Flawed but fascinating

Rating: 8/10 (8 November 2005)

I remember how excited I was when I first heard about the Blair Witch Project. The idea of a horror film seen through the eyes of a video camera was an intriguing prospect to me. Not to mention unique in this day and age of slasher films. And although it has it's failings, the Blair Witch Project provides good, solid entertainment.
The three heroes of the piece Heather, Josh and Mike go off to the woods of Maryland to film a documentary about the Blair Witch. The film makes the wise choice of lulling you into a false sense of security. The opening scenes are light and comical, such as interviews with the townspeople, and witty banter between the trio.
But then things start to turn ominous when Heather & Co lose their way. They can't seem to get out of the woods, and what's worse, they are not alone. Someone or something, is stalking them. When they're camped out in the middle of the night, they are certain they can hear noises from outside. Noises that are gradually getting closer to them. Weird objects are left outside their campsite. The map goes missing. Josh disappears. And so on.
The fact that the BWP is seen through a camera gives a heightened sense of realism to the proceedings. But personally, what I found to be more effective was the way the three of them gradually come apart on each other. Heather's obsession with continuing to record the events is counter-played with Josh blaming her for getting them lost. The camera closes on her face, teary-eyed, frightened and very upset.
Or the scene when Mike throws the map away and confesses. The anger from Heather is so profound it was almost painful to watch. And of course we can never forget the most famous scene when Heather records a final goodbye message. Again the camera is right in her face. She now fully expects to die. Because she so freely admits it, it becomes a very powerful and moving scene.
These are the scenes that makes a lasting impression. BWP is never exactly all out frightening, but it is very unnerving. The psychological impact afflicting our trio is much more effective. The ending is rather unusual, because it comes so quickly. Heather and Mike come across a house. They go in. And don't come back out. We never find out what happened to them. Or what was stalking them. This makes for an anti-climatic, but pulse-pounding ending at the same time.
Clocking in at a lean 79 minutes was a wise choice. It keeps events moving at a fair pace, and doesn't burn itself out with over-exposure. Those jerky camera movements would otherwise get tedious after a while. The Blair Witch Project is not without it's flaws, but it does leave a lasting impression, and will make you think twice before going off on any camping trips in the woods any time soon.