Will The Reigning Kings Be Slaughtered? – An Initial Outlook on The Blair Witch Project

Originally Posted 1999 August 01

Well, I had succumbed to the hype of The Blair Witch Project! What are my thoughts on the movie? Let’s see.

Masterfully promoted. 10 of 10 stars. Guiness – open your database – there is a new player in town, and they are Haxan. Spielberg and Lucas – stop shining your crowns! This movie is going down in history.

What were my views on the movie as a viewer? I can’t tell you. I have not seen it yet! I did win a family argument, and did actually drive to a decent theatre to view the film, during the first Saturday-late-night period. What did I think? I thought I was at Woodstock (the original – not the recent). Thousands of people (many of whom were clad in black clothing and white face makeup) were between me and the viewing screen. The ticket line was enormous, the already-have-tix line was even bigger!!

I circled the parking lot in the mall, as did hundreds of others-not a space to be found that was legal and not in front of a fire hydrant! Gen X-ers were the group on hand – looking ready for, and anticipating a mind-blowing movie. They weren’t expecting Hollywood Fluff, nor were they looking for something polished and re-polished by the talents at Lucasfilm, nor were they expecting spectacular directing via Spielberg’s hand. They were looking for something fresh and engrossing. From what I understand, The Blair Witch project fills that void the audience was looking for.

I will go another time, to actually see the film – but I will only try late night viewings. After all, aren’t all good witch & goblin stories best told under moonlight? To see this film at the mall, in broad daylight would just compromise the viewing experience of such a film. I’m sure that’s why the huge crowd outside the theater formed in the first place-to see a fresh new story told in a fresh new way!

So, will the giants of the industry (who have ongoing theatrical and video “blockbusters”) get slaughtered at the box office? I think so! I have to give a quality “tip o’ the hat” to “Heather and the gang that made this flick” – even though I haven’t actually seen it! Too bad the authors didn’t make the money the distributors will – but I can say (even without first hand knowledge of the film) that this film is a history-making-machine!

Cyber5

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