If the summer of ‘99 is ever remembered for anything, it won’t be for having too many great films. Worse still are these idiot reviewers who reward movies that don’t deserve it, just because it’s a dry spell and out of some inner need to do so. Yeah, it sucks to continually be negative, but if there are no good films, there are no good films. That’s it!

      Which brings us to the subject of this picture. Like so many, I got caught up in the buzz of this film too, especially after being disappointed by so many before it. The premise is outstanding and the kind of thing really that’s right up my alley. In fact, the best of what ghost stories have to offer is exemplified in this plot. Now that I’ve seen it, I will admit that it was not as good as I’d hoped. I still liked it, but the film is plagued with a few problems that other reviewers have all but blatantly ignored. Truth is, any and all of these problems were easily solvable and well within the filmmakers’ abilities. That there’s no real conclusion is the worst one, which is something I was afraid of. The film ends on such a dangler that most movie audiences will probably be put off by it, or in some cases feel really cheated. It didn’t need much either, just some kind of small narration or titles, like in the beginning, telling us what happened in the aftermath. Any kind of closure frankly, be it large or small, would have been better.

      Also, the film is not as “intensely shocking” as the previews might claim. But since all previews expound some sort of rhetoric or another, I certainly don’t fault them for this. Much of what has people buzzing though is the notion that what is unseen can sometimes be more frightening. I agree, but this only works in part. Ultimately, you have to at least show us something. Let’s face it, would JAWS have worked if we’d never seen the shark, after having built so much to it? Not to spoil things here, but they never show you anything. Even in the last five minutes, when you’re on the edge of your seat, they just leave you hanging. However, knowing this beforehand might be better, then the disappointment is lessened.

      Music is essential, especially in horror films. But despite what the end credits say here, there was none. If there was, it was mixed so faintly to not even be distinguishable. THE BLAIR WITCH desperately needed an underlying and accompanying score to go along with it. And when the actors are cowering in their tent because they hear something outside, we can barely hear a thing. So adding to (or heightening) the sound effects would have been nice too.

      Considering what the performers had to work with, the acting is very good. The scene where they first realize the map is missing is the only one that feels forced and unnatural. The rest though is really exceptional. For me, more than anything, the scariest aspect of this film is the realistic digression of its characters. The more they argue and turn against each other, the more unsettling it becomes. And depending upon your point of view, THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT can be unsettling in many ways. :-)

      Success of the film can ultimately be attributed to the Internet and hype, but only in part. The other half is simply because people were starving for a good film. And for the most part, it is good. The ending still really bugs me though, that I can’t deny. But sometimes, I guess you take the good with the bad. Also, despite what anyone tells you, the film is fiction. There were no students and there is no legend, it’s all made up. Got it!

      P.S. I actually drive by Burkittsville almost everyday. :-)