Back in 1999, when the Internet was still relatively new and everyone was used to pixelated footage from portable cameras, the world was rocked by The Blair Witch Project. Obviously fictional, yet eerily realistic, the film haunted many viewers for years and had a huge impact on the genre, popularizing found footage films.
However, 25 years later, with a plethora of films attempting to replicate the success of The Blair Witch Project, and even more films using CGI and highly realistic makeup to create deeper stories, the question arises as to whether the film is still relevant.
Is The Blair Witch Project Real?
Written, directed and edited by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, the fictional story of several filmmaking students taking a trip to the woods to get to the bottom of the Blair Witch story, has become an instant success upon its release. There are many things that played into the horror’s success,...
However, 25 years later, with a plethora of films attempting to replicate the success of The Blair Witch Project, and even more films using CGI and highly realistic makeup to create deeper stories, the question arises as to whether the film is still relevant.
Is The Blair Witch Project Real?
Written, directed and edited by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, the fictional story of several filmmaking students taking a trip to the woods to get to the bottom of the Blair Witch story, has become an instant success upon its release. There are many things that played into the horror’s success,...
- 5/3/2024
- by virginia-singh@startefacts.com (Virginia Singh)
- STartefacts.com
"The Blair Witch Project" is back in the news. First, word recently broke that a new "Blair Witch" movie is in the works from Blumhouse and Lionsgate. This was greeted as less-than-ideal information by the folks involved with the original movie, who feel they should be involved with the new film, too, and who can blame them? Then came word that the original cast members of the first film were asking for residuals for the use of their likenesses throughout the franchise.
In short, things seem messy in "Blair Witch" world. Talk about scary! But let's look beyond these recent headlines and back at the franchise itself. As of now, there are three feature films. There are also a handful of excellent made-for-tv faux documentaries that served as tie-ins for the films, but we won't be touching on those here. Instead, we're going to focus on the three theatrical releases: "The Blair Witch Project,...
In short, things seem messy in "Blair Witch" world. Talk about scary! But let's look beyond these recent headlines and back at the franchise itself. As of now, there are three feature films. There are also a handful of excellent made-for-tv faux documentaries that served as tie-ins for the films, but we won't be touching on those here. Instead, we're going to focus on the three theatrical releases: "The Blair Witch Project,...
- 4/27/2024
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
Earlier this month, Lionsgate announced the revival of The Blair Witch Project franchise with a new movie. Now, in the wake of that announcement, the cast from the original film has come forward to decry “25 years of disrespect” from Lionsgate and make new demands ahead of the reboot.
Released in 1999 via Artisan Entertainment, the original Blair Witch Project starred Joshua Leonard, Heather Donahue (now named Rei Hance), and Michael Williams, who used their real names and likeness for the project. Since Artisan Entertainment was bought-out by Lionsgate in 2003, though, the cast has allegedly experienced quite a bit of disrespect, even down to being forced to go to court just to win back their own names (since their Blair Witch “characters” were IP belonging to the production house).
The announcement of the reboot last month was the straw that broke the camel’s back, though. Taking to social media, Leonard began...
Released in 1999 via Artisan Entertainment, the original Blair Witch Project starred Joshua Leonard, Heather Donahue (now named Rei Hance), and Michael Williams, who used their real names and likeness for the project. Since Artisan Entertainment was bought-out by Lionsgate in 2003, though, the cast has allegedly experienced quite a bit of disrespect, even down to being forced to go to court just to win back their own names (since their Blair Witch “characters” were IP belonging to the production house).
The announcement of the reboot last month was the straw that broke the camel’s back, though. Taking to social media, Leonard began...
- 4/22/2024
- by Jo Vito
- Consequence - Film News
"The Blair Witch Project" wasn't the first found footage horror film, but it is largely responsible for the explosion in found footage horror films over the last 25 years. A big reason for that? The numbers. Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, "Blair Witch" was shot over just eight days with an initial outlay of just $35,000. It was bought by Artisan Entertainment for $1 million, and the studio spent around $6-8 million marketing it (per The Hollywood Reporter). The movie went on to gross more than $248 million at the box office.
It's a studio executive's dream to land a project like that, and studios have been chasing the high of "The Blair Witch Project" ever since. There have been two "Blair Witch" movie sequels, with another "reimagining" recently announced by Blumhouse and Lionsgate. There have been books, comic books, and video games. It's a full-blown horror franchise that hasn't stopped making...
It's a studio executive's dream to land a project like that, and studios have been chasing the high of "The Blair Witch Project" ever since. There have been two "Blair Witch" movie sequels, with another "reimagining" recently announced by Blumhouse and Lionsgate. There have been books, comic books, and video games. It's a full-blown horror franchise that hasn't stopped making...
- 4/21/2024
- by Hannah Shaw-Williams
- Slash Film
While 1999’s The Blair Witch Project was a phenomenon upon release, who knew we would still be talking about it 25 years later? More directly, who knew we would be focusing so much on all of the “disrespect” that the studio has for the original cast? At least, that’s the claim that star Joshua Leonard makes, launching a campaign to bring attention to Lionsgate, who acquired Artisan two decades ago and he believes is unfairly profiting from the screams, sweat and tears of the original cast. Now, he is being joined by The Blair Witch Project co-stars Heather Donahue and Michael Williams in their efforts to receive residuals and to be consulted on any future endeavors.
In a joint statement (via Deadline), Leonard, Donahue and Williams are asking that Lionsgate fork over past and future The Blair Witch Project residuals “for acting services rendered in the original Bwp, equivalent to...
In a joint statement (via Deadline), Leonard, Donahue and Williams are asking that Lionsgate fork over past and future The Blair Witch Project residuals “for acting services rendered in the original Bwp, equivalent to...
- 4/21/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Officially announced by Blumhouse and Lionsgate earlier this month, a reboot of The Blair Witch Project is currently in the works, which will be the third follow-up to the original found footage horror classic that changed the game back in 1999. In the wake of the announcement, the original creators and stars have each issued joint statements this weekend.
The Blair Witch Project was created by filmmakers Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez – along with Haxan Films creative partners Gregg Hale, Robin Cowie and Michael Monello – back in the 1990s, with stars Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, and Joshua Leonard heading out into the woods of Maryland to conjure up horror magic together.
The actors largely improvised their performances and even used their real names in the movie, with the film’s clever viral marketing campaign leading many to believe that they weren’t actually actors in a movie, but rather real...
The Blair Witch Project was created by filmmakers Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez – along with Haxan Films creative partners Gregg Hale, Robin Cowie and Michael Monello – back in the 1990s, with stars Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, and Joshua Leonard heading out into the woods of Maryland to conjure up horror magic together.
The actors largely improvised their performances and even used their real names in the movie, with the film’s clever viral marketing campaign leading many to believe that they weren’t actually actors in a movie, but rather real...
- 4/21/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
The Blair Witch Project is one of the best horror/mysteries of all time, even credited by many for changing the face of terror into something unimaginable. Not only do the terrifying events shown in Eduardo Sánchez, Gregg Hale, and Daniel Myrick’s film have the audience trepid in horror, but even bringing those events to life was a helluva task for the cast and crew.
The Blair Witch Project (1999).
That being said, the crew behind the lens actually had some of the most fearsome approaches to shooting the movie. This included the filmmakers literally playing the Blair Witch for the three main leads of the film who end up going missing (in the movie) — something that must have been unarguably brutally scary even for the main actors!
Scare Tactics for The Blair Witch Project Were Beyond Brutal
If you think that The Blair Witch Project is actually one of...
The Blair Witch Project (1999).
That being said, the crew behind the lens actually had some of the most fearsome approaches to shooting the movie. This included the filmmakers literally playing the Blair Witch for the three main leads of the film who end up going missing (in the movie) — something that must have been unarguably brutally scary even for the main actors!
Scare Tactics for The Blair Witch Project Were Beyond Brutal
If you think that The Blair Witch Project is actually one of...
- 4/21/2024
- by Mahin Sultan
- FandomWire
The stars of The Blair Witch Project have come together with a public proposal to Lionsgate after the studio recently announced a partnership with Blumhouse for a reboot of the 1999 horror sensation.
Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard and Michael Williams wrote in a statement on Saturday that they’re asking Lionsgate for retroactive and future residual payments, “meaningful consultation” on any future Blair Witch projects and an annual $60,000 grant for “an unknown/aspiring genre filmmaker to assist in making their first feature film.”
“Our film has now been rebooted twice, both times were a disappointment from a fan/box office/critical perspective,” they wrote in part. “Neither of these films were made with significant creative input from the original team. As the insiders who created the Blair Witch and have been listening to what fans love & want for 25 years, we’re your single greatest, yet thus-far unutilized secret-weapon!”
The trio’s...
Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard and Michael Williams wrote in a statement on Saturday that they’re asking Lionsgate for retroactive and future residual payments, “meaningful consultation” on any future Blair Witch projects and an annual $60,000 grant for “an unknown/aspiring genre filmmaker to assist in making their first feature film.”
“Our film has now been rebooted twice, both times were a disappointment from a fan/box office/critical perspective,” they wrote in part. “Neither of these films were made with significant creative input from the original team. As the insiders who created the Blair Witch and have been listening to what fans love & want for 25 years, we’re your single greatest, yet thus-far unutilized secret-weapon!”
The trio’s...
- 4/21/2024
- by Carly Thomas
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The stars of The Blair Witch Project are banding together and sharing a public proposal to Lionsgate after the studio partnered with Blumhouse for a reboot.
Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard and Michael Williams shared a statement asking for retroactive and future residual payments, want “meaningful consultation” on any future Blair Witch projects and also want the studio to start a grant for aspiring filmmakers.
The trio is asking for residuals “for acting services rendered in the original Bwp, equivalent to the sum that would’ve been allotted through SAG-AFTRA, had we had proper union or legal representation when the film was made.”
Donahue, Leonard and Williams want to be consulted “on any future Blair Witch reboot, sequel, prequel, toy, game, ride, escape room, etc… , in which one could reasonably assume that Heather, Michael & Josh’s names and/or likenesses will be associated for promotional purposes in the public sphere.”
“Our...
Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard and Michael Williams shared a statement asking for retroactive and future residual payments, want “meaningful consultation” on any future Blair Witch projects and also want the studio to start a grant for aspiring filmmakers.
The trio is asking for residuals “for acting services rendered in the original Bwp, equivalent to the sum that would’ve been allotted through SAG-AFTRA, had we had proper union or legal representation when the film was made.”
Donahue, Leonard and Williams want to be consulted “on any future Blair Witch reboot, sequel, prequel, toy, game, ride, escape room, etc… , in which one could reasonably assume that Heather, Michael & Josh’s names and/or likenesses will be associated for promotional purposes in the public sphere.”
“Our...
- 4/21/2024
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard and Michael Williams, stars of the seminal horror film “The Blair Witch Project,” released a public letter to Lionsgate on Saturday asking for more robust compensation for their work on the 1999 blockbuster, as well as “meaningful consultation” on any future “Blair Witch” projects that use their names or likenesses.
The statement comes 10 days after Lionsgate and Blumhouse announced they plan to revive the franchise with a new movie that would provide, in the words of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson, “new vision for ‘Blair Witch’ that will reintroduce this horror classic for a new generation.” Lionsgate did not produce or distribute the original 1999 film. It acquired the property through its 2003 buyout of independent film distributor Artisan Entertainment.
The Lionsgate-Blumhouse announcement sparked a strongly worded response via social media from Leonard, who said that no one had contacted him or his costars about the project in advance.
The statement comes 10 days after Lionsgate and Blumhouse announced they plan to revive the franchise with a new movie that would provide, in the words of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson, “new vision for ‘Blair Witch’ that will reintroduce this horror classic for a new generation.” Lionsgate did not produce or distribute the original 1999 film. It acquired the property through its 2003 buyout of independent film distributor Artisan Entertainment.
The Lionsgate-Blumhouse announcement sparked a strongly worded response via social media from Leonard, who said that no one had contacted him or his costars about the project in advance.
- 4/21/2024
- by Adam B. Vary
- Variety Film + TV
As Blumhouse announces it’s making a reboot of the 1999 classic horror The Blair Witch Project, we look at how it could expand on the original’s lore.
Sobering fact: The Blair Witch Project is a quarter of a century old in July. Terrifying. I can vividly remember the anticipation of that film, the early viral marketing, the comparisons to The Exorcist with stories of audience members fainting or leaving the cinema in paroxysms of terror.
Whatever you think of it – The Blair Witch Project is a film you either unquestionably surrender yourself over to or simply refuse to let in – there’s little doubt that Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez’s micro-budget 1999 experiment forever changed the horror genre, even if it was far from the first movie to experiment with so-called ‘found footage’.
The word of mouth and excellent marketing which turned the film into a $200m-plus behemoth for...
Sobering fact: The Blair Witch Project is a quarter of a century old in July. Terrifying. I can vividly remember the anticipation of that film, the early viral marketing, the comparisons to The Exorcist with stories of audience members fainting or leaving the cinema in paroxysms of terror.
Whatever you think of it – The Blair Witch Project is a film you either unquestionably surrender yourself over to or simply refuse to let in – there’s little doubt that Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez’s micro-budget 1999 experiment forever changed the horror genre, even if it was far from the first movie to experiment with so-called ‘found footage’.
The word of mouth and excellent marketing which turned the film into a $200m-plus behemoth for...
- 4/19/2024
- by A J Black
- Film Stories
Remakes have been a part of Hollywood since time immemorial, and even though film enthusiasts are absolutely over it, it doesn’t seem like they are going to stop anytime soon. The fan-favorite The Blair Witch Project is next in line as Lionsgate and Blumhouse are all set to revive the franchise. The 1999 horror film still remains one of the most terrifying films that Hollywood has to offer, and if the remake wants to stand a chance against it, the creators are going to have to give it their all and then some.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Unfortunately, things are already not looking too good for the remake as it has been revealed that the original creators behind The Blair Witch Project are not linked to the remake in any shape or form. In fact, they were not even aware of the project before it was announced at CinemaCon 2024.
The...
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Unfortunately, things are already not looking too good for the remake as it has been revealed that the original creators behind The Blair Witch Project are not linked to the remake in any shape or form. In fact, they were not even aware of the project before it was announced at CinemaCon 2024.
The...
- 4/17/2024
- by Mishkaat Khan
- FandomWire
The Blair Witch will soon descend from Maryland's Black Hills woods to terrify a whole new generation, and wouldn't you know, the guys responsible for the first movie aren't all that thrilled about not being involved. Horror movie remakes, reboots, and legacy sequels will continue to abound as Hollywood doubles down on the genre's popularity. At CinemaCon 2024, for instance, we got our first look at the upcoming "Speak No Evil" remake, which looks decent but raises the question that so often accompanies these American rehashes of international movies: "Why?"
That appears to be the same question those responsible for the original "Blair Witch Project" are asking following the announcement that a new "Blair Witch" movie is in the works from Lionsgate and Blumhouse. The seminal 1999 original popularized the found-footage genre and left an entire generation scarred by memories of believing its disturbing events were actually real. Since it debuted, we've had two lackluster sequels,...
That appears to be the same question those responsible for the original "Blair Witch Project" are asking following the announcement that a new "Blair Witch" movie is in the works from Lionsgate and Blumhouse. The seminal 1999 original popularized the found-footage genre and left an entire generation scarred by memories of believing its disturbing events were actually real. Since it debuted, we've had two lackluster sequels,...
- 4/16/2024
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
The team behind the original 1999 film The Blair Witch Project didn’t know about the plan for a new movie in the horror franchise until it was announced during Lionsgate’s CinemaCon presentation last week. But the filmmakers’ frustrations over their lack of involvement in the future of the series has been building for years.
“It’s bittersweet, honestly,” Ben Rock, production designer on the 1999 found-footage hit, tells The Hollywood Reporter about the planned reboot. He notes that no one from his film, including co-directors Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, was involved in any significant way in the 2000 sequel, Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2, or the 2016 follow-up. Rock hopes this will change for the current project that is in the works from Lionsgate and Blumhouse, but so far, no one from the 1999 movie had been contacted or given a chance to pitch, he says.
“I do think that what...
“It’s bittersweet, honestly,” Ben Rock, production designer on the 1999 found-footage hit, tells The Hollywood Reporter about the planned reboot. He notes that no one from his film, including co-directors Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, was involved in any significant way in the 2000 sequel, Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2, or the 2016 follow-up. Rock hopes this will change for the current project that is in the works from Lionsgate and Blumhouse, but so far, no one from the 1999 movie had been contacted or given a chance to pitch, he says.
“I do think that what...
- 4/15/2024
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In professional wrestling, the concept of “Kayfabe” refers to an unspoken agreement between fans and performers to never acknowledge the fictional aspects of the sport. In the horror genre, we have something similar with the way Found Footage movies invite audiences to play along with the scares to enhance their viewing experience. And when it comes to Found Footage, no movie handled this blending of reality and fiction better than The Blair Witch Project, which was accompanied by an ingenious viral marketing campaign featuring websites, dossiers and even missing person posters.
Among this supplemental material was an infamous mockumentary known as Curse of the Blair Witch, which premiered on the Sci-Fi Channel and was instrumental in convincing audiences that the film’s footage was meant to be taken seriously. A year later, Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 had its own lesser-known tie-ins with Ben Rock‘s The Burkittsville 7...
Among this supplemental material was an infamous mockumentary known as Curse of the Blair Witch, which premiered on the Sci-Fi Channel and was instrumental in convincing audiences that the film’s footage was meant to be taken seriously. A year later, Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 had its own lesser-known tie-ins with Ben Rock‘s The Burkittsville 7...
- 4/11/2024
- by Luiz H. C.
- bloody-disgusting.com
While the studios' CinemaCon presentations are usually about the coming year's slate, there are always usually announcements of future projects. Lionsgate took the chance at its 2024 edition to announce that it is partnering with Blumhouse to develop a new take on classic 1999 found footage horror The Blair Witch Project.
Yes, the story of three film students who venture into a Maryland forest to film a documentary on the titular local scare legend… And are never heard from again, the footage being tracked down and assembled after the fact.
Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, it famously had some thinking that the ill-fated trio really did perish and that the film is all that remains of their quest. The movie spawned a sequel, the benighted Book Of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 and Adam Wingard's own fresh take, 2016's Blair Witch.
This decision appears to be just the tip of...
Yes, the story of three film students who venture into a Maryland forest to film a documentary on the titular local scare legend… And are never heard from again, the footage being tracked down and assembled after the fact.
Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, it famously had some thinking that the ill-fated trio really did perish and that the film is all that remains of their quest. The movie spawned a sequel, the benighted Book Of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 and Adam Wingard's own fresh take, 2016's Blair Witch.
This decision appears to be just the tip of...
- 4/10/2024
- by James White
- Empire - Movies
A quarter of a century after Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez's The Blair Witch Project shocked moviegoers with its immersive found footage style and shook the internet to its cyberspace core with innovative marketing campaigns, Lionsgate and Blumhouse have announced at CinemaCon that they are teaming up for a reimagining of The Blair Witch Project:
Press Release: Santa Monica, Calif., April 10, 2024 – On the heels of their collaboration on the horror film Imaginary, Lionsgate and Blumhouse today announced that they will partner on the development and production of a new The Blair Witch Project as the first film in a multi-picture pact with Blumhouse reimagining horror classics from the Lionsgate library. The announcement was made today by Adam Fogelson, chair, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, and Jason Blum, founder and CEO of Blumhouse.
Based at Universal Pictures, where it has a first look deal, Blumhouse is the gold standard in the horror space,...
Press Release: Santa Monica, Calif., April 10, 2024 – On the heels of their collaboration on the horror film Imaginary, Lionsgate and Blumhouse today announced that they will partner on the development and production of a new The Blair Witch Project as the first film in a multi-picture pact with Blumhouse reimagining horror classics from the Lionsgate library. The announcement was made today by Adam Fogelson, chair, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, and Jason Blum, founder and CEO of Blumhouse.
Based at Universal Pictures, where it has a first look deal, Blumhouse is the gold standard in the horror space,...
- 4/10/2024
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Twenty five years after the release of the original genre-changing classic, Lionsgate and Blumhouse announced out of CinemaCon today that they will partner on the development and production of a new The Blair Witch Project movie as the first film in a multi-picture pact with Blumhouse reimagining horror classics from the Lionsgate library.
The announcement was made today by Adam Fogelson, chair, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, and Jason Blum, founder and CEO of Blumhouse.
Based at Universal Pictures, where it has a first look deal, Blumhouse is the gold standard in the horror space, generating blockbuster results from a string of modestly-budgeted films including the Paranormal Activity franchise, Insidious, The Purge, Sinister, Halloween, Five Nights at Freddy’s and M3GAN along with award winners Get Out and BlacKkKlansman. Blumhouse films have grossed nearly $6 billion at the worldwide box office.
Blum will team with producer Roy Lee on the new Blair Witch Project...
The announcement was made today by Adam Fogelson, chair, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, and Jason Blum, founder and CEO of Blumhouse.
Based at Universal Pictures, where it has a first look deal, Blumhouse is the gold standard in the horror space, generating blockbuster results from a string of modestly-budgeted films including the Paranormal Activity franchise, Insidious, The Purge, Sinister, Halloween, Five Nights at Freddy’s and M3GAN along with award winners Get Out and BlacKkKlansman. Blumhouse films have grossed nearly $6 billion at the worldwide box office.
Blum will team with producer Roy Lee on the new Blair Witch Project...
- 4/10/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
You can never underestimate the power of hearsay. Sometimes, something sounding like it could be true is enough to convince people that it must be. And while this phenomenon can have disastrous real-world consequences when applied to science and politics, it’s also responsible for some memorable instances of collective storytelling.
From hook-handed murderers to gerbils becoming stuck inside famous actors, urban legends are the modern equivalent to ancient campfire stories about werewolves and vampires – which is why it makes sense that they’ve inspired some of most beloved genre films. And with so many of these allegedly “true” stories to choose from, we’ve decided to come up with a list highlighting six of the most underrated movies based on urban legends.
Naturally, we’ll be shying away from more popular films like Candyman and Jamie Blanks’ Urban Legend, but don’t forget to comment below with your own...
From hook-handed murderers to gerbils becoming stuck inside famous actors, urban legends are the modern equivalent to ancient campfire stories about werewolves and vampires – which is why it makes sense that they’ve inspired some of most beloved genre films. And with so many of these allegedly “true” stories to choose from, we’ve decided to come up with a list highlighting six of the most underrated movies based on urban legends.
Naturally, we’ll be shying away from more popular films like Candyman and Jamie Blanks’ Urban Legend, but don’t forget to comment below with your own...
- 3/8/2024
- by Luiz H. C.
- bloody-disgusting.com
It’s not uncommon for directors to resort to extreme lengths to bring out the most authentic performance from the actors in horrors, with The Shining and The Exorcist being the most notable examples. Interestingly, similar was the case for The Blair Witch Project, arguably the most influential horror release in the last 25 years that extended beyond the genre’s confinements.
While it may not be the first of its kind, as the Cannibal Holocaust predated it by almost 2-decades, the impact of The Blair Witch Project can’t be overstated. And the two directors working on the Indie horror, went to great lengths to bring out the best from the actors involved in the film.
The Blair Witch
The Directing Duo Opted for an Unconventional Method to Film The Blair Witch Project
Eduardo Sánchez and Daniel Myrick took a page from William Friedkin’s notebook while directing The Blair Witch Project,...
While it may not be the first of its kind, as the Cannibal Holocaust predated it by almost 2-decades, the impact of The Blair Witch Project can’t be overstated. And the two directors working on the Indie horror, went to great lengths to bring out the best from the actors involved in the film.
The Blair Witch
The Directing Duo Opted for an Unconventional Method to Film The Blair Witch Project
Eduardo Sánchez and Daniel Myrick took a page from William Friedkin’s notebook while directing The Blair Witch Project,...
- 2/22/2024
- by Santanu Roy
- FandomWire
There is, a critic will argue, a great deal of value in finding and discussing the worst films of the year. All the films released in a given epoch are a reflection of the trends and ideas that produced them, and scoring the bottom of the barrel for the worst filmmaking, the worst ideas, and the most misguided thinking will provide a valuable analysis of where we are as a society. Worst-of lists are important and vital and should be written with enthusiasm. They also let critics blow off steam a little bit; we don't have the luxury to skip bad movies or avoid talking about the ones we hate. It's our job.
The Golden Raspberries, or the Razzies for short, however, lost sight of that value a while back. The annual Razzies announcement is usually a snarky affair that only serves to pick on the year's least popular blockbusters,...
The Golden Raspberries, or the Razzies for short, however, lost sight of that value a while back. The annual Razzies announcement is usually a snarky affair that only serves to pick on the year's least popular blockbusters,...
- 2/15/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Few films have changed the landscape of horror like The Blair Witch Project. Purporting to be recovered footage from a doomed documentary, the story follows three filmmakers who venture into the Black Hills of Maryland to investigate the legend of the Blair Witch. They never return. This lean and mean film was cobbled together from hours of footage shot by the actors improvising fictionalized versions of themselves. Directors Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez made the bold choice to never show the titular monster, elevating the film from a creepy tale set in a haunted woods to one of the most terrifying, profitable, and ambitious horror films of all time. Though her face remains in the shadows, the Blair Witch has become a cultural phenomenon with a legacy that reaches far beyond the real life entities who may have inspired her creation.
Because Heather (Heather Donahue), Josh (Joshua Leonard) and Mike...
Because Heather (Heather Donahue), Josh (Joshua Leonard) and Mike...
- 2/6/2024
- by Jenn Adams
- bloody-disgusting.com
Mubi has unveiled their February 2024 lineup, featuring Roy Andersson’s little-seen 1991 short World of Glory, Nicole Holofcener’s Lovely & Amazing starring Catherine Keener with an early Jake Gyllenhaal performance, and special Black History Month selections: Spike Lee’s Red Hook Summer, Kasi Lemmon’s Eve’s Bayou, Carl Franklin’s One False Move, and more.
Check out the lineup below, including recently added January titles, and get 30 days free here.
Just-Added
American Movie, directed by Christopher Smith | Festival Focus: Sundance
Pieces of April, directed by Peter Hedges | Festival Focus: Sundance
The Blair Witch Project, directed by Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez | Festival Focus: Sundance
But I’m a Cheerleader, directed by Jamie Babbit | Festival Focus: Sundance
Secretary, directed by Steven Shainberg | Festival Focus: Sundance
Medicine for Melancholy directed by Barry Jenkins | First Films First
Antiviral, directed by Brandon Cronenberg | First Films First
Shithouse, directed by Cooper Raiff | First Films First
Age of Panic,...
Check out the lineup below, including recently added January titles, and get 30 days free here.
Just-Added
American Movie, directed by Christopher Smith | Festival Focus: Sundance
Pieces of April, directed by Peter Hedges | Festival Focus: Sundance
The Blair Witch Project, directed by Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez | Festival Focus: Sundance
But I’m a Cheerleader, directed by Jamie Babbit | Festival Focus: Sundance
Secretary, directed by Steven Shainberg | Festival Focus: Sundance
Medicine for Melancholy directed by Barry Jenkins | First Films First
Antiviral, directed by Brandon Cronenberg | First Films First
Shithouse, directed by Cooper Raiff | First Films First
Age of Panic,...
- 1/25/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Ghost hunters will find more than they bargained for on Halloween in upcoming genre-bender The Unearthly. Per Deadline, the indie sci-fi horror comedy has found its lead in star and producer Patrick Warburton.
Josh Sternfeld (Fortress: Sniper’s Eye) is set to direct The Unearthly for Centerboro Productions, with production scheduled to begin early this year in Connecticut.
In The Unearthly, “a team of paranormal investigators live-stream a ‘Halloween Special’ ghost hunt of a notorious haunted mansion, finding the source of the evil at hand to be far more deadly than they ever could have imagined. Warburton plays Tank McCrary, an old school paranormal investigator in the style of Ed Warren and Peter James, who hosted over 20 live television specials in the ’90s before an incident ruined his career. Stubborn and egotistical, he likes to do things his way. He doesn’t trust technology, relying on his analog tape recorder,...
Josh Sternfeld (Fortress: Sniper’s Eye) is set to direct The Unearthly for Centerboro Productions, with production scheduled to begin early this year in Connecticut.
In The Unearthly, “a team of paranormal investigators live-stream a ‘Halloween Special’ ghost hunt of a notorious haunted mansion, finding the source of the evil at hand to be far more deadly than they ever could have imagined. Warburton plays Tank McCrary, an old school paranormal investigator in the style of Ed Warren and Peter James, who hosted over 20 live television specials in the ’90s before an incident ruined his career. Stubborn and egotistical, he likes to do things his way. He doesn’t trust technology, relying on his analog tape recorder,...
- 1/10/2024
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Exclusive: Patrick Warburton will star in and produce The Unearthly, an indie blending elements of sci-fi, comedy and horror that will go into production in Connecticut early this year. Directing the pic for Centerboro Productions is Josh Sternfeld (Fortress: Sniper’s Eye).
In The Unearthly, a team of paranormal investigators live-stream a “Halloween Special” ghost hunt of a notorious haunted mansion, finding the source of the evil at hand to be far more deadly than they ever could have imagined. Warburton plays Tank McCrary, an old school paranormal investigator in the style of Ed Warren and Peter James, who hosted over 20 live television specials in the ’90s before an incident ruined his career. Stubborn and egotistical, he likes to do things his way. He doesn’t trust technology, relying on his analog tape recorder, archaic Emf meter, and his own smarts in his ghost hunting. His goal is to reclaim...
In The Unearthly, a team of paranormal investigators live-stream a “Halloween Special” ghost hunt of a notorious haunted mansion, finding the source of the evil at hand to be far more deadly than they ever could have imagined. Warburton plays Tank McCrary, an old school paranormal investigator in the style of Ed Warren and Peter James, who hosted over 20 live television specials in the ’90s before an incident ruined his career. Stubborn and egotistical, he likes to do things his way. He doesn’t trust technology, relying on his analog tape recorder, archaic Emf meter, and his own smarts in his ghost hunting. His goal is to reclaim...
- 1/10/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Catering directly to my interests, the Criterion Channel’s January lineup boasts two of my favorite things: James Gray and cats. In the former case it’s his first five features (itself a terrible reminder he only released five movies in 20 years); the latter shows felines the respect they deserve, from Kuroneko to The Long Goodbye, Tourneur’s Cat People and Mick Garris’ Sleepwalkers. Meanwhile, Ava Gardner, Bertrand Tavernier, Isabel Sandoval, Ken Russell, Juleen Compton, George Harrison’s HandMade Films, and the Sundance Film Festival get retrospectives.
Restorations of Soviet sci-fi trip Ikarie Xb 1, The Unknown, and The Music of Regret stream, as does the recent Plan 75. January’s Criterion Editions are Inside Llewyn Davis, Farewell Amor, The Incredible Shrinking Man, and (most intriguingly) the long-out-of-print The Man Who Fell to Earth, Blu-rays of which go for hundreds of dollars.
See the lineup below and learn more here.
Back By Popular Demand
The Graduate,...
Restorations of Soviet sci-fi trip Ikarie Xb 1, The Unknown, and The Music of Regret stream, as does the recent Plan 75. January’s Criterion Editions are Inside Llewyn Davis, Farewell Amor, The Incredible Shrinking Man, and (most intriguingly) the long-out-of-print The Man Who Fell to Earth, Blu-rays of which go for hundreds of dollars.
See the lineup below and learn more here.
Back By Popular Demand
The Graduate,...
- 12/12/2023
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
(Clockwise from top left:) Smile (Paramount), Scream (Paramount), The Blair Witch Project (screenshot), A Quiet Place (Paramount), The Ring (screenshot), 10 Cloverfield Lane (Michele K. Short )Graphic: AVClub
October means Halloween and Halloween means horror films. All the streamers are currently doubling down on diabolically evil content but Paramount+, always...
October means Halloween and Halloween means horror films. All the streamers are currently doubling down on diabolically evil content but Paramount+, always...
- 10/27/2023
- by The A.V. Club
- avclub.com
Horror films and controversy often go hand in hand. Historically, no genre has pushed the boundaries of what is acceptable onscreen as much as horror, with authorities like the MPAA and the BBFC constantly stepping in to protect filmgoers from extreme content.
Controversies abound in horror, with countless examples of censorship, intrusive cuts, or outright bans. Other times, films can provoke a visceral reaction from the audience; "Audition" prompted people to faint in the initial screenings, for example, while "The Exorcist" gained everlasting notoriety for the apparent hysteria it caused in cinemas.
Rather than a comprehensive list, this represents a broad spread of different types of controversial deaths in horror films. It might best be summed up as 14 of the most interesting controversial deaths, rather than necessarily all of the most obvious choices. As such, please take the order with a pinch of salt. Lots of spoilers below, so beware!
Controversies abound in horror, with countless examples of censorship, intrusive cuts, or outright bans. Other times, films can provoke a visceral reaction from the audience; "Audition" prompted people to faint in the initial screenings, for example, while "The Exorcist" gained everlasting notoriety for the apparent hysteria it caused in cinemas.
Rather than a comprehensive list, this represents a broad spread of different types of controversial deaths in horror films. It might best be summed up as 14 of the most interesting controversial deaths, rather than necessarily all of the most obvious choices. As such, please take the order with a pinch of salt. Lots of spoilers below, so beware!
- 10/15/2023
- by Nick Bartlett
- Slash Film
Back in 1999, directors Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez brought the world The Blair Witch Project (watch it Here), a low budget film that was a massive box office hit, leading to a poorly received sequel that was released the following year and a sequel that most movie-goers ignored when it was released in 2016. Sánchez is currently doing the press rounds for the horror anthology Satanic Hispanics, which he contributed to and is set to reach theatres on September 14th. While doing his part to build the hype for that movie, Sánchez sat down for an interview with the Cult FM podcast, and during that conversation he not only talked about the unmade Blair Witch prequels that he and Myrick had in mind, but also said that – as far as he knows – there are no new Blair Witch projects in the works at Lionsgate.
Speaking about the franchise’s untapped potential,...
Speaking about the franchise’s untapped potential,...
- 9/5/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Groundbreaking horror mockumentary The Blair Witch Project blurred the lines between fiction and reality as a group of unknown filmmakers created a movie that required a safe word.
University of Central Florida student filmmakers Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez designed a story outline for the movie and allowed the actors to essentially “become” the characters. That led actors Heather Donahue, Michael Williams, and Joshua Leonard to remain in strict character throughout the eight days of filming – which required a safe word and a very large knife.
Why did ‘The Blair Witch Project’ cast needed a safe word?
The filmmaking duo wrote a 35-page outline instead of an actual script, which may have been why Miramax passed on their pitch. Eventually, Artisan Entertainment moved forward with the project and they began to cast for the film.
Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard and Michael Williams| William Thomas Cain
Because filmmakers wanted to go full throttle into improv,...
University of Central Florida student filmmakers Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez designed a story outline for the movie and allowed the actors to essentially “become” the characters. That led actors Heather Donahue, Michael Williams, and Joshua Leonard to remain in strict character throughout the eight days of filming – which required a safe word and a very large knife.
Why did ‘The Blair Witch Project’ cast needed a safe word?
The filmmaking duo wrote a 35-page outline instead of an actual script, which may have been why Miramax passed on their pitch. Eventually, Artisan Entertainment moved forward with the project and they began to cast for the film.
Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard and Michael Williams| William Thomas Cain
Because filmmakers wanted to go full throttle into improv,...
- 7/14/2023
- by Gina Ragusa
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Matt Reeves' 2008 film "Cloverfield" was, prior to its release, shrouded in mystery. Advertising only hinted at some kind of horrendous, monster-based disaster, but was coy as to the exact nature of the threat. All people knew was that the Statue of Liberty was going to suffer some kind of major trauma: its head was ripped off and thrown down a Manhattan street. Those around at the time will likely recall rumors that "Cloverfield" was secretly a Godzilla film, and that the title was only a code word.
The title was, in fact, a meaningless word that had nothing to do with the content of the film itself. It merely happens that executive producer J.J. Abrams worked out of an office on Cloverfield Blvd. in Santa Monica, CA.
"Cloverfield" was also a notable entry in the then-growing trend of found-footage genre movies that peppered the landscape. The handheld aesthetic, and the...
The title was, in fact, a meaningless word that had nothing to do with the content of the film itself. It merely happens that executive producer J.J. Abrams worked out of an office on Cloverfield Blvd. in Santa Monica, CA.
"Cloverfield" was also a notable entry in the then-growing trend of found-footage genre movies that peppered the landscape. The handheld aesthetic, and the...
- 5/13/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
A year has passed since Jeff Sneider of The Ankler reported that he had heard Lionsgate is interested in returning to the world of the 1999 hit The Blair Witch Project (watch it Here). Now a Production Weekly listing indicates that Lionsgate has found the filmmaker they want to take the helm of the new Blair Witch movie: Oliver Park, who previously directed the 2022 horror film The Offering, contributed to the anthology A Night of Horror: Nightmare Radio, and directed an episode of the show Strange Events.
Written and directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, the original The Blair Witch Project has the following synopsis: Found video footage tells the tale of three film students who’ve traveled to a small town to collect documentary footage about the Blair Witch, a legendary local murderer. Over the course of several days, the students interview townspeople and gather clues to support the tale’s veracity.
Written and directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, the original The Blair Witch Project has the following synopsis: Found video footage tells the tale of three film students who’ve traveled to a small town to collect documentary footage about the Blair Witch, a legendary local murderer. Over the course of several days, the students interview townspeople and gather clues to support the tale’s veracity.
- 5/5/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Found footage masterpiece The Blair Witch Project came along and changed the game back in 1999, subsequently spawning its own sprawling universe of media, including official follow-up films in 2000 and 2016 as well as multiple books and video games that have served to deepen the lore. But how much longer do we have to wait for another Blair Witch movie?
As you may recall, it had been reported last April that Lionsgate was looking to relaunch the Blair Witch Project franchise, and Production Weekly brings us an update this week.
Production Weekly informs us that Oliver Park has been hired to direct “Untitled Blair Witch Sequel” for Lionsgate, and it’s reportedly targeting a late summer/fall shoot. Park is a British writer/director who helmed last year’s The Offering, and his directing credits also include “Strange Events” (2015), Still (2017), and A Night of Horror: Nightmare Radio (2019).
Of particular note, the production...
As you may recall, it had been reported last April that Lionsgate was looking to relaunch the Blair Witch Project franchise, and Production Weekly brings us an update this week.
Production Weekly informs us that Oliver Park has been hired to direct “Untitled Blair Witch Sequel” for Lionsgate, and it’s reportedly targeting a late summer/fall shoot. Park is a British writer/director who helmed last year’s The Offering, and his directing credits also include “Strange Events” (2015), Still (2017), and A Night of Horror: Nightmare Radio (2019).
Of particular note, the production...
- 5/4/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Longtime readers of Arrow in the Head will probably remember the article series The Test of Time. Now The Test of Time has been revived as a video series, and you can check out the new episode in the embed above! With this one, we’re looking back at the 1999 hit The Blair Witch Project (watch it Here)… and to find out whether or not we think this movie stands the test of time, all you have to do is play the video!
Written and directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, The Blair Witch Project has the following synopsis: Found video footage tells the tale of three film students who’ve traveled to a small town to collect documentary footage about the Blair Witch, a legendary local murderer. Over the course of several days, the students interview townspeople and gather clues to support the tale’s veracity. But the...
Written and directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, The Blair Witch Project has the following synopsis: Found video footage tells the tale of three film students who’ve traveled to a small town to collect documentary footage about the Blair Witch, a legendary local murderer. Over the course of several days, the students interview townspeople and gather clues to support the tale’s veracity. But the...
- 3/21/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Pablo Picasso is often credited with having said that good artists borrow and great artists steal. Obviously, the Spanish painter wasn’t referring to plagiarism, but instead insinuating that ideas grow when they inspire other artists to make them their own. After all, all art is part of a larger cultural ouroboros – an ever-growing creature that perpetually eats its own tail.
The fun part of this infinite cycle of influences comes when we try to identify pivotal moments in culture that appear to have been “stolen” from repeatedly. And when it comes to the horror genre, there is one specific work of literature that had a hand in everything from the rise of Found Footage to the success of recent horror phenomena like the Backrooms creepypasta and even Kyle Edward Ball’s Skinamarink. Naturally, I’m referring to Mark Z. Danielewski’s House of Leaves, an experimental novel that you...
The fun part of this infinite cycle of influences comes when we try to identify pivotal moments in culture that appear to have been “stolen” from repeatedly. And when it comes to the horror genre, there is one specific work of literature that had a hand in everything from the rise of Found Footage to the success of recent horror phenomena like the Backrooms creepypasta and even Kyle Edward Ball’s Skinamarink. Naturally, I’m referring to Mark Z. Danielewski’s House of Leaves, an experimental novel that you...
- 2/3/2023
- by Luiz H. C.
- bloody-disgusting.com
Kyle Edward Ball's experimental horror movie "Skinamarink" demands patience. Filmed in the director's childhood home in Edmonton, "Skinamarink" is about a pair of children, only four and six, who creep around their house to find that its doors and windows have vanished. Their father also appears to be missing. The rooms are lit only by the flickering cathode ray tube TV, constantly broadcasting public domain cartoons, offering no distraction. The audience rarely sees the children's faces, and no one can speak above a whisper. The cinematography, by Jamie McRae, is scratched and grainy, and the audience is often entreated to peer -- for minutes at a time -- into the blackened, writhing abyss of an empty, empty hallway. The film's soundtrack features the kinds of shifts and thumps one might hear from another room, carried along by a terrifying, pervasive white noise that seems to get louder as the film progresses.
- 1/12/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
"My obituary was published when I was 24," begins Heather Donahue. You don't even have to be a horror fan for you to recognize her terrified, runny-nosed face, the face that "The Blair Witch Project" seared onto the pop culture consciousness in 1999, one of the greatest years for movies. Scraped together by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, "The Blair Witch Project" changed the landscape of horror movies with its lo-fi approach; despite little by way of script, set pieces, and budget, the trio of actors leading the documentary on a local legend shot and acted the story so well that everyone thought it was real, following in the tradition of controversial luminaries of the genre like "Cannibal Holocaust."
Despite their training and contributions to the movie, stars Heather Donahue, Michael Williams, and Joshua Leonard — all trained actors — were paid wages so scant that they struggled in stark contrast to the film's runaway success.
Despite their training and contributions to the movie, stars Heather Donahue, Michael Williams, and Joshua Leonard — all trained actors — were paid wages so scant that they struggled in stark contrast to the film's runaway success.
- 10/21/2022
- by Anya Stanley
- Slash Film
Keep your warm-colored lights and green pine trees. For some of us, October is the most wonderful time of the year. You can smell it as autumnal leaves drifting across the grass; you can hear it as children laugh in their most beloved Halloween costumes; and you can see it with the cornucopia of horror movies to watch.
Aye, horror flicks are the most important part of the season to some. For 31 days, you don’t need an excuse to indulge in the wicked and the weird, and to hopefully scare yourself silly. But in an age of streaming, and when countless mounds of content is being thrown at you, how do you decide what to watch? Well, at least when it comes to Amazon Prime Video, we have a few ideas…
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
U.S. Only
It’s rare for any subgenre of horror to have...
Aye, horror flicks are the most important part of the season to some. For 31 days, you don’t need an excuse to indulge in the wicked and the weird, and to hopefully scare yourself silly. But in an age of streaming, and when countless mounds of content is being thrown at you, how do you decide what to watch? Well, at least when it comes to Amazon Prime Video, we have a few ideas…
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
U.S. Only
It’s rare for any subgenre of horror to have...
- 10/7/2022
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
While the 1970s and 1980s were strong decades for independent horror filmmaking, the 1990s proved to be a somewhat interesting time, as there seemed to be an overall tendency for this realm of the industry to be focused on making sequels and creating franchises out of ’80s horror hits, with a few landmark indie horror projects in the mix as well. And since sequels were so dominant at that time, I thought it only made sense for us to start there for this look back on the history of ’90s indie horror cinema.
After the 1980s proved to be a great time for indie horror, where so many movies ended up being successful due to a combination of theatrical releases and the increasing popularity of home video, it feels like in the decade that followed, many producers working in the independent realm wanted to capitalize on those successes by turning...
After the 1980s proved to be a great time for indie horror, where so many movies ended up being successful due to a combination of theatrical releases and the increasing popularity of home video, it feels like in the decade that followed, many producers working in the independent realm wanted to capitalize on those successes by turning...
- 4/16/2022
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
The story of "The Blair Witch Project" is the stuff of indie movie legend. Made in 1999 for a mere $60,000 and shot by the actors in the woods, the film went on to be an enormous box office sensation and zeitgeist-rattling horror touchstone, earning over $250 million worldwide.
Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, "The Blair Witch Project" was shot in a documentary style, and purported to be the real footage of real people who actually got lost in the woods and who perhaps encountered the bizarre supernatural leavings of a real witch. They heard eerie noises at night, and a mysterious unseen figure hung effigies...
The post Why The Blair Witch Project Was a Nightmare to Film appeared first on /Film.
Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, "The Blair Witch Project" was shot in a documentary style, and purported to be the real footage of real people who actually got lost in the woods and who perhaps encountered the bizarre supernatural leavings of a real witch. They heard eerie noises at night, and a mysterious unseen figure hung effigies...
The post Why The Blair Witch Project Was a Nightmare to Film appeared first on /Film.
- 12/14/2021
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
"The Blair Witch Project" was a unique experiment in gonzo filmmaking. Directors Eduardo Sanchez and Daniel Myrick sent three unknown actors into the woods with video cameras, essentially having them improvise their own movie. The experience was a harrowing one, with the stars eventually capturing some real fear on camera, but many fans don't realize just how bizarre filming got. In an oral history for Vice for the 20th anniversary of the movie, the actors explained the lengths they went through to create this cult classic.
The directors put out a job listing for three non-union acting gigs, noting that they would be for "extremely challenging...
The post Filming The Blair Witch Project Was More Bizarre Than You Probably Realized appeared first on /Film.
The directors put out a job listing for three non-union acting gigs, noting that they would be for "extremely challenging...
The post Filming The Blair Witch Project Was More Bizarre Than You Probably Realized appeared first on /Film.
- 12/10/2021
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
Not all horror is about tearing your nerves to shreds, and of those that are, not all are as successful as their loud noises and jumpy antics might have you believe.
But among them, especially more recently, is a very special sub-genre of horror that’s truly not meant for the faint of heart. Works of masterful direction that not only leave you gnawing your fingernails to the bone, but questioning all you hold dear too, forever balancing on that knife edge of utter dread.
To celebrate the release of Don’t Breathe 2, available to Download & Keep, Rent on Digital, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD now, we take a look at five of the most nerve-racking horror films.
You can win a copy of Don’t Breathe 2 on Blu-ray right here.
Don’t Breathe (2016)
Case in point, Fede Alvarez and Rodo Sayagues’s original spin on The Blind Man; a novel,...
But among them, especially more recently, is a very special sub-genre of horror that’s truly not meant for the faint of heart. Works of masterful direction that not only leave you gnawing your fingernails to the bone, but questioning all you hold dear too, forever balancing on that knife edge of utter dread.
To celebrate the release of Don’t Breathe 2, available to Download & Keep, Rent on Digital, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD now, we take a look at five of the most nerve-racking horror films.
You can win a copy of Don’t Breathe 2 on Blu-ray right here.
Don’t Breathe (2016)
Case in point, Fede Alvarez and Rodo Sayagues’s original spin on The Blind Man; a novel,...
- 11/15/2021
- by Ben Robins
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The insidious ending of "The Blair Witch Project" has boggled my mind and the minds of many others for an incredible 20 years. As the story goes, attendees at Sundance 1999 didn't know if they were watching a fictional account or a tried and true documentary when Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez's masterpiece screened — and even now, in the age of the internet and the ability to debunk information at the stroke of our fingertips, it still packs just as much of a punch. Even more famously, the film's creators made an incredibly convincing companion mockumentary chronicling...
The post The Blair Witch Project Ending Explained: As Maddening and Mysterious As It Was 20 Years Ago appeared first on /Film.
The post The Blair Witch Project Ending Explained: As Maddening and Mysterious As It Was 20 Years Ago appeared first on /Film.
- 9/16/2021
- by Lex Briscuso
- Slash Film
Photo: ‘Gaia’/Decal South African director Jaco Bouwer’s first-feature film ‘Gaia’ (2021) is a project lodged within a series of contradictory creative crossroads. It painstakingly belabors itself as a primeval ode to the power of nature while at the same time filming on digital cameras that cast a distractingly unnatural glossy haze upon the film and the forest it is set in. The film also struggles to distinguish itself within the low-budget terror-is-within thrills of films like Trey Edward Shults’ ‘It Comes At Night’ (2017) and Eduardo Sanchez and Daniel Myrick’s ‘The Blair Witch Project’ (1999) or the grotesquely over-the-top body horror of the likes of George A. Romero and David Cronenberg. Layered on top of all these confusing tonal discrepancies is a seemingly diminutive budget that crumbles under the weight of lofty mythology that is likely to leave audiences desperately clawing for more in the worst way possible. Related article:...
- 6/27/2021
- by Andrew Valianti
- Hollywood Insider - Substance & Meaningful Entertainment
Welcome back to Let’s Scare Bryan to Death, where we’re joined by horror critic and academic Mary Beth McAndrews. You’ve likely read her stuff at, well, a sh*tload of outlets, including Grim Journal, Rue Morgue, We Are Horror, Film School Rejects, and Shudder’s The Bite (check out the full list at her website). You’ve probably also heard her voice on podcasts Scarred for Life, where she and previous guest Terry Mesnard discuss the movies that messed us up as kids and Watched Once, Never Again, where she and Dax Ebaben discuss the movies that mess us up regardless of our age.
It’s also no coincidence that you’ll find McAndrews as a contributor in House of Leaves’ upcoming book Filtered Reality: The Progenitors and Evolution of Found Footage Horror. She is an avid champion of the found footage subgenre, and for this month...
It’s also no coincidence that you’ll find McAndrews as a contributor in House of Leaves’ upcoming book Filtered Reality: The Progenitors and Evolution of Found Footage Horror. She is an avid champion of the found footage subgenre, and for this month...
- 6/23/2021
- by Bryan Christopher
- DailyDead
Modern horror fans might not understand what all the fuss is about given the evolution of the found footage genre over the last two decades, but The Blair Witch Project was a cultural phenomenon when it hit theaters in the summer of 1999. Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez’s micro budget chiller is one of the genre’s most influential movies, as well as one of the most profitable after raking in almost $250 million at the box office on a budget of $200,000.
It was also one of the first titles to harness the nascent power of the internet as a marketing tool, with a website based on the legend comprised of newsreel interviews with supposed locals leading many people to believe that the story was true, and the movie itself represented real documentary footage shot by the central trio before they went missing.
That sort of suspension of disbelief and air...
It was also one of the first titles to harness the nascent power of the internet as a marketing tool, with a website based on the legend comprised of newsreel interviews with supposed locals leading many people to believe that the story was true, and the movie itself represented real documentary footage shot by the central trio before they went missing.
That sort of suspension of disbelief and air...
- 10/30/2020
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
Flix Flashback In #WatchWithTNM this week, we revisit found footage horror film 'The Blair Witch Project' which still inspires discussions.Geetika MantriScreenshot “It was my fault, because it was my project. Everything had to be my way. And this is where we've ended up and it's all because of me that we're here now – hungry, cold, and hunted. I love you mom, dad. I am so sorry. What is that? I'm scared to close my eyes, I'm scared to open them!” says Heather huddled in her tent in the middle of the woods, with the only light on her face coming from the camera she is speaking into. Half of her face is close, very close to the camera that catches her nostrils flaring and shrinking as she sobs and shudders, her tears forming and spilling from her eyes. A shot from this memorable scene from The Blair Witch Project...
- 10/16/2020
- by Geetika
- The News Minute
Exclusive: South Korean filmmaker Byung-gil Jung, who wowed audiences at Cannes 2017 with his femme-led action feature The Villainess, has come aboard to direct the action thriller Havoc, written by Eric Tipton, based on an original idea by Steve Barnett and Daniel Myrick.
Inspired by actual events, Havoc tells the story of a U.S. helicopter crashing on the North Korean side of the Dmz. With tensions between the North and South already on the verge of war, the surviving U.S. Army Reservists must work together to protect a civilian tech-specialist and find their way across the Dmz, without the possibility of U.S. military support. Both Jung and Kim served in the South Korean military, performing several missions with U.S. soldiers, and plan to bring their experiences to Havoc.
Producers include Bernie Goldmann, Monarch principals Barnett and Alan Powell, and Lewis Kim. Monarch principal Vicky L. Patel will executive produce.
Inspired by actual events, Havoc tells the story of a U.S. helicopter crashing on the North Korean side of the Dmz. With tensions between the North and South already on the verge of war, the surviving U.S. Army Reservists must work together to protect a civilian tech-specialist and find their way across the Dmz, without the possibility of U.S. military support. Both Jung and Kim served in the South Korean military, performing several missions with U.S. soldiers, and plan to bring their experiences to Havoc.
Producers include Bernie Goldmann, Monarch principals Barnett and Alan Powell, and Lewis Kim. Monarch principal Vicky L. Patel will executive produce.
- 10/5/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
In 1999 The Blair Witch Project came out of nowhere and changed the face of horror movies forever. The a year later the first of the Final Destination movies arrived, kicking off a much loved series
Now more than 20 years later, Blair Witch Project co-director Daniel Myrick and Final Destination creator Jeffrey Reddick have teamed up to work on a new horror project designed specifically for streaming.
Black Veil is a series of six short form films with various collaborators. “It all revolves around that vibe in Florida, in Georgia, Alabama, that sort of Southern Gothic spookiness,” says Myrick.
The pilot, titled Camera Obscura and directed by Myrick, went into production in December 2019 but COVID19 prevented the series from being completed.
“We were full steam ahead right before the pandemic hit. We had just wrapped shooting on my episode, the pilot episode, and started the edit, and then everything got locked down.
Now more than 20 years later, Blair Witch Project co-director Daniel Myrick and Final Destination creator Jeffrey Reddick have teamed up to work on a new horror project designed specifically for streaming.
Black Veil is a series of six short form films with various collaborators. “It all revolves around that vibe in Florida, in Georgia, Alabama, that sort of Southern Gothic spookiness,” says Myrick.
The pilot, titled Camera Obscura and directed by Myrick, went into production in December 2019 but COVID19 prevented the series from being completed.
“We were full steam ahead right before the pandemic hit. We had just wrapped shooting on my episode, the pilot episode, and started the edit, and then everything got locked down.
- 7/23/2020
- by Rosie Fletcher
- Den of Geek
“Blair Witch, which I consider incredibly fortunate to have been a part of, does come with its own set of baggage,” says Daniel Myrick, one half of the duo who made the found footage phenomenon which scared the hell out of audiences when it was released in cinemas in 1999 and went on to change the face of horror as we know it.
We’re chatting (via Zoom) in the context of Myrick’s new movie, Skyman, a documentary style sci-fi which feels like it could be real, featuring elements of found footage and starring relative unknowns Michael Selle and Nicolette Sweeney, who play Carl Merriweather and his sister Gina. Carl believes he encountered an alien when he was just 10 years old and he’s convinced the being he calls the ‘Skyman’ is going to return for him on his 40th birthday. Along with a documentary film crew, Carl, his sister,...
We’re chatting (via Zoom) in the context of Myrick’s new movie, Skyman, a documentary style sci-fi which feels like it could be real, featuring elements of found footage and starring relative unknowns Michael Selle and Nicolette Sweeney, who play Carl Merriweather and his sister Gina. Carl believes he encountered an alien when he was just 10 years old and he’s convinced the being he calls the ‘Skyman’ is going to return for him on his 40th birthday. Along with a documentary film crew, Carl, his sister,...
- 7/15/2020
- by Rosie Fletcher
- Den of Geek
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