In a Nutshell. Mini reviews of movies old and new. No fuss. No spoilers. And often no sleep.

Thursday 22 September 2016

Blair Witch (2016)

The successful duo of Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett (You're Next, The Guest) take a stab at breathing new life into the Blair Witch mythos. Unfortunately not much is added except a relative (James Allen McCune) searching for Heather (from the first film) and a few more nights in the woods. It could almost be misconstrued as a remake. One aspect improved upon is the camerawork. POV cameras strapped to the characters' heads help keep the action in view. By the time the film quits jerking off and the real action starts, much of the runtime has passed. Fortunately the remaining scenes are worth the wait. There are a bevy of annoying jump scares, but effective and startling sound design in the final act wash them away. It is certainly an uneven film, and while it may not be as memorable as the original, it certainly trumps it with a more engaging conclusion.

2½ corners to stand in out of 5

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