The Blair Witch Project

Name: The Blair Witch Project
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Horror
Released: July 16, 1999
Duration: 81 min
Rating: 80
Cast: Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, Michael C. Williams

1999

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 33 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 424 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 424 Ratings

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The Blair Witch Project

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Movie Details & Credits

Artisan Entertainment | Release Date: July 16, 1999 | R

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

Summary: On October 21, 1994, Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard and Michael Williams hiked into Maryland's Black Hills Forest to shoot a documentary film on a local legend, The Blair Witch. They were never heard from again. One year later, their footage was found. The Blair Witch Project is their legacy. [Artisan Entertainment]

Director: Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez

Genre(s): Mystery, Thriller, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 81 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Marc Caro

Many of us may have thought that with the world offering so much vivid horribleness every day, movies had lost the power to give us a good cathartic scare. It's a shock -- and a pleasure -- to discover we were wrong. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

An intensely imaginative piece of conceptual filmmaking that also delivers the goods as a dread-drenched horror movie. Read full review

Film.com Gemma Files

Man, I just can't recommend this enough.

Mary Elizabeth Williams

The most inventive and genuinely frightening horror movie to appear in years. Read full review

David Edelstein

No part of us is allowed to relax. Ever. Read full review

William Arnold

As amateurish and fumbling as it is in every department, the sum total of the movie is pretty darn scary. Read full review

Film.com Peter Brunette

While it has its scary moments, and while its central conceit is refreshingly imaginative, there's ultimately not much there there.

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User Reviews

ChrisB

Jul 10, 2009

I remember seeing this as a 6th grader in my friends house at night in the dark with some candles lit for ambiance. Granted that that was nine years ago (ugh I feel so old) I still think this movie has merit even in its VHS incarnation which is still on my shelf to this day. I think the I remember seeing this as a 6th grader in my friends house at night in the dark with some candles lit for ambiance. Granted that that was nine years ago (ugh I feel so old) I still think this movie has merit even in its VHS incarnation which is still on my shelf to this day. I think the most offensive part of the film is the amount of swearing and profanity that the characters use, but the result is a haunting masterpiece that feels as honestly scary as it is realistic. I really tapped into the home video B&W and color variations and the camping trip gone wrong vibe. Though I can understand why some people are turned off to the whole affair. Expectations of a scary movie often include more violence, monsters, and special effects than this film can muster. This video does however, deliver grade "A" psychological horror, and stands as a testament as to why I love the survival horror genre. I feel particularly married to this film because after my best friend and I watched it for a second time in 9th grade he couldn't sleep at for a week. I felt guilty, but this reassured me that the Blair Witch Project wasn't to be taken lightly. This month is its tenth year anniversary. Do yourself a favor and give it a play. In the dark. With candles.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

geo2209

Feb 22, 2016

Captivating movie and scary because of our imaginations. If you didn't think this was scary, then your IQ is low. People with high IQs have been shown to have high creativity and good imaginations and can suspend disbelief while summoning verisimilitude to put themselves "in" the film. ThisCaptivating movie and scary because of our imaginations. If you didn't think this was scary, then your IQ is low. People with high IQs have been shown to have high creativity and good imaginations and can suspend disbelief while summoning verisimilitude to put themselves "in" the film. This movie exudes authentic emotion, fear, and insane imaginative creep factor.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Riren

Jan 28, 2007

I watched this movie for the thirteenth time last night, and was still creeped right out. Watching it on DVD in my house, I still felt as though someone might be watching me from down the hall. This is the effect of great atmosphere, and the Blair Witch Project has it. Every financially I watched this movie for the thirteenth time last night, and was still creeped right out. Watching it on DVD in my house, I still felt as though someone might be watching me from down the hall. This is the effect of great atmosphere, and the Blair Witch Project has it. Every financially cheap aspect helps it. It's shot in a real environment, not a sterile set or against a CGI backdrop; its actors improvise their dialogue rather than read from scripts; the lighting is completely natural, and all the sounds are ambient. Instead of a soundtrack, this movie has whatever the microphones picked up in the woods - much scarier than a bunch of licensed music or orchestral tones. By shooting this movie over six straight days and camping in the woods, these college-level actors access real fatigue and real emotion that blows away Hollywood performances because even though their premise is every bit as fictional as a blockbuster, their feelings are real. Minimalism is the name of the game, hiding or only showing a little of any scene - only what was caught on the characters' cameras. Outside of those people who can't stand student film to begin with or can't appreciate something filmed with shaky cameras (something most people get used to in a matter of minutes, and something that is a huge part of modern news reporting), nothing can draw an audience in quite like this movie.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful

DilHowellter

Nov 21, 2015

I did enjoy this movie although it really wasn't that scary and the ending was kind of anticlimactic. I watched this for the first time at a horror movie marathon at a friends house and the scariest part was when the tv turned off and we thought it was going to be a jumpscare so we satI did enjoy this movie although it really wasn't that scary and the ending was kind of anticlimactic. I watched this for the first time at a horror movie marathon at a friends house and the scariest part was when the tv turned off and we thought it was going to be a jumpscare so we sat waiting for it for five minutes… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

ToneSack

Oct 24, 2022

Kinda creepy but more unsettling if anything, build up was good kinda **** ending

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

leopem17

Apr 10, 2013

One knows that a film Is genuinely 'scary' when there is a constant amount of suspense. Not once did I see the witches nor was I scared, u don't leave the film to the end for action to arrive.

2 of 7 users found this helpful25

Gette

Aug 8, 2021

It was trash back then, and still trash tier. High school drama class does better than the movie.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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19	#19 Best Movie of 1999
9	#9 Most Discussed Movie of 1999
13	#13 Most Shared Movie of 1999