Original but not very exciting

Rating: 6/10 (31 October 1999)

Saw TBWP on DVD last night. I was a little disappointed after all the hype. First the good points. It's original - definitely not your formulaic, Hollywood fare. Great atmosphere - the music is really frightening and the footage looks authentic. Good acting - from everyone but especially Heather. It's short - 80 minutes. The DVD package is excellent - the movie, director's commentary, various trailers, BW myth, TV documentary. The user interface is also well done (very spooky). BUT... nothing really happens. That may have been OK when no-one knew anything about it but now that some of the story has leaked out (like the fact that it was the producers who spooked the campers) then something was lost. You couldn't help think "I know who put that stuff there". So it's a victim of its own success. I gave it 7/10 and it *will* remembered for a long time - but not because it's a classic horror movie - because of its originality. If you want classic horror watch Psycho or Halloween. This movie's not in the same league.