The Blair Witch Project (DVD, 1999, Special Edition)

The film starts innocently enough. Three students set out to a town to film a documentary on an old myth about the "Blair Witch" who supposedly killed countless children in the town, which was previously known as Blair. They talk to the local townsfolk, the type of people you see everyday. They all have their different opinions-some believe in the witch that now supposedly lives out in the woods, and some don't. After the filmmakers interrogation of the residents they decide to go take a little "trip" into the woods for some raw footage. During the course of the film they become inexplicably lost, hunted by something in the dead of night, and then they themselves start to lose their minds. I won't give away the ending but I will say that by the time the credits rolled I was physically shaking. I'm really not sure why people do not think that this movie is scary. I will state that I do not scare easily. I'm the odd ball in the family that is notorious for laughing at the Exorcist while watching it. So this opinion is not easily given.
If your type of horror movie is something entirely special effect based, with the typical plotline, and the blood and the guts--example: Silent Hill. Don't watch this film. You won't appreciate it. But for those of you that like a good scare without all of that stuff I recommend you at least watch it once on DVD. And make sure you check out some of the bonus stuff on the disc. This is really a great movie and is one of my favorite horror films.

The first time I saw The Blair Witch Project was after it had come out on video/dvd and I was home, by myself with all the lights out...this is the norm for me when watching a horror flick. I had not heard anything about that the whole story was a hoax until well after the movie had been out so keep in mind, all I knew was that it was a true story. I do not scare easily, especially with the latest generation of "monster" movies, come on, there really aren't any new creatures so scary that it should be a horror film anymore. The movies that are truly disturbing and frightening are things that could in some way shape or form but true or real, movies that are psychological thrillers and play on good clean fear alone. This is what this movie did. The small budget that was used, anyone could have made this movie, but the realism that is portrayed by these students(no name actors) in the woods is mindblowing. Halfway through I literally had to leave the room and turn on the lights and watch from my kitchen...I even stooped so low as to call someone on the phone to tell them how scared I was. This has NEVER happened while watching any movie in my life, I am no child either..married, 3 kids, 3 dogs, nice house, comfy...you get the picture. So fear is something that is not a huge thing for me but I crave the feeling when watching a horror or scary movie since that is the intention...is it not? The way the film is portrayed with a "live" video camera and that it seems completely unscripted, and that the emotion can be felt from these students in the film right through the screen is incredible and makes the movie all the more believable. I just recently watched it(purchased both 1 & 2 for my own collection) for only the second time since then and it was almost as terrifying as the first time and that was KNOWING it wasn't true or real...good stuff here. Highly recommended film for those who love to be scared. Grab some popcorn, turn the lights out, watch it late at night...maybe even during a storm. Don't go into it with the attitude of being invincible to the fear that may come, forget what you know and hold on to your hats...it is a wild ride!

Before watching this movie, I was very excited to see it because I had heard so much about it. I want to tell you not to make the same mistake that I did. The movie was boring and contained absolutely no horror scenes whatsoever. The amount of swearing in the movie was revolting seeing as how the "F" word was only another line or two away after just hearing it. As for the rest of the acting, it came out okay except that when one or more of the characters became angry, they seemed to exaggerate the emotion along with fear. The whole movie was shot on a handheld camera which didn't take away, except for the fact that when dark approached, the screen was black and nothing could be seen. The setting was obviously real, but the use of it was terrible. For example, when the group of students became lost, they ran into the same river countless times and ignored it. When you find a river and you are lost, you should probably follow it as it will lead you to some sort of civilization, instead of ignoring it and walking away. They attempted to use the imagination as the main scare factor (you never see the Blair Witch), and it failed dramatically. The ending left me at a loss for words because I was still trying to figure out what had just occurred. Overall, the movie just does not deliver the scares that it should. If you absolutely, must see the movie, then try to borrow it without any cost before you buy it; this is general advice that should be taken into consideration with many movies, but this one especially.

Great piece of film making that I enjoy over and over again. New concept with the hand held camera (in '99 anyway) and the actors that have the freedom to shoot what they want and, pretty much, get the greenlight on their ideas for the script. Very scarry for the same reasons "Rosemary's Baby" was so unsettling; it wasn't what you saw, it was what you couldn't see that makes the viewer so fearful.
I really loved the way this film was made because it made everything seem a little too real. Very gutsy move by the writer/producer/director to let the audience know from the beginning that the three main characters have gone missing while shooting this. "A year later, their footage was found." Good to see amatuer film makers put this all together so deftly and dramatically.
-David (indigo1x4x9) 5/23/2009

Bought the Blair Witch Project because several co-workers wanted to see it again after a long time without. Plus one co-worker never saw it. I always wanted to get it and half.com made the purchse very easy. The prices on half.com are by far the best anywhere. Since using this site I have completely stopped buying from retail stores. Not only DVD's but CD's as well. I've recommended the site to several friends and to date, a majority of them have also purchased from half.com. I like this movie because the more you watch the more things you pick up that you didn't recall the first or second time. I only dilike I have was the fact that it was published as being true when in fact it was just another staged act, albeit a good one.