What I Watched // February 2021

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

⭐⭐⭐ ½ (3.5/5 stars)

Blair Witch has been on my “To-Watch” list for years and years. I was never big on horror movies, and absolutely terrified by them in my youth. I actually had to leave the theatre at a friend’s birthday party when I was 10 because the movie was “too scary.” The movie in question? Scary Movie 3. No exaggeration, one of the chaperone moms had to take me into a different theatre playing the children’s movie, Good Boy!  🙃

BUT NOW!

Now that I have lived long enough to see how absolutely crazy/scary/insane the real world is- I am completely unbothered by horror movies. I really love a few, am bored by most, enjoy the adrenaline rush, but the genre still isn’t one I spend much time watching. I am not a fan of gore (and will scream in rage if an animal gets hurt), but it is nice to no longer feel terrified when a friend suggests a scary movie!

What did I love?

I actually love the “found footage” style of filmmaking and it’s definitely something I am seeking out more than ever before. The intimacy it creates, especially in something as high tension as a horror film, is unparalleled by more traditional camera techniques. The POV makes it feel like YOU are holding the camera and YOU are directly involved with each moment of the story. It is harder to distance yourself from the characters when you are placed so directly in the center of the action.

Why did I take off points?

Blair Witch is one of the first (and most iconic) big hits to utilize the found/recovered footage style. While it’s undoubtably a stepping stone for every film made in this style since, there have been huge leaps made in the last 20+ years that make it feel especially dated now. The jarring camera motions (the film almost exclusively uses the actual footage the actors were taking while they moved through the woods) distract a bit from your ability to focus on the action.

I felt distanced from the characters because of my general confusion. The camera and story were both intentionally chaotic. Again, almost everything was improvised off the initial 35-page script outline the cast was given at the start of filming. But, as an audience member, I found it less terrifying a concept because I wasn’t as clear on what each moment meant.

If you liked Blair Witch:

One of my favorite horror/found footage films is The Creep (2014). Produced by the all-star Duplass Brothers and Blumhouse, this movie takes the foundation of the Blair Witch documentary style and runs with it. I won’t share too much, but this movie left me feeling incredibly unsettled and far more engaged throughout. The use of silence/emptiness to raise both the stakes and the viewer’s tension creates a unique experience I haven’t had since.

However, I still think there is some entertainment and value to gained from watching Blair Witch! Do I need to see it again? Probably not. But it’s only 81 minutes, so well worth the watch if you haven’t!

Where can I watch?

The Blair Witch Project and The Creep are both currently streaming on Netflix.

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What horror movie should I add next to my list?