Video works so well in horror, even if shown on film in glimpses, such as in Aliens and The Descent. I think Blair Witch just scratched the surface and am suprised the market hasn't flooded w/ well-done copycats.
One the most tensioned-filled sequences this decade were those humvee runs during peak IED-mania Bahgdad in Gunner Palace. (I think it was Gunner Palace.)
Is everyone so far really looking forward to this? Sarcasm is tough to detect if it's in text. Personally, I'm confused as to why you even posted this, Wells.
This thing allegedly cost about $11,000.00 to make. So basically if it sells out one show, it's made a profit.
It looks scary in the same way those Linda Blair videos Jeffrey has posted look scary. Doubtful that will hold up over 90 minutes, but what the heck? At least it's not more torture porn.
Frankly, I think they should just remaster The Entity and put it out in 3D or IMAX or something. People need to be reminded of just how great and truly disturbing that is.
And while they're at it they could include that great riff on the film that Peter Tscherkassky did, as seen here:
I always felt that The Blair Witch Project was one of the greatest scams in movie going history. I'm viewing this new one with deep and cynical suspicion.
It's a bit ironic how a movie that uses a homespun video aesthetic to create a fabricated sense of "reality" is also using the same technique in its marketing by showing us repeated shots of the audience watching the film.
Posted by Muscle McGurk at September 17, 2009 11:10 AM
Scam it may ultimately have turned out to be. But I also thought that The Blair Witch Project was one of the most effective horror films ever made, at least the first time you saw it. If you went in cold, and without a cynical attitude, it was a great retelling of the old "tale of the hook."
Blair Witch eventually got caught up in the hype machine, but I think the filmmakers accomplished exactly what they set out to do and accomplished it extremely well.
It's a great horror movie. Or at least it was when it played Screamfest a couple years ago. I've heard rumors of recuts since then.
It also makes brilliant use of a low budget. Basically just four actors in one location, and everything you see comes from the camera that's actually part of the story.
And it's also believable...if there are such things as actual hauntings, I'd imagine they look like they do in this film, rather than CG ghosts or whatever.
comment #1
Ulysses
says ...
This looks kinda cool, although it is clearly The Blair Witch Project-lite. I hope that PA scares me, but I doubt that it will.
Posted by Ulysses
at September 17, 2009 6:45 AM
comment #2
bildeaux
says ...
Actually looking forward to this one. Hope to get into the Austin screening. Good marketing strategy a la Blair Witch.
Posted by bildeaux
at September 17, 2009 7:20 AM
comment #3
Mark
says ...
Video works so well in horror, even if shown on film in glimpses, such as in Aliens and The Descent. I think Blair Witch just scratched the surface and am suprised the market hasn't flooded w/ well-done copycats.
One the most tensioned-filled sequences this decade were those humvee runs during peak IED-mania Bahgdad in Gunner Palace. (I think it was Gunner Palace.)
Posted by Mark
at September 17, 2009 7:33 AM
comment #4
RSBrown
says ...
Is everyone so far really looking forward to this? Sarcasm is tough to detect if it's in text. Personally, I'm confused as to why you even posted this, Wells.
Posted by RSBrown
at September 17, 2009 7:38 AM
comment #5
Rich S.
says ...
This thing allegedly cost about $11,000.00 to make. So basically if it sells out one show, it's made a profit.
It looks scary in the same way those Linda Blair videos Jeffrey has posted look scary. Doubtful that will hold up over 90 minutes, but what the heck? At least it's not more torture porn.
Posted by Rich S.
at September 17, 2009 7:53 AM
comment #6
Ryansi51
says ...
Hey!
- Torture Porn
Posted by Ryansi51
at September 17, 2009 8:56 AM
comment #7
hiviper
says ...
[REC] also made good use of video in a horror film.
Posted by hiviper
at September 17, 2009 10:16 AM
comment #8
JohnCope
says ...
Frankly, I think they should just remaster The Entity and put it out in 3D or IMAX or something. People need to be reminded of just how great and truly disturbing that is.
And while they're at it they could include that great riff on the film that Peter Tscherkassky did, as seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Unw8YYKYZPQ
Imagine seeing that with killer sound.
Posted by JohnCope
at September 17, 2009 10:42 AM
comment #9
Scott Mendelson
says ...
I always felt that The Blair Witch Project was one of the greatest scams in movie going history. I'm viewing this new one with deep and cynical suspicion.
Posted by Scott Mendelson
at September 17, 2009 10:57 AM
comment #10
Chris Willman
says ...
I'm writing a review now that I'm gonna post later today. It's not groundbreaking, not bad.
Posted by Chris Willman
at September 17, 2009 11:03 AM
comment #11
thehumanear
says ...
I've been hearing nothing but good things about this film for about a year and a half. Finally it sees the light of day.
Posted by thehumanear
at September 17, 2009 11:10 AM
comment #12
Muscle McGurk
says ...
It's a bit ironic how a movie that uses a homespun video aesthetic to create a fabricated sense of "reality" is also using the same technique in its marketing by showing us repeated shots of the audience watching the film.
Posted by Muscle McGurk
at September 17, 2009 11:10 AM
comment #13
Rich S.
says ...
Scott,
Scam it may ultimately have turned out to be. But I also thought that The Blair Witch Project was one of the most effective horror films ever made, at least the first time you saw it. If you went in cold, and without a cynical attitude, it was a great retelling of the old "tale of the hook."
Blair Witch eventually got caught up in the hype machine, but I think the filmmakers accomplished exactly what they set out to do and accomplished it extremely well.
Posted by Rich S.
at September 17, 2009 11:16 AM
comment #14
George Prager
says ...
Someone needs to do a Paranormal Activity trailer/LexG video mashup.
Posted by George Prager
at September 17, 2009 11:32 AM
comment #15
dangovich
says ...
If you look closely, you can seen the Snore Guy from TIFF in one of the crowd shots.
Posted by dangovich
at September 17, 2009 12:04 PM
comment #16
Circumvrent
says ...
RSVP'd for Thursday night's NYC screening.
Regardless of the movie's quality, that is a hell of a trailer.
Posted by Circumvrent
at September 17, 2009 2:10 PM
comment #17
Luke Y. Thompson
says ...
It's a great horror movie. Or at least it was when it played Screamfest a couple years ago. I've heard rumors of recuts since then.
It also makes brilliant use of a low budget. Basically just four actors in one location, and everything you see comes from the camera that's actually part of the story.
And it's also believable...if there are such things as actual hauntings, I'd imagine they look like they do in this film, rather than CG ghosts or whatever.
Posted by Luke Y. Thompson
at September 17, 2009 2:37 PM
comment #18
boatsonline
says ...
Awsome Horror Movie
Boats for sale | Ghetto Blaster
Posted by boatsonline
at December 15, 2009 6:43 PM