Overrated

Rating: Null/10 (20 November 1999)

I had waited ages to see this film, there had been so much hype after its release in the U.S that I thought it must be really good. What a disappointment. I had read the dossier and seen the documentary Curse of the Blair Witch and had heard people rave about it for months. So my expectations were high- but what an absolute bore. This film is not scary ( for the most part) unless you believe that its true. There is little tension in the first 45 minutes, with the only real terror occurring in the last five minutes- something I could probably have done without. It certainly is eerie, and it certainly kept me awake at night- but I was expecting something more. The woods have unfortunately been a lot scarier in other films ( try Twin Peaks)which was part of its downfall. The film is really original, and the camera work was done very well (documentary style) but it still didn't hold my attention. I found the characters really irritating, especially Heather who evidently had no sense of self preservation. It plays a lot like a student film- I suppose its meant to but I just found it quite boring for the most part and really nothing more than a clever marketing ploy- for which the film makers should be congratulated. However, as a film standing on its own it just does not make the grade. Very Disappointing