The Blair Witch Project has a great deal to answer for. Although not the first found footage movie, the success the film had on its initial release caused a real shift in horror film making. One reason was the fact that it was so unlike to really anything that main stream audiences had encountered before and secondly, and more crucially, it was dirt cheap to make. Lower costs meant less risk and bigger returns. With so many similar films following it raises the question do we need a Blair Witch sequel?
Set about a decade after the initial film the brother of one of the original party that disappeared in the woods has come across a youtube clip that has convinced him that his sister is still alive and living in the house in the woods. Along with his best friend, best friends girlfriend and long time pal, who happens to be a documentary film maker, they set off to determine if there is any truth to the theory. They meet up with the people who found the footage so long after the event and team up to go into the woods to look for clues.
In a way, this film is a little bit pointless. It covers a lot of the same ground as the first film and semi regular viewer of these films will know exactly what is going to happen next. There are scares and jumps but you know when to expect them and as a consequence the impact is lessened. It doesn’t help that all the characters are standard for horror films. The jock, the damsel in distress etc are all present and correct.
The film gets a lot better in the final act, when the tension ramps right up. There is a terrific sense of claustrophobia in a couple of the scenes which are very effective. The absence of light is used to the film’s advantage as it is part of the oppressive feeling rather than a precursor to a jump scare.
What it does do well is integrating the advances in technology to its advantage. Before in these films the obvious issue was the fact that someone was constantly filming which meant that they had a camera up at their face at all times. Any normal person faced with peril would drop the camera or at the very least stop filming. Now the tech has advanced to the point that cameras can be no bigger than an earpiece and can be strapped to the ear. It makes more sense of the footage on the screen. Drones are also used to give a bit of variety in the shots. Given that these items are readily (and cheaply) available their inclusion doesn’t seem forced and actually gives the film a more realistic edge.
The best thing about the film is the sound design. With all modern technology involving remote wireless filming there can be issues with interference. What the film does is ramp this up so it becomes the soundtrack of major sections of the film. The electronic distortion and static are what really creates a sense of fear and tension rather than the story or semi constant screaming. In the cinema that I saw the film the sound system was cranked up so the sounds filled the room and really improved the experience.
Overall, a patchy horror film that benefitted from fantastic sound design.
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