Movie Review 044 Blair Witch

Blair Witch
[091616] 70%

- Do not watch if you want to avoid spoilers -

Being faithful and paying homage to the format and the original film (discarding the second inferior film completely), this sequel/reboot is its own curse and blessing unto itself, having to play around in an established universe widely known by the masses but getting the opportunity to expand on the mythology while updating the surrounding of the premise with a respected self-restraint.

The audiences could be split into two with half of them expecting the same experience of watching the first movie to be repeated with just a few modern updates to keep it a fresh and exciting viewing while the other half wanted this second (or third) attempt on this premise to deviate further than just a tribute movie to the landmark film, going its own way without being tied down and restricted by the premise. For better or for worse, the former gained more from this particular iteration compared to the latter.

Despite the now overused and stale nature of the format of found footage films, the process of filming the scenes through handheld cameras and editing them together for a coherent and fluid storyline is a task that cannot be taken lightly. This is clearly evident in this latest entry into the genre as the successful collaboration between the cinematographer and editor resulted in a well filmed and cut together movie.

The application of newer technology in the shape of a number of new perspectives to record the journey in the jungle certainly added to the viewing experience of the characters' point of view, seeing them in more intimate moments in the eye of the supernatural storm but a couple of them didn't pay off in the end i.e. the bluetooth side camera and the underused drone, leaving us craving for more.

As a followup, the setup for the overall storyline is nicely done but the characters were all only established on the surface level without much or any character progression throughout the whole film. The muted scenes they were in for the first hour didn't give them any opportunity to shine but when they were in direct danger, every one of them committed to their roles to their best with one exceptional standout, Callie Hernandez as Lisa Arlington, especially in the claustrophobic tunnel and the ending scene.

Although the establishing scenes at the top of the movie moved too slow for some, but when everything started to unravel, it picked up exponentially in its pace and what happened in the forest with the last third act a treat to behold with the execution of the unique premise and the first person view perspective at their best. A few of the lovers of the original might not love the lost of ambiguity with a lot of the mythologies being explained and apparent on the screen (especially the fast but effective looks of the witch itself) but these reveals served the whole storyline wonderfully without being too on the nose or simply spoon-feeding the audiences.

- Synopsis -

A young man and his friends venture into the Black Hills Forest in Maryland to uncover the mystery surrounding his missing sister. Many believe her disappearance 17 years earlier is connected to the legend of the Blair Witch. At first the group is hopeful, especially when two locals act as guides through the dark and winding woods. As the night wears on, a visit from a menacing presence soon makes them realize that the legend is all too real, and more sinister than they could have ever imagined.

- 36%/ 41%, 5.7/10, wiki, -

(Director & Writer Adam Wingard & Simon Barrett [You're Next, the Guest],  Budget $5 Millions = Box Office $16.1>> Millions [US], Duration 1hr 29mn, Rating R, Genre - Found Footage, Horror, Thriller)

+ Highlights +

the surprising reveal at Comic Con to counter the idea of  the sequel with a shocking guerrilla tactic, being faithful and paying homage to the format of found footage and the premise of original movie, props to the cinematographer and editor, a few modern updates while expanding the mythology with a restraint on not adding too much to overpower the premise, the new perspectives, the constant tone of dread and suspense following the lighthearted tone at the start, great sound mixing and editing, the real reveal of the witch's power [the endless night, the odd couple trapped days by themselves, the ensemble of totems, the snapping of the totem, the lift of the tent], the terrifying design of the witch, the believable expressions and actions by the characters, a couple of great intimate moments between the two leads, the non-stop suspenseful third act revolving the witch itself and the characters, the claustrophobic tunnel and the emotional breakdown in it, the ending scene, the continuous loop

- Lowlights -

going through too much of the similar beats without enough of its own inventions or twists for some, the awkward ineffective scene in the pub, the slow pace at the start, the tired trope of jump scares, the loud sound every camera change, surface level characters with serviceable acting in the opening, the loss of ambiguity, a couple of foreshadowing didn't pay off @ red herrings [the cut on the foot, the drone, the tunnel], the divisive similar finale