film. It is possible to argue that horror films in a world of CGI are less scary as the scare comes from the fear of the unknown rather than a fear of whats on screen.
In an Empire review they say "Many classic literary ghost and horror stories pretend to be manuscripts left by mysteriously-disappeared narrators, who often let their pens drop in mid-sentence as the monster comes to get them. First-time writer-directors Myrick and Sanchez opt for an update of that format" (Thomas 2000) This is an interesting genre of story writing as it always leaves it up to the reader to guess what happens next, which can make a story much better. The Blair Witch Project also is said to have multiple endings that were cut from the film, "The endings appear to have made their way online, and it's pretty clear they don't come close to the sinister effectiveness of the film's original ending, with some even looking downright silly." (Loughrey 2017) Some of the endings made the supernatural element of the film more prominent, another where the character of Mike is hanged from a noose with a wooden man through his chest and another where Mike is tied to a wooden man.
Ebert, R 'The Blair Witch Project" (1999), On Rogerebert.com, At https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-blair-witch-project-1999 [Accessed on 14/05/18]
Thomas, W 'The Blair Witch Project Review' (2000), On Empire.com, At https://www.empireonline.com/movies/blair-witch-project/review/ [Accessed on 14/05/18]
Loughrey, C 'The Blair Witch Project had some pretty dumb alternate endings' on Independent.co.uk, At https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/the-blair-witch-project-alternate-endings-horror-crucifix-hanging-stick-men-a7675841.html [accessed on 14/05/18]
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