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The Blair Witch Project Collection: Imprint Collection #357 & 358
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray ALL - Australia - Via Vision Review written by and copyright: Noor Razzak (22nd March 2025). |
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The Film
 "The Blair Witch Project": Rating B+ Few films in the horror genre have left as profound an impact as "The Blair Witch Project". Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, this low-budget independent film revolutionized found-footage horror and remains a landmark in psychological terror. Despite its innovations, the film is not without its flaws, and its reception has been sharply divided between those who hail it as a masterwork of minimalist horror and those who dismiss it as an overhyped gimmick. The film follows three student filmmakers; Heather (Heather Donahue), Josh (Joshua Leonard), and Mike (Michael C. Williams) who set out to investigate the legend of the Blair Witch. As they delve deeper into the Maryland wilderness, they encounter increasingly disturbing phenomena, eventually descending into paranoia and hysteria. The shaky handheld camerawork and naturalistic performances contribute to the immersive experience, making the horror feel disturbingly authentic. One of the most significant achievements of film lies in its marketing campaign and use of found-footage realism. The film was presented as actual documentary footage recovered from the woods of Burkittsville, Maryland, heightening the illusion that the terrifying events depicted were real. This strategy, supported by an elaborate viral marketing campaign, played a crucial role in building suspense and generating intense audience anticipation. Unlike traditional horror films that rely on jump scares or explicit gore, "The Blair Witch Project" thrives on psychological terror. The fear stems from the unseen: eerie sounds in the night, strange rock formations, handing stick figures from trees, and an overwhelming sense of isolation. The audience, much like the characters, never sees the threat, which amplifies the feeling of helplessness. The film’s minimalist approach to horror, relying on suggestion rather than explicit visuals, was a bold choice that paid off. The actors’ improvisational performances further elevate the authenticity, particularly Heather Donahue’s infamous tearful monologue, which has since become one of the film’s most iconic moments and a key element of its poster campaign. However, the film is not without its flaws. While its slow-burn horror is effective for some, others may find the film’s pacing tedious even at around 80 minutes in length. The narrative consists largely of the trio wandering through the woods, arguing, and panicking, which, while realistic, can also feel repetitive. The lack of clear escalation at times makes the middle section of the film drag. The film’s reliance on shaky camerawork, while contributing to its authenticity, can be frustrating for viewers. The disorienting visuals and lack of traditional cinematic structure alienated some audiences, leading to mixed reactions upon its release. Despite its divisive reception, "The Blair Witch Project" undeniably changed the landscape of horror cinema. It paved the way for future found-footage films such as "Paranormal Activity" (2007), "REC" (2007), and "Cloverfield" (2008) to name a few, proving that a small budget and a strong concept could yield massive returns, the film made nearly $250 million globally on a budget of $60,000 and still holds the record for the most profitable film based on raw box office numbers. Its legacy also extends into contemporary horror storytelling, influencing how fear is conveyed through ambiguity rather than explicit horror imagery. "The Blair Witch Project" remains a seminal work in horror, redefining the genre with its innovative approach to storytelling and marketing. While its slow pacing and shaky cinematography may not appeal to all viewers, its mastery of psychological horror and atmosphere make it a landmark film. Whether one views it as a terrifying masterpiece or an overrated experiment, there is no denying its lasting impact on cinema. "Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2": Rating F Following the massive success of "The Blair Witch Project" (1999), "Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2" (2000), directed by Joe Berlinger, aimed to capitalize on the original film’s popularity while taking the franchise in a new direction. However, the sequel deviates significantly from its predecessor, abandoning the found-footage format in favor of a more conventional cinematic approach. The result is a film that struggles with identity, failing to capture the psychological terror of the original while also lacking a compelling narrative of its own. The story follows a group of young adults; Jeff (Jeffrey Donovan), Kim (Kim Director), Stephen (Stephen Barker Turner), Tristen (Tristen Skyler), and Erica (Erica Leerhsen) who travel to Burkittsville, Maryland, to investigate the Blair Witch legend. After a night in the woods, they experience missing time and soon find themselves plagued by paranoia, hallucinations, and unexplained events. The film attempts to blur the line between reality and delusion, but the lack of effective character development and a muddled plot hinder its impact. One of the most glaring issues with this film is its decision to move away from the found-footage style that made the first film so effective. Instead, Berlinger opts for a traditional narrative structure, blending fictional documentary elements with a stylized horror aesthetic. While this change could have been an interesting expansion of the Blair Witch mythos, the execution feels disjointed, making the film less immersive and more conventional. While the film occasionally succeeds in creating a dark and unsettling atmosphere, particularly in its use of eerie locations and a haunting musical score, it also explores themes of mass hysteria, the influence of media, and the fragility of memory, which could have been compelling if they had been more cohesively integrated into the story. Additionally, the performances, particularly from Jeffrey Donovan and Kim Director, add some intensity to the film. Their characters are given moments of depth, but the script ultimately underutilized them, reducing their potential impact. One of the biggest flaws of the film is its inconsistent tone and incoherent storytelling. The film seems unsure whether it wants to be a psychological thriller, a supernatural horror, or a meta-commentary on the first film’s success. This lack of focus results in a jarring experience that fails to engage the audience effectively. Moreover, studio interference played a significant role in the film’s shortcomings. Berlinger originally intended for the movie to be a psychological thriller with a subtle approach to horror, but the studio forced the inclusion of more traditional horror elements, such as quick-cut jump scares and gratuitous gore. These changes not only undermined the director’s vision but also clashed with the film’s more cerebral themes, leading to a final product that feels disjointed and confused. Upon release, "Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2" was met with overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics and audiences alike. Many viewed it as a cash grab that failed to understand what made the original film successful. Over time, some viewers have come to appreciate its attempt to tackle deeper psychological themes, but it remains one of the more infamous horror sequels of its era. "Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2" is a misguided sequel that fails to live up to its predecessor. While it has moments of atmosphere and interesting thematic ideas, its incoherent narrative, inconsistent tone, and studio-mandated changes prevent it from being a worthy continuation of the mythos. For fans of the franchise, it serves as a curious misstep rather than an essential chapter.
Video
The transfer for "The Blair Witch Project" is presented in the film's original theatrical ratio of 1.33:1 full screen mastered in HD 1080p 24/fps and using AVC MPEG-4 compression. Imprint has licensed a now 15 year-old transfer from Lionsgate. This image is quite dated now and according to the filmmakers was not the intended transfer they prefer. Second Sight from the UK has done a full restoration that more accurately represents the filmmaker's vision if you want to source it. This transfer is not terribly good, it's lacking in detail, lacking in bold deep black levels, there;s some wobble as well, overall it's an incredibly underwhelming image. But you might say to yourself the original source material is already underwhelming, after all the film was shot on a combination of period era Hi8 video and 16mm black-and-white film and this print was then transferred to 35mm. Lionsgate then created this transfer using the 35mm telecine transfer instead of from the DigiBeta master. This will likely disappoint fans. "Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2" is presented in the film's original aspect ratio 1.78:1 widescreen and also presented in HD 1080p 24/fps using AVC MPEG-4 compression, another licensed transfer from Lionsgate. This one fares a little better considering it was filmed conventionally on film. The result is a more detailed image, colors are good, blacks are a little muddy, it could be better but it's a film that no one really cares about and I consider its inclusion here as a bonus.
Audio
"The Blair Witch Project" includes a single English LPCM 2.0 stereo track, the same track that was used for the film's theatrical exhibition. The dialogue is mostly solid, there's lack of overall depth but that's mainly because it's a stereo track. Nothing really impressive just serviceable. Optional subtitles are included in English for the hearing impaired only. "Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2" includes two tracks, an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track as well as an English LPCM 2.0 stereo option. For the purposes of this review I chose to view the film with its DTS-HD track. Dialogue is clear, surround activity is well balanced, score and effects add to the overall atmosphere of the film and utilize the surround channels well. Optional subtitles are also included in English for the hearing impaired only.
Extras
Imprint has included both films with a decent collection of supplements. Below is a closer look. DISC ONE: "The Blair Witch Project" First up is an audio commentary by Matt Blazi, author of “8 Days in the Woods: The Making of The Blair Witch Project” (2024), newly recorded for this edition, Blazi covers everything you could possibly want covered over the making of the film, it's cultural impact, and the groundbreaking filmmaking that these guys helped pioneer. If you're a fan this is required listening. An archival audio commentary by writers/directors Daniel Myrick & Eduardo Sánchez and producers Rob Cowie, Gregg Hale & Mike Manello (1999), recorded for the old Artisan DVD and subsequently available on every other release since is this track. The track almost feels like a time capsule, the participants are genuinely enthusiastic about sharing their experiences making and releasing this film that for all intents and purposes changed their lives for better or worse. "Curse of the Blair Witch" is a 1999 documentary (44:01) that features interviews with the filmmakers and cast as we get a look at the making of the film. "The Blair Witch Legacy" featurette (3:39) takes a brief look at the impact this film has had on the industry. There are a collection of archival Writer/Director interviews (9:12), also from 1999 and previously available on other releases. "Fear" interviews with Psychological and Supernatural Experts and include the following clips: - Darkness (0:34) - Guilt (0:32) - Effects of Fear (0:25) - Absolute Terror (0:29) - Sleep Deprivation (0:29) - Survival (0:45) - Witches (0:42) - Superstition (0:38) - Psychopathology (0:48) The disc also features a collection of alternate endings: - Standing in the Corner Backwards (2:05) - Standing in the Corner Forwards (1:41) - Hanging (2:01) - Levitating (2:00) Discovered Footage (5:12) is basically footage that was cut and never used. Rounding out the extras are the film's original theatrical trailer (1:21), teaser trailer 1 (0:57), and theatrical teaser 2 (0:57) DISC TWO: "Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2" This disc features an audio commentary by director Joe Berlinger (2001), this archival track features the film's director as he comments on the making of the film and on his overall vision for the film, which was not what we ended up with among other things. Next is a "Select Scenes" audio commentary by composer Carter Burwell (2000), I actually like this track a lot, the composer comments on the challenges of creating the music for the film among the many changes that the filmmaker and the studio made over the course of post-production. "Created by Hysteria: Directing Book of Shadows" 2024 interview with Joe Berlinger (19:14) is a newly recorded clip in which the director looks back at his experience making this film and the pressure to follow up one of the biggest horror films that was a total breakout success. "We Brought Something Back: Filming Book of Shadows" 2024 interview with cinematographer Nancy Schreiber (18:18), expectations versus reality could be the theme of this clip. "The Secret of Esrever" 2001 featurette (2:02), looks at the hidden images in the film. "Shadow of the Blair Witch" 2001 documentary (44:55), a typical EPK clip that takes an overall look at the making of the troubled film. "Burkittsville 7" 2001 documentary (40:01) a look at the characters in the film. The disc also features the Soundtrack trailer and a live performance by the band Godhead (4:56) There are a series of archival Cast & Crew interviews (16:27), as well as the film's theatrical trailer (1:17) and teaser trailer (1:29)
Packaging
Limited Edition Blu-ray 2-Disc Hardbox limited to 1500 copies worldwide.
Overall
Aside from including a older transfer this is generally a fine release, but the limited nature of the set and the price point may turn some people away.
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