A "Witch" to watch....

Rating: 10/10 (9 November 1999)

Do I have to tell you what this one is about?
Anyone worth their salt knows about "The Blair Witch Project" and the descent of three documentarians into the woods, their own fears, madness and the fallacy of not listening to old wives tales.
But is it scary, you ask? Yes, I say!
This is one of the few horror films out in the world today that actually knows what works. It taps into our primordial fears (getting lost, the dark, distant noises, inexplicable symbolism) and exploits them out the ying-yang.
It is to the film's advantage that it was shot on camcorders; the constantly moving lens gives the film an urgent, breathless feel that makes it seem as if, yes, this is all actually taking place as we see it. Like we're there with these three crazy kids who go poking around where they shouldn't.
I have only one quibble about this film.
SPOILER -
Even anyone with a minute cache of survival skills knows to follow a stream as it flows and it will lead to a river, pond, lake or whatever. And there would be the most likely place you would find people, towns, cities, etc. So, why don't these green kids do that? Yeah, I know: because then the movie would be over and they'd never find that house in the middle of the woods. Just a small gripe in an otherwise fine horror flick.

END OF SPOILER

Okay, where was I? Oh yeah; great film. Earns every one of its scares and if any one film can trigger so much debate about whether it is real or not, you know these guys must have done something right.
Ten stars and some motion sickness pills for "The Blair Witch Project", the movie that proves once and for all that when you go out into the woods...pack an extra map.