C.T Recommended: The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez

Starring: Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, and Joshua Leonard.

The plot follows three student filmmakers who hiked in the Black Hills near Burkittsville, Maryland in 1994 to film a documentary about a local legend known as the Blair Witch.

Truly, one of the best and most successful horror films ever created. With a budget of up to $60,000, it proved that you don't need big money to scare your audience. The movie later went onto gross approximately $248.6 million, making it one of the best independent films in history.

The true horror portrayed in the film was the use of the found footage technique which is seen in more frequently in modern movies such as Paranormal Activity and Cloverfield. Although, it was not the first movie to use this technique, it was highly effective and immersed us into this suspenseful film. The film really captures the theme of isolation, with it taking place in a dense forest, which in all honesty would be scary to be stranded in at night. The film doesn't strive on cheap jump-scares, but instead is slowly paced with buildups to the horrors that ensues in the woods. This however, can be a chore to those who don't like slow films and many would say it is "boring", so if you are one of those people, it's probably better if you skip this film. The marketing for the film made added a sense of realism and at times questioned us if this film was real or not. Similar case could be said for the urban legend of the supposed "Blair Witch". With its notoriety, fans of the film visit the forests of Burkittsville, to try and understand the events that unfolded before their eyes. The final shot of the film is haunting and will stay with you for the many years to come.

In conclusion, a low budget film that packs a punch and has become one of the most successful independent horror films of all time. Instead of showcasing the horror on screen, it leaves you scared of what's off screen, and uses your imagination the film left a large impression on the world, questioning us if the film or the urban legend was real or not. I can't say that about most films, further making this film one of my personal favorites.

My rating: 9.0/10

#CTRecommended #2018