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Basic Witch: A mediocre sequel that fails to inspire

September 26, 2016

With sloppy execution, lack of originality and uneven pacing, director Adam Wingard’s excursion into the woods “Blair Witch” leaves much to be desired
First time filmmakers Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez created “The Blair Witch Project,” which would become the basis of 2016’s “Blair Witch.” The original story centered on three documentary filmmakers in Burkittsville, Maryland, and their ill-fated journey into the woods to explore the legend of the Blair Witch. The film became a cultural phenomenon.
Where the first film felt fresh and innovating, Wingard’s movie feels repetitive and uninspiring. It becomes very apparent early on that the sequel follows the same formula as its predecessor. I could easily decipher the beats of the film, and this lack of originality took away from the suspense.
The director includes a healthy dose of surprisingly effective jump scares. Yet without the adrenalin rush of a more expertly crafted film, they come across as cheap cinematographic ploys: The only truly frightening moment comes at the end of
the film.
The expertly crafted climax showcases Wingard’s talent as a master of horror. The tunnel sequence was nerve wracking; an excellent use of the ‘found footage’ style of filming. The first person perspective heightened the terror. This was the only time I found the cinematography to be effective.
When used properly, the “shaky cam’ style of cinematography adds a sense of urgency. In “Blair Witch,” the use of this style of filmmaking renders it unwatchable. The shaky cam would have been more effective had the filmmakers chosen to build up the mythology and story surrounding the witch.
What made “The Blair Witch Project” successful was the lore surrounding the witch herself. The filmmakers took time to explore the mythology surrounding the witch and the town’s unsettling history. This narrative was crucial to the film’s success. When chaos erupted, the viewer couldn’t necessarily tell what was going on visually, but the audience was given enough backstory to fill in the blanks. This allowed the filmmaker to use the most horrific tool of all: the audience’s own imagination.
The sequel provides little mention of the witch or the town’s history. By excluding this information, the film feels rushed. At 89 minutes, it literally flies by without any significant context or any character development.
One area that is improved upon is the sound design: The sound mixing, along with some tight sound editing, offers up an eerie soundtrack. Yet this is also to the film’s detriment; it is too artificial and constructed to pass for “found footage.”
It was the grainy realism of the original that added to the film’s success. One actually believes in the validity of the footage, and this is what is lost in the sequel.
Being a fan of both director Wingard and of the original film, I had high expectations, and thus they had all the further to fall. “Blair Witch” is not a terrible film, but unlike the 1999 original, I didn’t leave the theater wanting more.
In all fairness, Wingard does add new plot elements that progress the canon and mythos of the witch; sadly, he doesn’t have the confidence to see them to fruition.
All of these new elements felt under utilized. Had the filmmakers taken the time to flesh out their ideas, and divert from the “shaky cam” cinematography, the film could have soared.
Instead, we get a rehash of a story that has already been burned at the stake.

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