Watch Blair Witch

In 1999, the horror genre exploded with the release of The Blair Witch Project, a low-budget found footage film about a group of documentary filmmakers who got lost in the woods while investigating the legend of the Blair Witch. The film became a cultural phenomenon and helped reshape the way horror movies were made. In 2016, the franchise was revitalized with a new film, also titled Blair Witch, that serves as a direct sequel to the first movie.

Blair Witch tells the story of James Donahue (James Allen McCune), the younger brother of Heather Donahue, one of the missing filmmakers from the original film. After receiving a new piece of evidence that suggests Heather might still be alive, James decides to lead a group of friends into the same woods to search for her. His group consists of his best friend Peter (Brandon Scott), Peter's girlfriend Ashley (Corbin Reid), and a couple of local Blair Witch enthusiasts, Lane (Wes Robinson) and Talia (Valorie Curry), who have their own agendas for being out there.

As soon as they enter the forest, weird things begin to happen. They hear strange noises in the night, find wooden effigies hanging from trees, and eventually get lost in a maze of similar-looking trees. The more they try to escape, the more they seem to be trapped in an endless loop that distorts their sense of time and space. Soon, they realize that they are not alone in the woods and that they have stumbled upon the wrath of the Blair Witch.

The film follows the familiar found footage formula of its predecessor, with James as the cameraman and his friends providing commentary and reactions throughout the journey. However, the technology has improved since 1999, so the film uses more advanced gear such as ear cameras, drone footage, and GPS trackers to enhance the realism and suspense. The film also expands on the mythology of the Blair Witch, delving deeper into her origins and powers.

One of the strengths of the film is its cast. James Allen McCune delivers a convincing performance as the determined yet haunted James, who is struggling to come to a resolution with his sister's disappearance. Callie Hernandez, who plays Lisa Arlington, a local witch-hunting documentarian who joins James' group halfway through the film, also stands out as a confident and resourceful character who provides a fresh perspective on the situation. Corbin Reid, Brandon Scott, Wes Robinson, and Valorie Curry round up the group with diverse personalities and motivations that add layers to the story.

The film's director, Adam Wingard, is no stranger to the horror genre, having directed past hits such as You're Next and The Guest. He brings his signature style of tension building and jump scares to Blair Witch, while also paying homage to the first film with subtle callbacks and Easter eggs. The film's score by composer Adam Wingard also adds to the atmosphere of the film, with a mix of eerie drones, distorted screams, and haunting chants.

Overall, Blair Witch is a solid addition to the found footage horror genre, providing a fresh take on the iconic legend while staying true to the elements that made the original film so haunting. The film's intense pacing, convincing performances, and clever use of technology make it a must-watch for fans of the franchise and horror enthusiasts alike.

Blair Witch is a 2016 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.0 and a MetaScore of 47.