Blair Witch Review
R: Language, Terror and Some Disturbing Images
Lionsgate
1 hr and 29 Minutes
Cast: James Allen McCune, Callie Hernandez, Brandon Scott, Valorie Curry, with Corbin Reid, and Wes Robinson
A group of college students venture into Black Hills in Maryland to find James Donahue's sister, Heather,who many believe is connected to the Blair Witch legend after her disappearance twenty-two years before. Suddenly, a collage of strange occurrences and supernatural forces reveal that the legend is all too real.
REVIEW: Let’s admit it, Lionsgate pulled a trick on us. They had us curious with the teaser of the film that was entitled “the woods,” that had people go “ooh looks like a blair witch movie, but it isn’t a Blair Witch movie so hey might as well right?” NO IT WAS A GODDAMN BLAIR WITCH SEQUEL AND WE FELL FOR IT! We ate that shit up and were hyped that one of the best horror/ found footage films was getting a sequel. Not like a shat out sequel like Book of Shadows, but a new reimagined and direct sequel to the original 1999 Blair Witch Project.
THE GOOD: There are many great directors in the genre of horror that we know and love. Thereare Wes Craven,Toby Hooper, James Wan to a certain extent, to name a few. But there is one that has been up and coming for a while now and with this, he has solidified his name to the list. He is Adam Wingard. But Wingard was never alone. He always had Simon Barrett as his screenwriter. Since they bother collaborated on 2011’s You’re Next which was released in 2013, every film they’ve worked on they worked on together. From V/H/S to ABCs of Death to even 2014’s The Guest (yeah I just rhymed). And now with a sequel on their hands, they both knock it out of the park by giving us a new take on the classic horror film in the age, horror movies were becoming generic and trite.
What makes Blair Witch such a terrifying good time is it’s inspiration from the original. Think of how much Star Wars Episode VII or how Jurassic World was a remake of their original predecessor. The same goes with this where it is just a modernized retelling of the original with technology up to date to help bring the found footage story along. It's pretty much Blair Witch for a new generation. The film’s editing is extremely tight. It isn’t set up like every other found footage movie because it utilizes every filming device possible to transition one shot to the next. here is use of headsets, drones, and a bunch of other modern day filming equipment that a college student could afford.
Like the original, Blair Witch isn’t particularly scary but is constantly intense and terrifying. You never seen the witch herself but she doesn’t play. Once you get into her woods you’re fucked and you feel bad the majority of the characters trapped in there. Sometimes you don’t have to see the creature in order to be terrified, it is what the creature does and the people’s reaction to them. Once these travelers in search for Heather realize that frightening things are going on they quickly try to get back home, but the Blair Witch has another plan for them that makes you just go “damn man.” There is no jump scares but from beginning of the second act to the end, your heart is at the edge of your seat. Watch this as a double feature with Don’t Breathe and expect your heart to feel numb afterwards.
THE BAD: Blair Witch doesn’t have character with much depth with the exception of James and Lisa, but the film’s extremely short length is to blame. It is a horror film that doesn’t emphasize on character, but as long as they aren’t annoying (thankfully they aren’t) that’s what matters. The film features a heterosexual African American couple (Lane and Ashley). Lane is an asshole and the Ashley is timid. Guess who dies first?
LAST STATEMENT: Though it doesn’t bring much character to the table and in thought doesn’t need to, Wingard and Barrett’s Blair Witch is a love letter to the original capturing the same thrills and chills while updating the cinematic style — in all the right ways.
Rating: 3.5/5 | 76%
Super Scene: Lane see’s Ashley’s cut.
