By Melissa Antoinette Garza
In 1999, The Blair Witch Project was released and became a cultural phenomenon and a huge success making 248 million dollars on a 1.5 million budget. It was a film that would have been destined to be a cult classic but instead found the mainstream. Some fans believed it to be fact, others thought it was the return of horror, and the rest believed it was just a really good movie. In 1999, I was in the last category. Now, I view it as a midly entertaining piece that doesn’t hold up well. I remember my cousin had been convinced that it was all true, and I tried to tell her I saw the three actors on the cover of a magazine but still she swore it was real. Weeks later, she wasn’t too keen on discussing the matter, when she saw one of the actors on a talk show. Interesting enough, it was the promotion for The Blair Witch Project and the implication that it was a factual piece that inspired Joe Berlinger’s sequel. Believing it to be a very dangerous practice to encourage the public to believe something that is fiction, Berlinger decided in a much different tone while creating Book of Shadows.
It was only a year later when audiences were introduced to Blair Witch Project 2: Book of Shadows. Sadly it was crucified by critics and fans of the original. The movie itself was so different from the first that it received scathing reviews from all ends. I am admittedly one of the few who think it is far more superior movie than the first. I think it’s a more well-thought out production with interesting twists and enough ambiguity to lead the viewer into different directions throughout the movie. Even in its conclusion it allows the mindset of the watcher to accept opposing theories of what they had just watched, all the while making the point that what you see on television isn’t always honest.
Joe Berlinger was an incredibly wise choice for director. The production ended up radically changed by the powers-that-
be and part of his vision was forcibly removed and replaced with re-shoots and certain scenes put in an order contrary to what Berlinger had wanted. Still, his sheer talent and voice was conveyed through his shots and the excellent choice of cast. The intent he had was left untarnished and the message was conveyed to the audience perfectly.
Most will recall that Berlinger’s powerful and well-received documenatries, the Paradise Lost trio aided in the long deserved release of three innocent men put into prison during their teenage years for murders they had not committed. Berlinger’s well deserved popularity came from his ability to motivate and clearly present a message. In the case of the West Memphis Three, he literally changed lives. One of the young men, Damien Echols was on deathrow. Though the eventual release was tarnished by the state’s desire to protect itself from a lawsuit, it is with very little question that without the Paradise Lost films and Berlinger’s passion for the case that these three innocent men would have never seen the light again. If there remains anyone unaware of the case of the WM3, I encourage you to seek out all three documentaries as they are phenomenal. Years ago, when I had seen the first, I cried for weeks. The impact these films had on my lives and the lives of nearly everyone I know is tremendous. It is more that watercooler talk about an interesting production that was viewed; it’s the pit that forms in the stomach knowing that an injustice is occuring and wanting despeartely for justice to prevail.
One would have expected a man so recognized for documentaries, would have filmed the sequel to The Blair Witch Project in the same manner. Quite the contrary. First, at the time there were so many copycats that to make a sequel similar to the first would have not only been expected but without a doubt, a serious letdown. Secondly, Berlinger has such respect for what a documentary means, he did not want to present something in a factual way when it was a work of fiction.
Book of Shadows follows a group of four individuals in their early twenties who meet up with Jeff (Jeffrey Donovan) a former psychiatric ward patient who currently operates Blair Witch Hunt tour in Burkittsville, Maryland. Jeff is shown in a horrible hospital being forcefed and tortured with a waterhose by uncaring doctors who smoke directly over the body.
Cleverly and in homage to the first, actual residents of the town are shown sharing their disdain about the original picture and how it disrupted their town. A mixture of fake scenes and real interviews are combined as the message is made clear: after watching the movie, some people became too involved and came to Burkittsville in search of Elly. They travel on the same path and in the same woods only to be continuously thrown out by Sherriff Cravens (Lanny Flaherty). Cravens dislikes Jeff and believes him to be not only an unwell nusance but a dangerous criminal who is destined to end up in jail.
Like the over-enthused tourists, the main characters desire to embark on the same journey. Rather than go alone, they hire Jeffrey to take them to Coffin Rock and all other locations that were made famous in the movie. Jeffrey takes multiple still-shot and video cameras to capture anything strange that occurs.
Among the group is a couple, Stephen (Stephen Barker Turner) and Tristen (Tristen Skyler) who are writing a book on the Blair Witch mythology and the hysteria that followed the original. Kim (Kim Director) is a goth chick with psychic abilities who thought the movie was worth the trip. Laslty, Erica (Erica Leerhsen) is a Wiccan who is upset with the way that her religion was depicted by The Blair Witch Project. Together they embark on the journey which starts off as a lighthearted adventure. The first night they get smashed on booze and drugs. Despite, Tristen being 6 weeks pregnant, she parties with the rest of them. It should be noted, that Tristen does declare she wants an abortion while Stephen is in disagreement and wants the child.
When they awake, they quickly realize all have blacked out like never before. Stephen’s research is ripped to shreds, and Jeffrey’s video cameras are destroyed. Strangely his tapes are fine though hidden behind rocks. Kim, with her psychic abilities, tells them wehre to find the videos. Immediately, this makes her stand out as a suspect by the rest of the group. Erica, too is a suspect simply because of her Wiccan religion.
As the group decides what to do, Tristen suffers a miscarriage and is rushed to the hospital. She begins to have delusions and sees a young girl walking backwards. Convinced that she is in no shape to travel and as everyone is pretty shaken up, Jeffrey ends up taking them to his house to relax for the weekend. More than relaxation, each is interested to find out what happened during the blackout and to view the tapes during the hours they don’t recall.
Slowly strange things begin to occur. Rashes that form ancient lettering appear on everyone. First they dismiss it as something that came from a plant or a reaction from clothing or carrying bags. The odd and strange events don’t end there as tense visions are seen. Dead children appear out of nowhere, Erica and Stephen share a delusion of making love only to find themselves sitting across from one another at a table never to have actually touched. Kim visits a local store to pick up beer only to find two townies who had been there three days prior. The first, a large scowling woman has the same cart she did the first time Kim saw her. It was filled to the top with Devled Ham Spread. The other was a maintenence man fixing the same cooler he had been working on previously.
When Kim goes to the register, the cashier, Peggy (Kennen Sisco) ignores Kim while she gives herself a manicure. Annoyed, Kim demands service, only to be ordered to leave the store. Kim throws money at her, grabs the beer and leaves. On the way home, she gets into a small accident damaging only the fender but in the morning the entire van is smashed. More than that, in the carton of beer a bloody fingernail file is found.
Meanwhile, Jeffrey recovers the video which when played backwards depicts the group partaking in sexual debauchery and insanity. Emotions control the group as Tristen begins to express a personality similar to that of Elly. Stephen is torn into both protecting and fearing her. Soon, the group is notified that they are the suspects in a series of murders. Each person turns on the other much
like the fantastic Twilight Zone episode The Monsters are Due on Maple Street. Everyone suspects the other but questions keep arising without answers. In the end, we are left wondering, is the Blair Witch causing all the damage and destruction or has the entire group bought into the hysteria so much so that they have become locked in a shared delusion?
A highlight of the DVD is the commentary where Berlinger provides insight into his direction and why he varied it so completely from the original. He goes over his reasoning for not utilizing the mocumentary style for the majority of the film, what he was forced to change, what he dislikes and the tone he was attempting to convey to the audience but was mildly silenced by the changes. He also discusses what his inspirations were and what movies he paid homage to. He explained how the homages played such an important part in the movie as it helped convey the thought-process of the characters. Perhaps each were trapped in their delusion built by the perceptions they gathered from the movies they viewed or mythology they believed. Reality and fiction became confused as even their senses betrayed them buying into the delusions surrounding them thus creating a high-stakes situation where the dangers of faith in falsehoods come to light .
I have so much respect for Berlinger’s work and this is no exception. I prefer it over the original, have watched it more often and believe it is a stronger production. The acting is far superior, the dialogue much richer and the characters though created to fit into very specific categories have more depth.
Many have stated that the characters are too stereotypical. I see them in a similar light to those of The Breakfast Club. Despite, each character representing a cliché, they never fail to resemble real people and in the end they become more like one another than one would ever see originally.
I know another sequel is going to be made and though I wish it was formulated from this movie, I sadly assume it’s going to be a combination of the first with a Paranormal Activity feel.
Book of Shadows is an underrated gem which deserves so much more respect and adoration than it gets. Had it stood on its own without being the sequel of The Blair Witch Project, I feel it would have gotten so much more respect. If you watch it with an open mind and pay attention to the subtleties along with the blatant aspects, it’s impossible not to both enjoy and respect Berlinger’s direction and the work of the cast.
It’s a great horror movie and one that I enjoy everytime I view it. Like many great movies, I notice different aspects with each watch. I wish the studio would release a Director’s Cut with Berlinger’s vision completley intact to see the full impact of his message. Perhaps, with the new Blair Witch this will become a reality.
Scared Stiff Rating: 8/10 Thank you Joe Berlinger for forever helping the WM3!
