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After discovering a video showing what he believes to be his sister’s experiences in the demonic woods of the Blair Witch, James and a group of friends head to the forest in search of his lost sibling.
As the sequel to the 1999 cult classic “The Blair Witch Project,” the 2016 sequel will undoubtedly draw in old fans and some new spectators wanting to know what all the hype is about. Well, they’re certainly about to find out. “Blair Witch” is so much more than another one of Hollywood’s disastrous attempts to rehash an old franchise simply to bring in money to the studio. It seems, instead, to be a well-constructed plot with an impressive mix of elements that work together to make the film a satisfying enough watch.
Inevitably, some classic horror movie archetypes feature in the movie; however, the film manages to maintain some originality and intrigue, combatting clichés with a screenplay that keeps things moving and shaking rather than leaving time for the audience to cringe at the obviousness of the plot. Yes, the customary bad decisions are made; and yes, there is the expected half hour or so of stalling all the action to make the all-too-dangerous setting look harmless. However, as the Blair Witch makes her presence known, the plot becomes a lot more complicated than a simple haunting of the woods. Some sci-fi elements, such as (spoiler alert!) time and space warping, come into play, making the creepy setting a lot more tense.
A lot of why the film works derives from the commendable dramatic acting from most of its cast, a few unpredictable twists throughout the otherwise predictable story, terrifyingly good sound editing, and the telling of a tale from the very start to the very end, not leaving much to the imagination. That is, of course, apart from a clear look at the Blair Witch herself – but it is best not to look at all, as the characters come to learn. Viewers are instead exposed to the stunning power that the witch exercises, and the brief glimpses that the audience is offered of her presence are shocking enough to want to keep the mystery of her appearance a mystery for a little while longer.
With only one, maybe two, stock character(s) at most, the small cast is put to use quite well. Every character has a legitimate enough reason for being in the haunted woods, and that only adds to the believability of the plot – which is, oddly enough, what had initially contributed to the success of the first film on the fictional legend of the Blair Witch. The sequel may not be the next found footage classic that makes you fear the unknown, but the film is still believable to some extent, all thanks to the shocking depth of emotion oozing from the traumatized characters. Viewers will certainly feel the characters’ trauma in their own bones by the last half hour of their viewing experiences.
Should we expect more of the “Blair Witch” franchise? Probably not so soon, as such a movie can only be truly terrifying every once in awhile. Fortunately for viewers, it sure has been a while since the previous film, making this one a pretty horrifying reminder of the Witch’s curse. If you’re in the mood for an intense emotional thrill ride through the haunted woods this weekend, “Blair Witch” will most definitely satisfy you.
In theaters now
