Date of Release to Theaters: July 18, 1999

Date of Release to Video: October 22, 1999

Running Time: 88 Minutes

Rated: R (for language)

Released by: Artisan Entertainment

Genre: Horror

Color or B&W: both

Production Company: Haxan Films

Producer: Gregg Hale; Robin Cowie

Co-Producer: Michael Monello

Executive Producer: Bob Eick; Kevin J. Foxe

Writer: Eduardo Sanchez; Daniel Myrick

Director: Eduardo Sanchez; Daniel Myrick

Cast:

Heather: Heather Donahue

Michael: Michael Williams

Joshua: Joshua Leonard

"The Blair Witch Project" is a very realistic looking home-movie type of film. It opens with a title card explaining that in October of 1994, three student filmmakers disappeared near Burkittsville, MD and that a year later their footage was found.

Heather (Heather Donahue) enlists Joshua (Joshua Leonard) and Michael (Michael Williams) to help her make a student documentary about a murdering witch from the town of Blair. Their first stop, after leaving their homes, is the town of Burkittsville, formerly named "Blair." They interview quite a number of people in town about the "Blair Witch." There are one or two disbelievers, but most of the townsfolk have heard of the "Blair Witch" and are somewhat fearful.

With the knowledge they gain from the interviews and other sources, they head for the woods. They park and lock their car, put their backpacks on and start their eerie journey searching for the Blair Witch deep into the woods.

One word…intense. The three actors did an astounding job, especially considering the fact that they improvised all of it! From what I understand, all they were given was a 35-page outline of the plot before shooting began. That was it! They weren't even told about most of the things that were about to happen. When they were surprised by events, they really were surprised.

And to top it off, for the first time in motion picture history, the three actors filmed the entire movie themselves. And did a fantastic job, I might add. It was so realistic…it was more than unsettling.

If you want to see a well-done, innovative thriller, I recommend you rent "The Blair Witch Project." The fact that it only cost about $40,000 to make should not stop you from seeing it. Besides, it's already grossed over $140,000,000 from the theater alone. I guess I'm not the only one that was impressed.

Grade: B+

E-Mail Teri Your Thoughts! TeriCrosby@aol.com