Go Stand in the Corner!

Rating: 7/10 (1 May 2015)

The Blair Witch Project (1999): Dir: Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sanchez / Cast: Heather Donahue, Michael Williams, Joshua Leonard, Sandra Sanchez, Jim King: Independent horror film that received about the best marketing a film could ask for. Three students undergo a project on the legendary Blair Witch. Locals describe the Blair Witch killing several children in the deep woods. Filming begins with fun but each night grows darker until they awake with bizarre happenings. Great premise shot in camcorder so that viewers can experience the film as the characters do. Effective with tension building but the ending is too abrupt. Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez who give it a documentary appeal although the shaky camera movements are distracting. Absorbing performances by Heather Donahue, Michael Williams and Joshua Leonard. Donahue gives an emotional confession to the camera with that eerie flashlight. The locals being interviewed in the opening needed more screen time just based on humour. The ending leaves viewers a bit confused. One of the boys goes missing and the remaining two panic. When we finally do see him it is not clear what is happening. Upholds the idea of fear being something we cannot see. Some of the dark lighting could have been edited out particularly when it is pitch black and nothing is happening, but it is still shocking independent film work. Score: 7 ½ / 10