Are the Blair Witch documentaries better than the movies?

[@hastekulvaati9681]

I loved Curse of the Blair Witch. Perfect companion viewing for the original film.

[@thegillman777]

Originally, the footage used for Curse of the Blair Witch was intended to be part of the actual film, intercut with the "found footage". The filmmakers ultimately decided to only use the "found footage" as the film, and retool the other footage into a "documentary". I remember when these came out, I found the actual film incredibly dull, while Curse was a really interesting watch. The mythology they built around the Blair Witch was way more engaging than the movie itself.

[@Razorgeist]

Ive had the same thought.

[@jamesabernethy7896]

I've only just found your video now. Even though, until recently, I hadn't been the biggest horror fan I've always loved The Blair Witch Project. The mini-documentaries on the DVD were great. They are so well done and, being honest, they freaked me out more than the movie itself. Great presentation.

[@GrumpyAndrewsHorrorHouse]

Thanks for watching! I think these mini documentaries add so much background and depth to the myth of the Blair Witch. I'm glad you like them.

[@DanielMerrick]

What was interesting was those docs were edited and presented the same way you'd see "historical" paranormal TV docs on A&E and the History channel back during the time period. People now don't seem to recognize the great stealth AR this existed as and how successful it was. There are history channel docs about the Bell Witch or Roswell or the Jersey Devil from that time that mirror those documentaries and it was fantastic and severely successful to ape that.

[@ProfessorOddfellow]

Absolute agreement! I saw the first documentary before the film, and I found it far superior to the film. "The commitment to the bit" -- yes!!!

[@johnsmith8906]

I've got to agree. I really love Blair Witch 2 (Kim Director's goth girl is a large part of it) but the documentaries really enhance the lore.

[@TheSianFromAtlantis]

In 1999 Oni Press produced a one off Blair Witch comic which again was amazing, an annotated adaptation of the pamphlets that the traumatised survivor of the Rustin Parr incident used to draw and hand out on street corners. It's also marvellous.

[@GrumpyAndrewsHorrorHouse]

Damn, it sounds like the media around the movies goes hard. That makes me think of the Welcome to Twin Peaks Access Guide.

[@Razorgeist]

Ive said this before but I honestly think Curse of the Blair Witch is way scarier than the actual movie. Considering they shot the "Curse" footage for the actual movie I really wish we could get an original cut or something similar that splices the curse footage back into the movie.

[@weretacotm207]

I remember being a kid and thinking it was all real at the time, no easy access internet to look it up! lol. I also my much remember the Christmas I got the VHS of the movie, it was my first adult horror movie I ever owned. I haven't seen the documentaries, I probably should, hope you're doing well Andrew!

[@GrumpyAndrewsHorrorHouse]

If you've got such strong childhood memories of the film I can't recommend these fake documentaries enough. There are links to them all in the description box under the video :)

[@weretacotm207]

@@GrumpyAndrewsHorrorHouseI def will check them out. The first said it wasn't available in my country (US), I can just use a vpn. Thanks for the links!

[@cuddywifter8386]

They were definitely influenced by the legend of Boggycreek, Cannibal Holocaust, war of the worlds radio show & BBCs ghostwatch. I was on holiday in San Francisco at the time of its release. The hype was amazing over there. People were making up more than what was there, I went to see it in a cinema over there before returning to the UK

[@FrightfullyForgotten]

ooooh Had no clue about the other documentaries besides "Curse", Totally going to have to check those others out ASAP!

[@GrumpyAndrewsHorrorHouse]

I think you'll like them.

[@ShaneKixmiller]

The Blair witch series, moviesand documentaries all included, is one of my all-time favorites. The Blair witch Project in 1999, not only changed the way that movies used the Internet to market themselves, but it was also one of the few films of that era that were responsible for reviving the very much dead Horror genre, along with scream before it in 1996. But I would have to say that my all-time favorite part of this franchise is from both the documentaries curse of the Blair witch and sticks and stones. They are pretty much the same thing. But there is a part in there where a man with a very creepy voice is reading an excerpt from an in universe book written about the Blair witch from the 1800s or something like that, I think it was called the Blair witch cult. And he was describing a massacre and how the witch hovered over the ground that has always stuck in my mind is something so creepy.

[@GrumpyAndrewsHorrorHouse]

I think, for me, the creepiest thing in the whole franchise might be the image they use in the documentaries of the witch levitating and her hair like a halo of snakes around her head. creepy stuff, made all the better because we don't see her in the movies, I think.

[@ShaneKixmiller]

@@GrumpyAndrewsHorrorHouse absolutely!

[@joshua2814]

I’ve never liked Blair Witch, but I re-watched it for the anniversary and had to admit that the part where they interview the locals on the legends is good. I ended up liking #2 more, but even that I’ve only seen once. I can’t recall how many of these I’ve seen. Guess I’ll check here on YT.

[@GrumpyAndrewsHorrorHouse]

If you like the interviews segment of the first movie then definitely check out the fake documentaries. They're all, almost entirely, about the mythos. I hope you enjoy them.

[@themidnightwoodsman1804]

You've sold me on checking these out. I love the first Blair Witch; probably seen it 5 or 6 times over the years. Not so keen on the 2nd one. The 3rd one was a good effort though. Not sure if you play games at all (?) but the Blair Witch game on PS4 is a pretty fantastic experience for what was presumably a low to medium budget production.

[@GrumpyAndrewsHorrorHouse]

I haven't played any of the games. I hope you like the docs.

[@numajoff]

I love both documentary and films

[@elfbait3774]

I just discovered your channel. These were great featurettes. Have you seen Savageland? If you like Blair Witch and these mocumentaries, you should enjoy it as well.

[@GrumpyAndrewsHorrorHouse]

Welcome to my Horror House! I haven't heard of Savageland, thank you for the recommendation.

[@elfbait3774]

@@GrumpyAndrewsHorrorHouse after recommending it, I decided to watch it again last night on Tubi. I think it still holds up though i did find that some elements of it hit a little different given the current climate in the world and the U.S. today though, like any good piece of art, I think that's sort of the point.

[@horrorfanandy4647]

Sounds really interesting. I love the first film, one of the few found footage films I do actually enjoy. Part of that is the total commitment to realism and fooling the audience through the film itself and the genius marketing, this was so forward thinking for 1999 and there will never be an advertising campaign that fools audiences that much ever again I think.

[@GrumpyAndrewsHorrorHouse]

I'd say if you're a fan of the first movie you should definitely check out these documentaries.

[@jmalmsten]

As all I can remember watching the first Blair Witch was an unending boredom and frustration.. I doubt the supplements could be that much worse.

[@brianartillery]

Anything is better than those films. Totally un-frightening dreck, supported only by the hyperbole. Only good thing about them was the soundtrack album. A 'mixtape' purportedly found in one of the characters' cars. Some great stuff on there.