Living in the Shadow
by Seb Parker

The much-anticipated sequel to 1999’s groundbreaking phenomenon "The Blair Witch Project," "Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows," was released on video and DVD February 20th.  It had quite a legacy to live up to, given the uncanny popularity and hysteria generated by the original, a low-budget independent film that found itself in major theaters throughout the world seemingly overnight.  It’s hard to determine if "Book of Shadows" succeeds in capturing the horrific aspects of the first, since much of its inconsistencies and shortcomings seem almost purposeful, as if the sequel itself is a commentary on the trite nature of sequel-making.

"Book of Shadows" opens with a series of interviews with the inhabitants of Burkittsville, the Maryland town made famous by the original, all of whom have felt the effects of the Blair Witch frenzy.  Fans of the original film have flocked to the town looking for memorabilia and to discover the validity of the local legend.  Continuing in the "Blair Witch" tradition, no one can agree on the truth.  Some of the locals claim it was all fiction (which, of course, it was) and are sick of teenage and twenty-something tourists roaming their town and local forest searching for the "facts" of the matter.  Others claim full faith and have found a way to profit off all the attention, selling official Black Hills Forest dirt, rocks, and twigs.  Just when you think you know where all this is heading, this mock documentary style vanishes, and the "real" film (a "fictionalized reenactment of events following the release" of the original) begins.

The movie tracks an entourage of curiosity-seekers who have signed up for the inaugural trek of "The Blair Witch Hunt," hosted by a local outcast with a history of mental illness (Jeff Donovan).  The group comprises four almost blatantly stereotypical young people: Stephen and Tristen (Stephen Turner and Tristen Ryler), a couple doing research for their book, "Blair Witch: History or Hysteria"; a proper Wiccan (Erica Leerson), seeking to clear her religion’s name in light of all the hoopla; and sullen goth girl Kim (Kim Director), who has slight ESP and a mean penchant for alcohol.  A campy group, undoubtedly, and the camp only increases as they spend their first night at the ruinous site of the creepy house featured in the original -- they drink a lot of beer, smoke a lot of weed, listen to a lot of hard rock, and get their sexual juices pumping.  You feel like you’re watching "Blair Witch" done MTV-style: sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll at their worst.

However, the film takes a turn for the weirder, and as time goes on, the creepiness only escalates.  You realize the film is quite aware of itself and its audience and, like the original, "Book of Shadows" plays on your expectations of the characters are and what form the movie will take.  And, similar to the original, much of the foreshadowing and effort put into making the film becomes apparent after a second viewing.  While not as innovative as the original, "Book of Shadows" fulfills at least one, and the most important, horror flick convention: it keeps you on edge and occasionally freaks you out.  And really, what more should you expect?

Director: Joe Berlinger
Cast: Jeffery Donovan, Tristen Ryler, Stephen Turner, Kim Director, Erica Leerson
(Artisan Entertainment, 2000) Rated: R