The only appeal this film afforded me was it's concept.

Rating: Null/10 (8 November 1999)

The best thing I can possibly say about The Blair Witch Project is that I didn't HATE a MAXIMUM of thirty minutes of the movie. Of those thirty minutes, twenty-two of those could have possibly been turned into an effective made for t.v. Halloween special. {I have yet to see the film's companion piece which aired on the Sci-Fi Channel. Perhaps they were able to salvage something redeeming from the sedative I sat through)
Regarding the film's elements, had you cut out every utterance along the lines of {"What the F*** is goin' on here, man?", followed by an ever impressive "I don't F***in' know, man!"}, the movie would be maybe 55 minutes long (a generous estimate). Cut out the frequent and equally uninspired banter about their map, you are down to 35 minutes (seemingly).
While watching this movie, I found myself amazed (at times perplexed and insulted) at this group's lack of common sense. For instance; if you are lost in the woods and come across a running stream, follow the water downstream. Odds are you will stumble upon signs of civilization sooner or later. Some more good advice is to never part from camp in search of a comrade BEFORE daybreak, lest ye become lost yourself.
I have noticed that people who like this movie say that people like myself (antagonists) have no imagination. That those disappointed by Blair Witch were uneducated, searching for "Freddy and Jason" to jump out and slay all. Not so. It is my belief that Blair Witch suffered from "Phantom Menace syndrome". Which simply means I was unable to empathize with any of these characters. Whether they were running for their lives or desperately lost and wandering aimlessly through the woods. Nothing.
Yes, I understand that this was an "indie" flick. Filmed in only eight days using improve and costing only $25,000. But to call it the freshest thing to grace the silver screen is irresponsible and completely false.
I'm sorry but this film did nothing but make me mad. My final observation (the last time I waste cranial function on "the Blair Witch Project") is this; there is only one instance in this movie (two of them converse after one is lost.) where if you get up to retrieve a beverage, you will miss the only two minutes in the film spent on character development. As for the rest of the film, I have seen more passion in a turnip.
Anyway "I want my money back." Do not waste your time.