This movie could have benefited from never being made. In theory, it was probably a great idea. Take a look at the phenomenom spawned by the Blair Witch Project- a recent cinematic feat that's been mirror and mimicked by plenty since (even I've made a bloody blair witch spoof), cast the director of Paradise Lost- guys who've researched mysterious child murders with possible occult tie-ins, and let the dollars come rushing in. Unfortunately, this film is a mess. It was a tricky idea to pull off, and it looks like they really rushed their way through what could have been a carefully constructed study on media exploitation of cultural phenomena, psychosis, and faulty camera equiptment.
the movie is just generally uneven. The commencement focuses on the Blair Witch hysteria and how its plagued the small town in witch its based, carefully never hinting as to whether the movie was ficitional or not. The characters in the movie live in a sublet of our culture wherein the phenomenon caught on, but the three actors didn't go on talk shows and get numerous interviews. "We know it's real" they exclaim. Blair-Witch Hunt crews explore the woods and exploit people's wallets. It's a biting satire of the the capitalizisation that inadvertently comes with every trend. This segment of the movie is designed with cheesy one-liners and a generally light-fared plotline. The movie then attempts to take itself seriously and falls flat on its nose, cracking that nose causing a surge of blood and gore to gush out ruining what could have been a delightfully beautiful face. Speaking of which, there's relatively no gore in this movie- which is a plus- but the more explicit scenes come in flashes of projected Blair Witch induced slayings- which may or may not be the ones that legend has said took place in the woods.
the acting is subpar. the terror is absent. and it's not because barely anyone dies or because nothing jumps out of each corner, that was a wise part on behalf of the directors-who obviously took notes from the first movie. It's just that nearly every attempts to turn frightening fail to inspire the sympathy for the characters that other movies, such as the first Blair Witch did. They're each unique and i did appreciate some of the techniques used by the actors/actresses (esp. the uppity "i understand and you don't cos I'm a" wiccan character. that hit close to home) but the development is severely lacking. On a positive note, the movie does leave you with a dilemma that the film never answers and you can debate with your friends afterwards- but it hardly inspires you to sit down and go through the process of watching it again.
the movie is just generally uneven. The commencement focuses on the Blair Witch hysteria and how its plagued the small town in witch its based, carefully never hinting as to whether the movie was ficitional or not. The characters in the movie live in a sublet of our culture wherein the phenomenon caught on, but the three actors didn't go on talk shows and get numerous interviews. "We know it's real" they exclaim. Blair-Witch Hunt crews explore the woods and exploit people's wallets. It's a biting satire of the the capitalizisation that inadvertently comes with every trend. This segment of the movie is designed with cheesy one-liners and a generally light-fared plotline. The movie then attempts to take itself seriously and falls flat on its nose, cracking that nose causing a surge of blood and gore to gush out ruining what could have been a delightfully beautiful face. Speaking of which, there's relatively no gore in this movie- which is a plus- but the more explicit scenes come in flashes of projected Blair Witch induced slayings- which may or may not be the ones that legend has said took place in the woods.
the acting is subpar. the terror is absent. and it's not because barely anyone dies or because nothing jumps out of each corner, that was a wise part on behalf of the directors-who obviously took notes from the first movie. It's just that nearly every attempts to turn frightening fail to inspire the sympathy for the characters that other movies, such as the first Blair Witch did. They're each unique and i did appreciate some of the techniques used by the actors/actresses (esp. the uppity "i understand and you don't cos I'm a" wiccan character. that hit close to home) but the development is severely lacking. On a positive note, the movie does leave you with a dilemma that the film never answers and you can debate with your friends afterwards- but it hardly inspires you to sit down and go through the process of watching it again.