Though it’s nearly two decades old, The Blair Witch Project still holds up as a modern classic
With the second installment (second because let’s just forget about that horrid Book Of Bleh) of The Blair Witch Project coming out in a few weeks, aptly titled Blair Witch, I thought it would be appropriate to review the original.
I first watched the movie when I was at the oldest 7 or 8 in my cousins’ basement. At that point, the virality of the movie had just calmed down, but it was still widely known as one of the most horrifying movies of all time. This is proven by the fact that I nearly broke down crying when the main menu came up. The second time I watched it I was in high school and still nearly broke down crying (or did).
However, now that I’m at a point in my life that I am confident in my abilities a fan and studier of cinema I am seeing The Blair Witch Project as a landmark cinematic experience. While I think a lot of the early acclaim was because of the viral marketing and debate behind its authenticity, looking at it through the lens of a film proves that it is a modern classic.
If you somehow have been lost in the woods in Maryland for two decades, The Blair Witch Project tells the story three amateur filmmakers — Josh, Heather, and Mike — who embark into Burkittsville, Maryland to create a documentary on the legend of the Blair Witch. Much of what we learn about the legend and experiences of the town folk are through interviews with actual citizens of townspeople who recount the terrifying tale of a witch that lurks in the woods.
The trio venture into the forest searching for the legendary witch only to find that the legend may not be so mythical after all.
As the “documentary” unfolds, one thing is strikingly clear. The filmmaking style and performance still feel so real that I found myself at some points still being tricked into thinking this was
Now, here’s the thing. There are very few movies that I have become emotional during. However, there are parts of this movie that I became physically unnerved for the characters and frankly saddened for them. At some point, the movie because less about the witch and more about the fragility of the human psyche. What are you thinking? Who do you blame? The scenario unfolds with so much real and raw emotion that it feels claustrophobic. You feel trapped in the forest with them.
While the concept may feel outdated or overdone you have to remember that this is the first time a movie like this ever existed. Yes, mockumentaries predated The Blair Witch Project, but no movie has come close to even committing this type of immersive experience to film. The viral marketing and cultural phenomenon aside, the movie still holds up as a masterclass in tension, atmosphere, and horror.
While the style has been copied countless times from degrees of success — the first Paranormal Activity, Cloverfield, Chronicle — to questionable — The Chernobyl Diaries, all the other Paranormal Activity movies — it has never been replicated and probably never will be.
The Blair Witch Project isn’t going to hold up as well for everyone. We’ve come to the point in horror that our senses need to be assaulted for us to feel anything. Turn off all the lights, close the blinds, turn off your phone and tell me that the experience of watching it isn’t terrifying. I dare you.
Where to stream The Blair Witch Project: Available to stream on Showtime. Also available to rent or buy on Prime Video or
Hey, I'm Karl, founder and film critic at Smash Cut. I started Smash Cut in 2014 to share my love of movies and give a perspective I haven't yet seen represented. I'm also an editor at The New York Times, a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, and a member of the Online Film Critics Society.