A truly terrifying film

Rating: 9/10 (30 November 2016)

The Blair Witch Project is, in my opinion, one of the best horror movies due to it's realistic setting and eerie environment. The found footage format makes the scares unpredictable and terrifying.
The film follows three people on a mission to learn about the Blair Witch, an urban legend of sorts in the woods of Maryland. It is shot entirely with hand-held cameras and equipment that would realistically be used for a low budget documentary like the one Heather, Josh, and Mike are trying to make. It almost feels like you're actually there in the woods since the camera shows the characters' perspectives.
Perhaps the most terrifying moments are when the characters see something but the camera is facing away so the audience can't see what they saw. The mystery is one of the most compelling aspects of the film. The characters aren't focusing on getting the perfect shot when they're running or scared, so the camera ends up showing their feet or the blurry scenery. This creates a very disorienting feeling that adds to the ambiance.
The film has a lot of subtlety. Plot points are briefly mentioned by characters who are interviewed or one of the main three throughout. As the mystery of the woods is slowly revealed, you can see more and more references to the urban legend found throughout the woods. Some things you won't even notice unless you re watch the film a few times. It's especially scary when the characters don't notice certain connections to the legend that are playing out around them.
All three main actors do an excellent job acting naturally as if it isn't a movie at all. Their reactions seem very genuine and real. In some parts their reactions actually very real, since the director told them very little and would leave them alone in the woods for periods of time. The dedication to creating a realistic horror film is truly astounding.
The final scene is one of the most terrifying moments in the film. Josh's screaming is heard while Mike and Heather run through a creepy house. Viewers are terrified about what will be around each corner. The film then ends with Mike going into the basement and dropping his camera. Heather then enters the basement to see Mike facing the corner- a reference to the Rustin Parr story mentioned earlier- and she is knocked to the ground. The camera runs for a minute and stops. This ambiguous ending leaves so many questions and makes for an excellently terrifying end to the film.
The Blair Witch project created a truly terrifying atmosphere that remains scary to this day. I have yet to watch a film that comes close to the level of eeriness in Blair Witch. This is a classic horror film that is guaranteed to leave audiences feeling uneasy for years to come.