Pwaters' Month of Terror Day 2: The Blair Witch Project

Hello ladies, gentlemen, and creatures lurking in the shadows!  This month, October, is a favorite among horror fans, such as myself.  My goal for the next 31 days is to share with you the scariest and best of the genre.  The films will range from old school classics to modern day gorefests (they won't be in any particular order).  So scout these movies out, grab a bag of popcorn (or a blood bag) and enjoy!

The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Dir. Daniel Myrick, Edwardo Sanchez

The Blair Witch Project is one of those movies that haunted my thoughts long after I watched it.  I saw this film at a fairly young age, when ghosts, devils, and possessions were are still "possible" nightmare scenarios for me.  When this movie came out, it was reported that what was shown in the film was actual found footage of a student documentary about a local urban legend gone awry - and I believed it.  This was unlike any horror movie experience I'd ever had, or probably will ever have, because in my mind what was in the film was real. This is one of those movies that many filmmakers are envious of because it is such an ingenious idea and can really only be done this one time.  No other film can try to pass itself off as a "found footage" movie and not be compared to The Blair Witch Project.

Being extremely low budget only added to the reality of the narrative.  If a real "witch" existed on his/her own in the woods, they would only have sticks and rocks to "play" with (along with the darkness, which plays a huge role in the movie).  Often it's a faint noise in the distance or a snapping twig that jolts you the most.  Like the best of the genre, it's what you don't see that makes things so much more unbearable.

The woodsy atmosphere and gritty documentary camera style are cinematically absorbing, but it's the three-man crew that makes the film so watchable.  You really start to like these kids and get to know their personalities really well.  Because we spend time with them and start to feel like we're taking a part in their friendship, it makes it that much more scary and personal when they are subjected to terrifying situations.  This movie seems to have a love it or hate it reputation, but you can't deny the power of a film that made half its initial viewers believe it was real.