Blair Witch (2016) #440

"Blair Witch" is a respectable sequel that continues the original legend that is established in "The Blair Witch Project". There are some familar feeling moments in the film as well as some clever use of modern technology, such as ear piece camera/mics and a video drone. The origin of the Blair witch is discussed, what happened after Heather, Mike, and Josh went missing and how the residents reacted. I enjoy the reason why the campers go into the woods, Heather's little brother wants to find the mysterious house where she was last seen alive. I like how the people who go with him are lifelong friends as well as a girl making her own documentary. And I approve how the people who found the most recent clue want to tag along as well. This tallies six potential victims to be picked off one by one. 

"Blair Witch" does stumble slightly as a sequel when it comes to adding something new while building on the original. The downsides of the film, for me at least, include too many cheap attempts at having people jump into the camera and horrible non-subtle noises in the woods at night, a weird Bermuda Triangle style effect about the woods, an odd infection that one of the campers suffer from, and almost the same story beats from the original "The Blair Witch". Finally, this film ruins what the original did so well, it shows too much. 

The ending of "Blair Witch" leaves the question - what happens next? The actual ending of this film isn't as ambiguous as "The Blair Witch Project", but I can't help but wonder if there will be an attempt to make yet another sequel? How would they expand the existing story and what would they add to the established mythology? Will horror fans remember this film as fondly as the original? 

Overall, I enjoyed the movie even though it felt more like a remake than a sequel. There were moments that I laughed out loud at the characters, and parts that I felt engaged and had no idea what was going to happen next. I wished it had been a bit more original but at least I wasn't completely disappointed.