The Blair Witch Project

Lore & Background

The Blair Witch Project was conceived in 1993 by film students Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, who were inspired by the perceived realism of paranormal documentaries. They developed a 35-page screenplay with improvised dialogue and cast Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, and Joshua Leonard after a casting call in Backstage magazine. Principal photography took eight days in October 1997, mostly on the Greenway Trail along Seneca Creek in Montgomery County, Maryland. About 20 hours of footage was edited down to 82 minutes. The film's budget originally ranged from $35,000 to $60,000, with final costs of $200,000 to $750,000 after post-production and marketing.

The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 1999, with a marketing campaign that listed the actors as missing or deceased. Artisan Entertainment bought distribution rights for $1.1 million. It had a limited theatrical release on July 14, 1999, expanding on July 30. The plot follows three students in October 1994 who interview locals about the Blair Witch myth, including the story of hermit Rustin Parr and missing child Robin Weaver. As they hike into the forest, they experience mysterious sounds, stick figures, and disappearances, culminating in a terrifying encounter in an abandoned house.

Reader's Guide

The Blair Witch Project is one of the most successful independent films of all time, grossing $248.6 million worldwide as a sleeper hit. It received highly positive reviews from critics, though audience reception was polarized. Editors from IndieWire and Entertainment Weekly ranked it the best found-footage movie ever. The film revived the found-footage technique and influenced later horror films such as Paranormal Activity (2007), REC (2007), and Cloverfield (2008). Despite its success, the three main actors reportedly lived in poverty and sued Artisan Entertainment in 2000 for unfair compensation, reaching a $300,000 settlement. The film launched a media franchise including two sequels (Book of Shadows and Blair Witch), novels, comic books, and video games.

Did You Know?

• The film's promotional campaign listed the actors as missing or deceased.
• The three main actors sued Artisan Entertainment in 2000 and reached a $300,000 settlement.
• The film was shot on an original budget of $35,000–$60,000, with final costs of $200,000–$750,000.
• It was included in top lists of found-footage movies by IndieWire and Entertainment Weekly, but not definitively ranked as the single best.