The Blair
Witch Project
Edited,
written, and directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez
Starring
Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, and Joshua Leonard
82
minutes. Rated R. Original aspect ratio: 1.33:1. 1999
The Blair Witch Project should be nominated for Best Picture.
I don't
say that simply because it's easily the scariest movie ever made (I know
for a fact that it is hands down the scariest movie I've ever seen),
although that has a lot to do with it. But mainly I think it should be
nominated for Best Picture because of the sheer genius of the concept.
The tagline / opening text says it all:
"In October
of 1994, three student filmmakers disappeared in the woods near Burkittsville,
Maryland, while shooting a documentary.
"One
year later, their footage was found."
The concept
-- that the movie we're watching is the recovered footage -- is both brilliant
and terrifying just as an idea. As a film, it is both of those things times
ten. And it works even better because of the way the film was made. Myrick
and Sanchez, the two directors, didn't write a script in the traditional
sense. What they did was send the three actors into the Maryland woods
for a week. As I understand it, the directors left the actors notes that
not only told them where to go next for food and film, but what it was
they were reacting to. The actors then operated the cameras themselves,
and made it seem as if the Blair Witch was stalking them. The result is
a downright chilling film. And I don't mean the climax is chilling. No,
the chills start almost from the get-go, when the filmmakers are in town
interviewing the townspeople about the Blair Witch. The chills continue
as the filmmakers journey into the woods and start finding...stuff (I don't
want to ruin anything for you if you haven't seen it). Then, as
stuff starts happening to them, the dread and the chills increase with
each incident. Soon the entire film is filled with dread. The scenes during
the daytime are permeated with the inevitable dread that night is coming
soon. Night, then, is just sheer terror, as the incidents each night get
more and more terrifying (I completely lost track of time in this film,
so at one point I thought I was watching the climax. Uh-uh.). Then, finally,
the climax is just completely filled with dread and terror, combined with
the chills that come with very simple images. Then, at last, at the peak
of the climax, is an image I will never forget. I had been leaning forward
in my seat, and when the peak came, I lurched back in my seat, my
entire body subject to a huge, involuntary flinch.
Shot entirely by the actors themselves on two cameras, one a Hi-8 color
video camera and one a 16mm black and white camera, and then edited together
by the filmmakers (so the film cuts between grainy color and better looking
black and white), The Blair Witch Project has a very interesting
visual style. As I said, the chills come with the realization of very simple
images. The terror, the sheer horror of the piece, though, comes with what
you don't see. Panning around the dark forest at night, the Hi-8's
light illuminating only the nearest of trees, is a simple shot that I could
go out and capture with my video camera right now, but in the context
of this film it's terrifying. Then, when the actors are running, you have
basically nothing to look at -- you just listen to the actors' shouts of
terror. Or when the actors are in their darkened tent, listening to sounds
outside...damn! Who knew such simple sounds could evoke such terror?
Some
people have been disappointed with this film. I think hype will do that
to any movie (just look at The Phantom Menace), but also I think
it's because this film is like nothing that's ever been done before. The
herky-jerkiness of the camerawork I think threw some people off (some people
claimed it made them dizzy), but for me, it just added to the reality of
the piece. I mean, three student filmmakers in the woods being stalked
by a witch they're shooting a documentary on aren't going to have a dolly
or even a tripod on which to mount their camera. The camera's going to
bounce as they walk.
One thing
I was pleasantly surprised by is that the studio didn't matte the film
to the widescreen format. Usually, when a studio picks up an indie film
shot at a 4:3 ratio (the same ratio as most televisions), they'll "matte"
or crop it, to a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. I'm really glad they didn't do that
here, because having it at a 4:3 ratio, having the sides of the screen
left dark and unused -- that's just one more little touch that adds to
the realism of the piece.
The realism
of the piece. I am a huge movie buff, as you all well know, so I am one
who likes to completely suspend disbelief and really get into a
film. But in this case, I had to continually remind myself that it was
just a movie. A fiction, created by some ridiculously talented filmmakers
and actors. And for days after I saw the film, if I allowed almost
any of the images from the film to float into my mind, the chills would
return and I would feel a need to turn lights on. The night I saw the film,
I stayed up reading until it was light out. Only then was I able to fall
asleep. I shit you not -- this is easily the scariest movie ever made.
I haven't seen The Exorcist, but my friend Ryan said it's got nothing
on The Blair Witch Project (actually, he said "The Exorcist,
my nuts!" but I digress). And because of the way it's done, the terror
of this piece will by no means diminish when it's viewed at home on video
or DVD. Indeed, it may be enhanced.
So if
you want to scare yourself shitless, or you just appreciate brilliant (and
I mean brilliant) filmmaking, do not deny yourself the theatrical
experience of The Blair Witch Project, which, despite what I said
above, really should be seen in the theatre. There's nothing like the collective
gasp of an audience at something terrifying on-screen, and there's nothing
like walking out of a theatre in which people are still sitting in their
seats even after the credits have finish rolling, shivering and / or sobbing.
Brilliant.
ADDENDUM
-- 19.12.99
The above comments were made after I saw the film for the first time in
the theatre. They accuratley communicate how I felt about the film the
first time, and how I believe most people will feel the first time they
see the film. However, it should be noted that the film loses it's impact
the second time it is watched. It still gave me chills and got my heart
going a little faster than normal, but it was nowhere near as frightening
the second time around -- which is to be expected, I guess. Still, the
DVD is a good buy, because the director's commentary (complete with comments
like "The Blair Witch Project -- with Issac Hayes as The Monster")
makes the second viewing a lot more interesting. Just so you know.
It should also be noted that when I said that Blair Witch should
be nominated for Best Picture, that was before I had seen American
Beauty, The Insider, The Green Mile, The Sixth Sense, and most of the
other films on my "Top 15 of 1999" list. It was also right after
I had seen the film that I made this claim, and I was still freakin' out.
I think it should maybe have gotten a nod at the Oscars for editing or
something, but Best Picture? Nah.
Bottom line: The scariest movie I've ever seen.
My grade:
B+
My advice:
See it in the theatre. But not by yourself. And remember: it's
not real.
Get the movie
poster!
