Phenomenon The project of the witch Blair It began as an experiment. A year before the premiere of the film at the Sundance festival in 1999, Director Daniel Mayric and Eduardo Sanchez decided to create a web page. In it, they told the alleged real event, about 3 students of the film, who, after he took a chance In the forest of Maryland, they disappeared without a trace.
The material included police reports, a photograph of victims and even a thorough court report in which these events were indicated. It was also indicated that the audiovisual material that the Trio managed to record was restored a year later and will become part of the future film. A few weeks later, The nascent Internet forums discussed the truth of history.
And six months before the premiere The project of the witch BlairAnd the page and all its data, they became a viral phenomenon. Perhaps one of the first registered. For January 23, 1999, the premiere of the film at the Sandance festival, the strategy paid off. Production was the most commented in the scheme and loud success of criticism. Without the help of the cast or certain data, in addition, the myth of history has grown. There were talk about the damned personnel that gathered the last days of life victims of the mysterious murder. Directors refused to disclose more information.
Camera, light and horror
By July 30, the World Wide Premiere Day, slow preparation for the movie event, paid off. Immediately he became a cash event, and then one of the most profitable productions in the history of cinema. With investments of only $ 200,000, he managed to collect $ 248.6 million. USA. In addition, take a new move to the type of terror based on visual experiments and editing. A large large -scale achievement, which ultimately opened the doors to an unpublished genre, which is still successful: found FOT. In addition, the milestone that turned The project of the witch BlairIN In terms of the history of entertainment.
The film, recorded with all the problems of internal video, unknown actors and with a dirty edition, is surprised. Especially because their cluster of obvious mistakes, they managed to turn history into genuine, close and frontal work. With the site turned into one of the most visited on the Internet and tape On the advertising shield, soon the story of the missing students was everywhere.
The duet of directors – both real students of the film – decided to keep the secret regarding production as long as possible. Thus, they were limited to the minimum of the appearance of their actors formed by the debutants of Heiser Donahu, Joshua Leonard and Michael S. Williams. On the other extreme, they spent time and investments to create a myth about the witch Blair. Something, which included adding to the Internet, information about Blair fictional people, later known as Burkittsville And the script of a series of terrible events.
Advertising campaign that surprised the world
The strategy was united with the appearance of the film. For his world debut, a small vignette was turned on, which indicated that the personnel were real and found in the Maryland forest. The tape did not have a soundtrack, using only natural light and the sound of the medium. In addition, the publication was careful And on the basis of the fact that it seemed to be documented without another purpose.
With production in rooms and fans, he carefully studies the Internet to find out information, The project of the witch Blair It was more than a horror movie. It was a cultural experiment that extended to all areas. There were books that collected the material, brochures that were delivered manually at the door of cinemas and exhausting debate. And although the ingenious trick was later discovered – especially because the actors refused to continue to hide – the truth is that the tape had already left an indelible trace. Open the possibility of a horror movie, It is able to combine terrifying experience on the screen with the experience of the viewer.
Current legacy for Bruji Blair Project
26 years after his premiere, the tape leaves a wide heritage in its path, which is still known in the cinematic world. Not only did he force a whole generation of filmmakers for innovation using the production, record and publication, but also demonstrated how to use the Internet as marketing in a genial form. Thanks to The project of the witch BlairFilms such as unsaid Skinamarink (2022) and saga Paranormal activityThey were possible. But, in addition, they resumed the concept of terror Until he becomes a cultural event with his own weight.
But besides this, this is a rethinking of folk horror, transferred to the technological layer, is investigated in modern problems in a new way. Paranoia, distrust of rural strata and even Simple skepticism of cynical generation.
The truth is that the tape mixed a long -term feeling of persecution, the probability that a terrible cinema will exceed a fictitious limit. While this phenomenon was at the highest point, the probability that cameras and microphones can capture their supernatural impression with their capabilities. Much more, marked before, and then in the type of a cinema designed to strike.
Experimental cinema at the highest level
Certainly, The project of the witch BleyAnd, although a pioneer in many things, was not the first ribbon to play with the opportunity to force the viewer to believe in a well -grown lie. Already in 1980, terrifying Cannibal Holocaust From Ruggero Deodato, he studied in something like a story about the disappearance of the shooting team.
The plot followed the group of characters through a strong trip through the inhospitable and separated area of the Amazon, used the prerequisite of the footage found. Nevertheless, the record was made with cinematic equipment and controlled sound.
Despite this, an experiment that included the release of rumors that there were real scenes between the barbaric visions about cannibalism and ultrafikhlka, and soon became iconic. And even dangerous: the director was accused in 1984 for the alleged murder of actors in one of the most controversial scenes of the film. Finally, the charges were rejected, but the precedent of the work of Deodato, It would be important to understand the phenomenon around The project of the witch BlairField
A successful experiment that marked a template
But The project of the witch Blair I did not want to scandalize and terrorize. Thus, he copied the dirty and uncomfortable aesthetics of television – so fashion at that time – and the meaning that anyone can write down part of the modern history for its prerequisite. And the result was shocking: It seemed that the Hizer camera seemed to record her path to death step by step.
Or during long walks, frosty nights or awkward studies about the presence that haunts them. The subjective, trembling and uncomfortable vision of the tape seemed to spray the limits Between the show in the room and the experience of the viewer.
Currently, the film still preserves part of its undeniable charm of novelty, it is impossible to imitate. Something, which is consistent – and failed – the continuation was demonstrated. However, despite everything The project of the witch Blair He showed the vast and more and more complex possibilities of the horror cinema. The legacy for the future, which still gives the film special and unique relevance.
Source: Hiper Textual
