Genre: Horror
Directors: Daniel Myrick & Eduardo Sanchez
Plot: Three film students get lost in the woods while trying to film a documentary. This is their footage.
The gist: The Blair Witch Project is probably the first film to utilize the 'found footage' method of horror. Directors Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez, as well as the three kids playing the lost students do a splendid job making things as spontaneous as possible, thereby making the film feel very real.
The footage we see follows the three kids: Heather, Joshua and Michael interview some local folk before going off into the woods and then subsequently not knowing where they are. Their fear and hopelessness comes off very well, as the audience gets a first hand experience of what it's like being lost with no one to call for help.
The real horror actually sets in within the final 20 minutes of the film, but the build up to that is pretty effective, with the three kids putting in a genuinely solid performance and playing well off each other.
The good: The performances from all three kids, plus the practical way of filming this movie makes it very effective. The closing moments of the film is pretty heart pounding.
The bad: If you're expecting something scary happening every now and then, you might end up being a bit bored. The first quarter of the film might feel a bit slow, but things pick up once they hit the woods. (There is one minor plothole that I have an issue with, but I won't spoil it)
Verdict: A solid horror flick that started the 'found footage' genre, and ought to be seen at least once. (3.5/5)
