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The Blair Witch Project

  • 19991999
  • RR
  • 1h 21m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
255K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,186
26
Heather Donahue in The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Teaser Trailer for The Blair Witch Project
Play trailer0:31
3 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Horror
  • Mystery
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
255K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,186
26
  • Directors
    • Daniel Myrick
    • Eduardo Sánchez
  • Writers
    • Daniel Myrick
    • Eduardo Sánchez
    • Heather Donahue(documentary material)
  • Stars
    • Heather Donahue
    • Michael C. Williams
    • Joshua Leonard
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Daniel Myrick
    • Eduardo Sánchez
  • Writers
    • Daniel Myrick
    • Eduardo Sánchez
    • Heather Donahue(documentary material)
  • Stars
    • Heather Donahue
    • Michael C. Williams
    • Joshua Leonard
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 3.6KUser reviews
    • 400Critic reviews
    • 81Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 19 wins & 26 nominations

    Videos3

    The Blair Witch Project
    Trailer 0:31
    The Blair Witch Project
    Pop Trivia: Sundance Film Festival
    Clip 0:53
    Pop Trivia: Sundance Film Festival
    Scariest Movie Moments
    Video 1:34
    Scariest Movie Moments

    Photos184

    Michael C. Williams in The Blair Witch Project (1999)
    Heather Donahue in The Blair Witch Project (1999)
    Joshua Leonard in The Blair Witch Project (1999)
    Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez in The Blair Witch Project (1999)
    Daniel Myrick and Neville Elder at an event for The Blair Witch Project (1999)
    The Blair Witch Project (1999)
    The Blair Witch Project (1999)
    Heather Donahue in The Blair Witch Project (1999)
    Heather Donahue in The Blair Witch Project (1999)
    The Blair Witch Project (1999)
    Heather Donahue in The Blair Witch Project (1999)
    Heather Donahue in The Blair Witch Project (1999)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Heather Donahue
    Heather Donahue
    • Heather Donahueas Heather Donahue
    Michael C. Williams
    Michael C. Williams
    • Michael 'Mike' Williamsas Michael 'Mike' Williams
    • (as Michael Williams)
    Joshua Leonard
    Joshua Leonard
    • Joshua 'Josh' Leonardas Joshua 'Josh' Leonard
    Bob Griffin
    • Short Fishermanas Short Fisherman
    Jim King
    • Intervieweeas Interviewee
    Sandra Sánchez
    • Waitressas Waitress
    • (as Sandra Sanchez)
    Ed Swanson
    • Fisherman With Glassesas Fisherman With Glasses
    Patricia DeCou
    Patricia DeCou
    • Mary Brownas Mary Brown
    Mark Mason
    • Man in Yellow Hatas Man in Yellow Hat
    Susie Gooch
    • Interviewee with Childas Interviewee with Child
    • (as Jackie Hallex)
    • Directors
      • Daniel Myrick
      • Eduardo Sánchez
    • Writers
      • Daniel Myrick
      • Eduardo Sánchez
      • Heather Donahue(documentary material) (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film was in the Guinness Book of World Records for "Top Budget: Box Office Ratio" (for a mainstream feature film). The film cost $60,000 to make and made back $248 million, a ratio of $1 spent for every $10,931 made.
    • Goofs
      The three are lost in the woods but in one scene, about 25 feet behind them, a field can be seen through a small gap in the trees. The road is also visible as they try to find the trail.
    • Quotes

      Heather Donahue: I just want to apologize to Mike's mom, Josh's mom, and my mom. And I'm sorry to everyone. I was very naive. I am so so sorry for everything that has happened. Because in spite of what Mike says now, it is my fault. Because it was my project and I insisted. I insisted on everything. I insisted that we weren't lost. I insisted that we keep going. I insisted that we walk south. Everything had to be my way. And this is where we've ended up and it's all because of me that we're here now - hungry, cold, and hunted. I love you mom, dad. I am so sorry. What is that? I'm scared to close my eyes, I'm scared to open them! We're gonna die out here!

    • Crazy credits
      The beginning and end credits are designed in the style of a documentary, e.g. jumping slightly, static instead of rolling credits.
    • Alternate versions
      In October 2001, the FX Network aired this with "never-before-seen footage". This turned out to be a few segments spliced into the closing credits of Heather videotaping Mike saying goodbye to his friends and family, and Heather admitting culpability for the week's occurrences. Mike firmly states that it is not her fault, which is referenced in Heather's later confession to the camera in the theatrical version. Also, all profanities are overdubbed, especially a really bad "let's go" over Heather saying "f**k you" to Josh as he berates her about being lost and hunted on the dusk before he is taken away.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Instinct/The Loss of Sexual Innocence/Limbo (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Rigors
      Written by Klaus Heesch

      Performed by Digginlilies

      Courtesy of Juicy Temples

    User reviews3.6K

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Cinema Verite Fright...
    Is THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT a masterful ghost film or a gimmick to create a multi-media event? It is both. The picture, shot on super 8 video and 16mm film displayed in a squared, documentary-like frame, is quirky, annoying, and spectacularly scary. The scenes at night quite frankly scared the hell out of me. The gimmick that THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT is created confusion and wonder over whether or not the footage shot was real life. Now, we all know the truth, but the French term 'cinema verite' is defined by this grisly film.

    A guaranteed cult classic, BLAIR WITCH has "Heather, Mike, and Josh" heading off into the allegedly hexed woods of Maryland looking for the Blair Witch or whatever else may exist up in those hills. For most of the film, it is very unclear. The beginning excerpts ingeniously set up the three participants to believe they are a) experiencing the supernatural, b) being played like a fiddle by the suspicious townspeople or c) just completely out of their minds. Its up to the viewer to decide but my money is on option A.

    Most filmgoers know that the filmmakers Sanchez and Myrick used their MAC cards and cookie jars to put this phenom together and I commend them. This is a tour-de-force thriller that does indeed seem real. Its all improvised and 'verite' like and the best part about the movie's many chills are based on the basic premise that scares most of us: We are generally frightened by what we cannot see. Many times throughout the film, the screen is completely dark with sudden bursts of screams and grainy scenery. For the sake of the suspense, the film may have been better if we did not know the gimmick. The realism is sometimes smothering.

    True, the hand-held camera can make you achy in the head, but the way the actors play off each other is magic and not for the faint of heart. I viewed the film on DVD with someone who was not feeling too well because of the dizzying camera, but somehow the black and white and color and rain blend together and allow Myrick and Sanchez to do what they were attempting to do. Spooking an audience with unseen forces is so effective and I was reminded of Robert Wise's original THE HAUNTING from 1963 with the groans and the cries and the shrieks. A baby's giggle can be heard during one spellbinding scene when the tent the 3 students sleep in takes on a life of its own.

    Much has been made about a similar film made in similar fashion by some other young auteurs well before THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT was released. I never saw it and if it was as good as this film we would've seen it. Nonetheless, this past summer shocked and surprised me with the amount of good horror pictures around. In the woods, no one can hear you scream either.

    Rating: ***1/2
    helpful•80
    75
    • Don-102
    • Oct 25, 1999

    FAQ16

    • What is 'The Blair Witch Project' about?
    • Is 'The Blair Witch Project' based on a book?
    • What does legend say about the Blair Witch?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 30, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El proyecto Blair Witch
    • Filming locations
      • Patapsco Valley State Park - 8020 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City, Maryland, USA
    • Production company
      • Haxan Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $60,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $140,539,099
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,512,054
      • Jul 18, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $248,639,099
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 21 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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