Lets be honest here, this movie had a lot against it since the bait and switch was pulled revealing that The Woods was actually a sequel to The Blair Witch Project titled Blair Witch. The particulars as to how two amazing film makers got caught up in this mess are unknown to me, but I'd guess it has to do with money, just like everything else in life. What could have been is lost and what we got is a retread of the same material only with more people and a drone.
The original Blair Witch Project is not just a great film but also one of cultural importance. It was a time where people believed they just witnessed the supernatural on film and now had proof that thing do go bump in the night. Shot with a mix of film and basic consumer cameras it was presented in a unique way that grabbed audience's imagination, and took them on the most suspenseful journey in film history.
The difference between the two is as wide as the Grand Canyon. It is unfair really to try and compare the two, but when making a sequel you should try and hold true to the source material. That is where Blair Witch fails to deliver.
Blair Witch follows six people into the woods as they try and find clues about the disappearance of James' sister Heather. They are sent on this quest by a Youtube video.
The cast is made up of terrible actors portraying unlikable characters. The worse of these being Ashley and Peter, surprise, the black couple who do not enjoy camping, tents or the woods. Want to take a guess as to who dies first also? I'm not getting on a soapbox here but I really thought that trope was played out.
Next is the the terrible shots that cover majority of the screen. Not all found footage films need to be an hour of just shaking the camera, See: Project Almanac, Grave Encounter 1&2, VHS 1&2, The Sacrament, As Above, So Below and The Blair Witch Project. Then when the camera does take a second it is for a mundane scene. As for the death scenes, well, they are never held on long enough for you to drink in what has happened. But here is the icing on the cake, a drone. Yea, a drone to give you great aerials and let you know 100% that you are in the woods. Thanks.
The only standout in this movie is Wes Robinson as the local Lane. He is the most believable in the movie and delivers a solid performance. Also, set and art department did a really good job setting the scenes.
Finally the ending. Guess what, you thought you were watching a horror movie, but it is actually a sequel to the sci-fi "classic" Looper. Yea, I'm not joking....
This is a movie that you can skip because it holds no entertainment value whatsoever.
Rating: 2/10 Stars
Rich Stile @TheDevilsEyes1