The Blair Witch Project (1999)

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Director: Eduardo Sanchez and Daniel Myrick

Writer: Eduardo Sanchez and Daniel Myrick

Starring: Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, Joshua Leonard

Synopsis: Three film students vanish after traveling into a Maryland forest to film a documentary on the local Blair Witch legend, leaving only their footage behind.

 

Blair Witch Project is the movie that started the found footage craze. I remember going to the movie theater with my friend TJ Rogers to see this little screen gem. It was from that point I fell in love. Blair Witch Project follows 3 college kids (white of course) into the woods. Heather, Michael and Josh head out into the Maryland woods in search of the Blair Witch. There have been so many naysayers on this film. All though when it was first released everyone loved it.

 

I remember holding hands with TJ cringing at every twig crackle and though you already have a good idea of how it’s going to go you can’t help but watch. It’s kinda like watching a crash in slow motion. I have to admit for some reason I loved Michael. He was my absolute favorite of 3. Heather very annoying. Josh was cool, but my Michael was just adorable and I felt sorry for him most. With that being said I would say the acting was stellar.

 

There was a lot of complaints about the film and the shaky camera effect. I know it is difficult for a lot of people to stomach. But I believe that is part of what made this movie not to mention the epic marketing strategy allowing people to believe this was actually real. I remember the billboards with Michael, Josh and Heather’s missing photos. I thought that was awesome.

 

The movie was entertaining and had its creepy moments. I know it bummed a lot of people out that they never actually so anything. But I don’t feel the end result is always what makes the movie. It’s the build up, and this movie had plenty of that. They began with all kinds of interviews in the first 10-15 minutes from people in the tiny town. And the history and back story was very interesting and believable.

 

10/10: I don’t think to many people who love found footage would give this anything less than 8. I gave it a 10 because it was this movie that made me fall in love with the found footage genre, and not to mention it paved the way for lots of other found footage movies.

Grave Encounters 2011

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Director: The Vicious Brothers

Writers: The Vicious Brothers

Starring: Ben Wilkinson, Sean Rogerson, Ashleigh Gryzko

Synopsis: For their ghost hunting reality show, a production crew locks themselves inside an abandoned mental hospital that’s supposedly haunted – and it might prove to be all too true.

 

Grave Encounters starts off very similar to any other ghost hunting show like Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures. I found the cast very realistic in the aspect of being ghost hunters. I felt like I was watching a show. You watch a camera crew stay the night in a supposedly haunted insane asylum. Most people will feel okay we have all heard this story and seen this movie. I thought the same despite the rave reviews it was gaining before I viewed it myself.

 

(Minor Spoilage) I also loved how the beginning it did address the fact that every show doesn’t always get results hence paying a handy man to say he saw something. I kinda figured this may happen in the real shows like Ghost Hunters.

 

Now, I don’t want to give too much a way. I am only giving my review and this is not a blow-by-blow of the entire movie. The movie had some great scares. However, I did find all the screaming and f-bombs dropping a little annoying. But I can’t really say anything because I am relatively sure if I were in the same situation I would probably be dropping f-bomb as well. But is just really annoying to watch for me.

 

I did not go in expecting much from this movie. It was surrounded by a ton hype by the time I got around to watching it. Typically when a movie is surrounded by so much hype I end up hating it. And I hate it when that happens. But this movie did its job. I was scared and jumpy. I put my hand over my eyes and peeked through a couple of times. So I am with this one to say the least. And it had a nice little twist.

8.5/10: Definitely one of my favorite found footage movies. It was well done and the actors were great. It’s definitely one not to be missed.

I will be reviewing Grave Encounters 2 very soon!!! 🙂