Did Blair Witch affect you?

With Blair Witch coming up to being fifteen years old for many it may be a distant memory for some people, for others it may be the start of a new generation of horror in the idea of the low budget, grimy and "based on true"events and for others still it may be seen as one of the dumbest films every made. For me it is very important because it got me into the horror genre, I had never really been into it mainly because I simply didn't have access to many horror films and seeing BWP and the documentary by UK film critic Mark Kermode cemented me into it.

So, a very simple question; How did Blair Witch affect you? How did it effect your film going experience? Did it change anything in you with regards to the films you watched? Did you even like it and what did you like? Did you hate it and think it is just cheesy film making?

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Not in the slightest

I went to see Blair Witch at the theater after hearing all the hype. I have never been into horror films but usually see the well talked about ones. I really disliked it. It was just impossible for me to suspend my disbelief enough for this to be creepy on any level. I understand my opinion is not popular and may not be proper criticism but it really does just become kids walking around in the woods telling you what is scary. Again because I was not immersed in these kid's world, the ending did nothing for me. Sorry to be the spoil sport but that is how I feel.

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“Except for markf, you’re all a disgrace to cinema.”

The only thing I remember liking was the final image, the rest was rubbish.

But damn, that marketing plan was brilliant.

Never apologise for your opinion Sean, people may disagree but you are certainly entitled to it and to be honest the people around me were the same, I was really taken in by it but the people I was with just thought I was stupid.

And you are right Suspect, this is by far (even to this day) the best marketing for a film I have ever seen.

This was such a difficult film to get hold of. A friend had been trying for months. Then he had a holiday in the far east and came back with a carrier bag full of vcd's he'd bought in a supermarket out there. Not kosher, of course, but everything was there including the one we'd all been dying to see.

He'd already seen it when he handed me my copy with the words "Don't blame me. You wanted it." Needless to say, he'd loathed it. "Absolute ****." "Don't know what the fuss was all about." "One of the worst films I've ever seen." "Not scary." "Why'd they even bother making it?" I got it all in, what seemed like, a 5 minute diatribe about the worst film he'd ever seen... And this is a guy who had all the 'Cannibal' films back in the late 90's. I don't know about elsewhere, but they weren't just lying around in England back then. You had to dig them up and, sometimes, not by legal means, either.

So I watched it... I loved it. What the hell was he talking about? This was great. Yeah, they weren't good actors and, yes, Heather's a little annoying sometimes but it's so atmospheric. Also, unlike now, I'd not seen anything like this since the early 80's so it felt new. Horror films don't scare me, so I wasn't scared, but it built to a terrific crescendo that left you on the edge of your seat.

I know a lot of people complained about feeling sick watching it and I can understand that. Especially on a big screen, but thankfully, I never felt like that watching Blair Witch. I remember taking that tape everywhere. I think all my friends saw it and, as I remember it, it was about 50/50 as to whether they liked it or not and/or thought it was scary or not. Thinking back, those I remember being scared by it are still scared of found footage stuff, when done well, whereas the other half still hate it, for the most part.

Lastly, I don't care how good the marketing was, I still find it troubling that anyone thought his was real/true.

I also liked Book of Shadows: Blair Witch.

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That's almost word for word what I was going to say. I'm not a horror fan, but I love suspense movies, and I heard all the hype about how scary Blair Witch was supposed to be, so I had to see it.

It was so bad that I still don't understand all the hype about it. It wasn't scary or suspenseful at all. To this day, I still blame my friend who convinced me to go see it for wasting my time and money on that movie, and the lasting effect was that even 15 years later, that friend is no longer allowed to choose the movies we see.

I'm not a fan of horror films, especially the cut & chop type. So I approached Blair Witch Project with no preconceived ideas.

I loved the Indy style / pseudo documentary, look of the film. The intentional misuse of wide angle lenses for selfies, the desaturation of the color and over all monotone look of the movie. The lack of sets, added to the realism.

The scenes where mysterious events happen, were never actually shown, so we never know if it's the Blair Witch or just pranksters or what. This kept the suspense up for me.

I though it was a clever, unique and fresh approach to film making.

Good found-footage but the ending is completely crappy. In my opinion, V/H/S , V/H/S 2 , Chronicle and Cloverfield are all better found-footage movie

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After the overwhelming critical praise this film got plus the ad campaign, I went and saw it. I felt ripped off and cheated when I left the theater. It was the single worst theatrical experience I ever had. And I saw Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, Pluto Nash, AND Batman and Robin in the theater!

After seeing this movie though my opinions of professional film critics dropped significantly.

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I pretty much live in the woods so it did freak me out a bit at that time. I usually don't think about it when going into the woods now. I am more worried about big foot. LOL! I remember everyone around here being freaked out by it though. I completely blame it for the 'self film' movie craze. I hope that fades away quickly.

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You are no Vader. You are just a child in a mask.

I live smack dab in the middle of a wooden 5 acres. BWP was on my mind if I went outside after dark, that and bears. Now it's just bears.

I wasn't thrilled with the ending either, but liked the film up to the finally scene.

Nooooo. That's even worse.

Honeykid, do you still have Blair Witch? That should be our next commentary.

I know. I did like it, though. I have a copy, so I must watch it again someday.

EDIT: Yes, I think I do. I'd have to check, though.

I saw it at the movies when it came out. I really wasn't impressed by it. I actually went to Burkittsville, Maryland with my family right after it came out and we met this older woman who was selling all kinds of things Blair Witch related -- sticks made to look like the witch's symbol, rocks, leaves, even blankets. My mom bought a blanket from the Blair Witch lady for my niece, who was about to be born. The lady even appears at the beginning of Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows, which I thought was so cool. She played someone in Burkittsville who they interview. I remember she and I had a conversation about horror films and Alfred Hitchcock.

I like the movie more now, though. Some people on this site who love it actually got me to appreciate it more.

This is the lady I met:



This is a screencap from Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2.

I also went to the graveyard in Burkittsville seen in The Blair Witch Project.

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I don't particularly remember being affected by the film in anyway...I think it was an interesting experiment in filmmaking with middling success. To answer this question properly though, I would really need a re-watch, it's been awhile.

Don't you dare do that one without me!

Looks like my copy's not working. I'll have to get another one or something.