Blair Witch: A Horror Game-Changer That Still Scares the Bejesus Out of You

Remember 1999? Back when there were 150 million internet users worldwide, with more than half of them in the United States (as of July 2024, there were 5.45 billion internet users worldwide). Back when Social media meant sharing a newspaper. Back when the Nokia 3310 didn’t even exist. Back when the entire world was terrified that a systemic error in computers was going to bring about the end of humanity.

That was 1999, back when a tiny indie flick called The Blair Witch Project blew the roof off cinema and introduced regular cinema goers to a new horror genre with this superbly marketed gem. This definitely wasn’t your typical Hollywood horror. Directed by the duo of Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, it was made for peanuts (around $60,000!) but raked in a whopping $250 million worldwide.

It’s perhaps difficult to explain to a modern audience what made it so scary, but I’ll have a go:

  • Real or Fake? You Decide! The film followed three unknown actors – Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, and Joshua Leonard – as student filmmakers venturing into the creepy Black Hills Forest to document the legend of the Blair Witch. The directors put them through real survival situations, letting them improvise their way through the terror. This blurred the lines between movie and reality – especially with the genius marketing campaign that treated the story as true. They listed the actors as either “missing” or “deceased” and handed out flyers at festival screenings asking people to come forward with any information. The film is considered to be the first to market itself through a website, it listed the actors as “missing,” adding layers to the illusion. Even the IMDb page listed the actors as “missing, presumed dead” in the first year of the film’s availability. Myrick and Sánchez created an entire backstory of the curse legend, and a mockumentary “Curse of the Blair Witch” was broadcast on the SciFi Channel.
  • Scared Yet? You Should Be. Forget jump scares and CGI monsters. This film relied on pure psychological dread. The Blair Witch herself never showed her face, leaving your imagination to conjure up all sorts of nightmares. You were fully immersed in the story, as the locals gave bits of information you would later come to remember as the strange things began to happen. This made it way scarier, because honestly, what’s scarier than the unknown lurking in the shadows? The thought this was actually “real” was genuine, marketing was perfect.
  • A Horror Revolution. The Blair Witch Project wasn’t just a box office smash; it changed the face of horror. It paved the way for movies like Paranormal Activity and showed indie filmmakers that they could take on Hollywood with fresh ideas.
  • Still Going Strong. The film’s influence is undeniable, with sequels, parodies, books, graphic novels, video games and now a new limited edition Blu-ray is coming out on November 11th!

But the real magic of The Blair Witch Project?

It reminds us that sometimes, the scariest things are the ones we can’t quite see. So, if you’re looking for a horror movie that will stay with you long after the credits roll, then grab your popcorn (and maybe a a torch and some tissue for that nose) and dive back into the Black Hills Forest.

For those revisiting The Blair Witch Project, it’s more than just nostalgia; it’s a reminder of the power of imagination in horror, a genre that’s often at its best when it shows less and suggests more. With the new Blu-ray release on the horizon, it’s a perfect time to experience—or re-experience—the magic that changed horror forever.

If it’s your first time try to put yourself in the ’99 mindset. Here’s my experience to help you. It’s coming up to Halloween 1999. The marketing for the Blair Witch Project is at its peak, they’re discussing it in newspapers and on the (non 24hr) news. You’ve heard there was a documentary shown about the missing teenagers. There’s nothing to tell you that this isn’t all real. The film had a limited release over in the US back in July and was about to release here in the UK on October 22nd. Luckily, Play.com was the place for imported US DVD releases and you’d managed to order it as it was releasing on DVD the same day over there as the cinema over here. You got the DVD and a few family members who’d been asking “have you heard about The Blair Witch?” gathered round the TV, on that dark wintery night of Halloween. The shaking tent scene was absolutely terrifying, as we all enjoyed a spot of camping, and the final scenes… We would spend the next couple of days trying to find out if it was, indeed, real.

Want to revisit this horror masterpiece? Pre-order the new Blu-ray over at Second Sight Films

This must-own box set arrives on 11 November 2024 and is presented in a stunning new rigid slipcase with new artwork by Timothy Pittides and comes complete with a 184-page hardback book with archive production materials, new essays and an additional book ‘Heather’s Journal’.

There will also be a Standard Edition Blu-ray release and both versions are packed with exclusive extras, including a brand new restoration from the Hi-8 videotapes and 16mm film elements, supervised and approved by directors Eduardo Sanchez (V/H/S/2, Yellowjackets) and Daniel Myrick (Triple 7, Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2) and producers Greg Hale and Michael Monello, plus a brand new documentary, new commentary, previously unseen video footage, archival bonus material and more.

Lets take a look at the Special Features:

A new Second Sight restoration from the Hi-8 videotapes and 16mm film elements, supervised and

approved by the producers and directors.

Absolutely stunning, the film looks amazing. You really get to see those snot bubbles at their best!

Includes restored and remastered Original Theatrical Cut and Festival Cut plus original-release

version.

Second Sight do a phenomenal job of restoring these classics and giving us the chance to see versions we may not have previously has chance to see. Theatrical cut runtime is 1:21:21 with the Festival cut slightly longer at 1:25:19

New audio commentary by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Josh Nelson

Alexandra Heller-Nicholas is back to do a Second Sight Films audio commentary, this time with Josh Nelson. This is a light, fun commentary with Josh discussing such joys as cleaning up people’s vomit after screenings at the cinema he worked at. They also discuss how extraordinary it was on release. Due to neither of the people having any insight into the making of the film, specific scenes etc, they’re just chatting about the film as a whole so there’s very few gaps in this commentary. I feel it would be listenable to as audio only, which talks of its fine quality.

Directors’ and producers’ audio commentary

This commentary by Rob(in) Cowie, Dan Myrick, Ed Sanchez, Gregg Hale and Mike Monello starts as it means to go on with “Hopefully you guys are not expecting a really serious, insightful commentary”. Full of great insights into the making of the film, all with a hint of friendly banter and silliness. Talking about cutting between 16mm and hi 8 etc and the people doing some of the background stuff were crew, family etc. Don’t say anything about Ed’s sister! They discuss goofs, both production and just time based. Patty DeCou’s scene breakdown is fascinating. She was a student at 65 years of age and some of the things Heather says about her are things she actually claimed to be. What a character! The shaky tent scene discussion is a great insight into those scenes. Generally a fun commentary that still gives new, fascinating insights into the making of the movie.

The Blair Witch Documentary: a new feature-length Second Sight Films production

A beautifully put together documentary that covers, I think, EVERYTHING you’re ever going to want to know about making this film. At a run time of 2 and a half hours, in other hands this could be dull as dishwater but the Second Sight team smash it out of the park. Well shot, well edited documentary that makes you want to rewatch the film. Which is handy as you have multiple versions to choose from on the other disc.

Deleted scenes, including previously unseen video and 16mm footage

Wow. More footage than you can shake a stick at. All together, 1:31:44, longer than the actual film!

A completionists dream

The Blair Witch Project: Analogue Horror in a Digital World by Mike Muncer

As you may have read previously, I’m not a particular fan of these “read my own article” type extras. This one however isn’t as obviously that, it seems more like a stream of consciousness and is linked visually to parts of the film as well as others in the genre. Really enjoyed it, may it have converted me to a fan of these bits? No, but it was a fun way to spend 11 minutes.

Curse of the Blair Witch

This is your chance to watch the 1999 TV mockumentary that aired on the Sci-fi Channel. Really good and adds to the myth building around the film with fairly realistic looking news channel snippets and interviews etc.

Alternate Endings

4 alternate endings, corner(backwards), Corner (forwards), Hanging and Levitating. None of these are better than the one we got so good choice!

Cannes 1999: Archive directors’ interview

10 minute Cannes interview which couldn’t be much more 90’s if it tried.

Trailers

Second Sight have let me down again as this isn’t pictures of the crew camper vans on set, it’s just a few of the adverts for the film.

Limited Edition Contents

Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Timothy Pittides

184-page hardback book with archive production materials and new essays by Stacey Abbott, Becky

Darke, Adam Hart, Craig Ian Mann, Mary Beth McAndrews, Dr. Cecilia Sayad, Peter Turner and Heather Wixson

Heather’s Journal book

Three collectors’ art cards

This is an absolute must have for horror fans, available for pre-order at Second Sight Films

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