What do you mean you have not watched the most famous found footage horror movie of all time? The Blair Witch Project gets a lot of hate, but I love it.
Synopsis
Three students decide to go into the Maryland backwoods to cover the mystery behind the Blair Witch incidents. However, they lose their map and things take an unexpected turn.
My Thoughts
I am pretty sure you have all seen The Blair Witch Project, and lots love it and lots hate with no in between it seems!
I remember all the hype and marketing around this one when it came out back in 1999, it was superbly done and one of the best marketed films ever, and made a killing at the box office.
The website used in the marketing to make people believe it was all real was genius, as it had missing person flyers for the filmmakers, pictures of their belongings, and video and audio clips that were supposedly found in the woods.
The Blair Witch Project was a very low-budget indie film but ended up earning over $248 million worldwide as directors Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez filmed 20 hours of raw footage and a lot of the dialogue was improvised.
It all just feels real and authentic, and is incredibly well done, and it was all just new and refreshing and came along at the exact right time.
Even now, I think the movie holds up really well and while a lot hate this film, I really like it, and as a found footage fan, have a lot to thank this movie for.
Instead of relying on flashy effects or gore, the movie creates a sense of dread through the sounds and the unsettling isolation of the woods and you really feel the characters confusion and fear as the story attempts to tap into your imagination via the fear of the unknown.
The amateurish nature really helps make the film for me too, while a lot will argue against that point but it just made it all feel more real because of that and just added to the whole experience.
The movie was followed up with the terrible Blair Witch 2, and an adequate proper sequel, Blair Witch, in 2016.
And we have a new movie in the franchise coming in 2025 as well, although I am not sure if this is really needed!
It is though probably one of the most hated $100m+ grossing movies of all time! But I really like it.
Good Points
Genuine Scares: The film actually used real reactions from the actors, thanks to some hidden speakers and improvised scenes.
Unique Style: The found footage approach was fresh and innovative at the time, and gave the film a whole new genre for people to appreciate. Or not appreciate as it is for some.
Fear of the Unknown: The film shows very little of the “witch” and relies on your imagination, and this helps immerse you fully into what is happening.
Bad Points
Overhyped Expectations: The intense marketing led to very high expectations, which I think is why a lot of people came out not enjoying it as well, something we see from many movies, which is even worse these days with social media!
Slow Pacing: It has a slow build-up and some repetitive scenes of the characters getting lost, which can sometimes feel a bit tedious.
Shaky Camera Work: The handheld camera style, while realistic, did actually make a lot of people dizzy and disoriented!
Is It Worth Watching?
The Blair Witch Project is definitely worth watching at least once, especially if you appreciate psychological horror and want to experience a film that significantly influenced the genre.
It creates fear through atmosphere and suggestion rather than graphic visuals make it a standout and if you’re curious about a movie that became a cultural phenomenon on a tiny budget, it’s definitely worth a watch.
The Blair Witch Project on IMDB
Where To Watch
Director and Cast
Director – Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez
Main Cast – Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, and Joshua Leonard
Found Footage Horror Movies 
Let Me Know Your Thoughts!