Cutting Edges: The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Figure 1- Film poster

The Blair Witch Project (1999) was directed by Eduardo Sanchez and Daniel Myrich. The film is about three  journalism students (Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, Michael C. Williams) who travel to the Maryland forest to make a documentary about a tale of the 'Blair Witch'.  When the students get lost in the wood and they begin  to hear terrifying noises.

The film is very scary because of  terrifying sound effect is used and they are amateur with these people as no inexperienced or unskilled in a particular activity who wants to be a filmmakers. The director uses of the light effects as a torch in some of the scene. "The Blair Witch Project" is scary because it doesn't really show you anything ... a lesson that other horror directors would be well-served to learn. There's only a brief moment when you see blood, but it registers like a howitzer." (Tatara 1999)

Figure 2 - Still image

In the film has a poor camerawork appears apart in which was found a footage style showing the constant movement of the camera as been giving a trigger motion sickness for some viewers as well as it is a simple to be irritating to others."As the Blair Witch that shows which is filled with a numerous shots pointed at the ground as the characters plod." (Banham 2015)

Figure 3- Still image

Overall, The film feel is such as if the audience are watching real life people rather than actors. who are  actually trying to document these strange things that are happening. It also makes the viewer feel rather uncomfortable as the sound design is very harsh and unnerving.it feels as if it is possible that the viewer can identify with the actors as it comes across as a documentary giving a similar uncomfortable and frightened feel. All of this atmosphere makes The Blair Witch Project  an interesting experience, it show that it is a brilliant example of an impactful film being made on a small budget.

Bibliography

Banham, J. (2015) The Blair Witch Project Film reviews. Available at: http://www.ukfilmreview.co.uk/#!The-Blair-Witch-Project-ThrowbackThursday/cu0l/561d5b9d0cf2c6c64372b211 (Accessed: 3 May 2016).


Ebert R. (1999) The Blair witch project movie review (1999). Available at:

http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-blair-witch-project-1999 (Accessed on 19 April 2016)

Tatara, P. (1999) Review: ‘Blair witch’ not just a walk in the woods - July 22, 1999. Available at: http://edition.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Movies/9907/22/review.blairwitch/ (Accessed: 19 April 2016)

Illustration List

Figure 1- Film poster
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/26/Blair_Witch_Project.jpg
(Accessed on 19 April 2016)

Figure 2 - Still image
http://www.cineclub.de/images/Blair_Witch_2.jpg ( Accessed on 19 April 2016)

Figure 3- Still image
http://kitleys.startlogic.com/images/Crosssroads/Blairwitch/cc-bwp2.jpg
( Accessed on 19 April 2016)