Disappointing but not a total loss.

Rating: 6/10 (5 August 1999)

Hi All!
I finally got to see BWP & I have to say I was disappointed. My biggest problems with it included: 1) The actors, whom I felt just weren't that good ("Mike" was OK, "Heather" was variable, & "Josh" was annoying); 2) The characters, who tended to act in such a way as to best advance the plot--sitting & sulking when they should be getting the heck out of there, and getting helplessly lost in the middle of the crowded eastern seaboard. I mean, even a tenderfoot like me knows to follow a creek downstream to find civilization. And why didn't they bring a cell phone--a necessity for camping out in the 90's?; 3) The technical qualities in some instances--the sounds the characters heard, for example, were muddy & indistinct, at least in the theatre in which I saw the film. All these things detracted from the ability of this viewer to suspend disbelief, something very important for a horror film.
On the other hand, I did like the jumpy camera work & the fact that the characters weren't very sympathetic people since those things *helped* the reality of the film. And the townsfolk who appeared at the start of the film were pretty good, especially the little girl who helped add to the anticipation of scariness. What she did looked so unscripted that it seemed really creepy. In sum, I think BWP is similar to the Exorcist--a not that scary movie which drives people crazy due to their expectations of being scared. Maybe the sequel will be better.
p.s. In fairness, I should note that I saw the movie in a theatre with a bunch of chatty, restless people & that didn't help my enjoyment of the film. But I don't think my opinion would have been much different had I seen it under better circumstances. I would say that this may make better viewing on video than in the movies.