Are The BLAIR WITCH Sequels Actually Good?

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This show celebrates Ryan's love for film, games, art and entertainment through personal retrospective analysis that aims to explore what made them so good.
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[@RyanHollinger]

*Yeo, what should I talk about next?* Comment below!!

[@sesnutz6213]

What

[@binnes117]

DARK

[@arcadia7459]

A Head Full of Ghosts would be interesting for a video based on a book

[@thevfxmancolorizationvfxex4051]

AI: Artificial Intelligence would be a nice film to do

[@rowan.terrell]

Have you made a video about As Above So Below yet?? I also love the 1980 classic ghost story The Changeling :)

[@danielarmstrong2144]

The writer confirmed we never actually see the Blair witch so that monster in the house is actually one of its last victims

[@danielarmstrong2144]

Getting a like from Ryan on that comment is the best notification KZbin ever gave me. But also knowing that we never see the Blair Witch in the reboot and that all the fucked up things we see in the woods are just its other victims was one of my favourite parts, to me it kept up the sense of mystery around the witch while still adding new information. Felt like the more I found out the more I realised how much we don't know and that's horror to me

[@benrig89]

I don't think that's true. If you go back and watch the 'documentary' that came out around the time of the original Blair Witch movie it's explicitly stated that the original Blair Witch, Elly Kedward, was strung up on a tree and had her limbs stretched out. Which fits pretty well with the fleeting images we see in the sequel.

[@5Chushii8]

@@benrig89 they even specifically brought that point up again in Blair Witch. Which primes your brain to think the elongated creature is the witch. I think including that creature was a mistake. I was enjoying that movie until I saw it and the subsequently saw the director say it wasn't the witch.

[@mslightbulb]

benrig89 maybe it says more about her motives. Maybe she is acting on an eye for an eye in revenge against humanity. Punishing it’s victims in the same way she was killed. Same as the headless rider, as an example.

[@JV-mm2yf]

I wished a Sequal to Blair witch would focus on how one the characters from original was the one that caused the death of his two friends

[@VincentMaslowski]

I'm still clueless as to why the main character thought his sister was somehow still alive in the woods after 20 years

[@blackirish6868]

The green thing was his sister

[@hyrulianhero116]

Yeah I do believe the tall creature was his sister. Not confirmed though I don't think. However it was said the actual Blair witch doesn't show herself again.

[@thatguyxander6574]

Well i think they were trying to play on his grief and loss after losing his sister but there is no way she could still have been in the woods

[@scowler92]

You'd be surprised.

[@ataridc]

Because they needed the movie to happen

[@XAVR_]

Honestly the fact you can churn out these deep, explorative, 25 minute video essays across various franchises on such a regular basis is so impressive. One of the best film KZbinrs on the platform in my opinion!

[@LaurLoVideo]

Well said! His videos really make me think about the content we consume- I hope to be as introspective towards films as he is someday!

[@kelsey.shutup_7173]

Couldn’t of said it better myself 👏👏👏👏

[@dwaalgeest8591]

I second that.

[@OfficialNWS]

I agree. Ryan is my go to for horror movie analysis and man he pumps them out. Plus he got me to finally check out Cube so he gets bonus points.

[@SkellingtonGirl98]

when the soft spoken irish man says "so let's talk about it" I receive serotonin

[@whocares6574]

*Northern

[@zackgillespie4914]

@@whocares6574 they didn’t even say where 😂

[@jeepamir508]

How about the twist that the video, which showed “Heather” to James and which made him went into the woods, was actually created by themselves. When Lisa runs up to the attic with a camcorder in the end of the film, we can see her reflection in the mirror (it was her on the video, not Heather) creating the paradox video that lured them all to the woods. That’s actually a pretty good twist and adds more to the time loop thing of the whole movie.

[@Werewolf914]

Yeah that was cool, and so was the time loop idea, and I thought the Witch was super creepy, but my one complaint was the jumpscares, I can't stand jumpscares they really get on my nerves, they just feel like cheap scares and less like actually scariness, I mean even my Cat could jumpscare me,so it just bugs me, there are some exceptions like A Quiet Place which would be weird if it didn't jumpscare you, but in most cases not a fan.

[@johnbowles5399]

@@Werewolf914 Jump scares feel like cheap scares to you because that's exactly what they are. It's a lazy way for a lazy director to inject artificial 'tension' into a scene. Don't get me wrong, when used very sparingly by the right director they can be very effective, but the way jump scares infest modern horror films says a lot to me about unimaginative directing coupled with most modern audiences possessing the attention span of a goldfish and the patience of a 5yr old.

[@isiahalcindor6278]

@@johnbowles5399 nah it really depends on the build up and continuation of said jump scare a reallly good one is in the Texas chainsaw massacre 2 of all movies from the radio station scene

[@benstin]

When I went to see the movie with my friends, I thought that was a really interesting element. My friend, who already had no faith in the sequel, insisted they were ripping off PT and I was reminded that some people will take anything to riff on something they hate.

[@cooki3monstrrr]

I agree! I liked that realization at the end. It opened up the possibility that the couple, or at least the boyfriend, might have been working for the witch longer than we're shown

[@adamtherock2008]

A few things about Blair Witch 2 that I also found really interesting: Each of the main characters is meant to represent differing reactions to the original movie's popularity. Jeff is the opportunist who banks on the town's newfound tourism by selling merchandise and hosting tours, plus his desire to make his own copycat Blair Witch story. Erica is an actual Wiccan who feels offended by the poor representation in the film. Tristan and Steven are the film nerds who take to obsessively analyzing the whole story (Steven looks more at the present story and Tristan at the themes and message). And Kim is the casual outsider viewer with no real connection to the movie but just found it entertaining. Also the many shoutouts to other horror movies throughout the story like playing the tapes back in The Exorcist and the barking dogs like in The Omen were meant to show that the characters obsessions with other pop culture were bleeding into their delusions to further blur the line between fiction and reality. This was another thing botched by the studio.

[@matthewp5812]

I'm guessing that you also saw the Good Bad Flicks video.

[@flightofthebumblebee9529]

I loved it. Seen it in theaters (as well as the original film the year before) and I loved the fall/Autumn look and feel of it. Jeff Donovan was awesome. The soundtrack was awesome. The studio hacked up a few things but overall I still really love the film and watched it tons of times.

[@comicbookreviewer4856]

To me what I liked about Book of shadows was that it felt like a Scooby doo movie done right and they had the Van and everything and the gang being like the scooby doo gang as well

[@billbombshiggy9254]

Yep. We all saw the good flicks bad flicks video. I wish tf they'd release a directors cut with commentary so we can see the vision he truly had in mind.

[@matman000000]

The original movie's marketing campaign is still the best thing to come out of this franchise.

[@Descro382]

It really is though! I do enjoy the effort put into the first film (minus the lack of explanation on how the tapes were found) but that marketing is so damn good, to me at least

[@funnymom7]

Mattchester I totally agree with you. I remember the Sci Fi channel showing the related film that built the backstory and mythology. They did such a good job with it that it pulled the viewer in. By the time I saw this in the theater I was really hyped and enjoyed the film even more . I was so glad when it was included on the dvd. Thanks for doing such a good job on this and I look forward to more.

[@brentcrosby7109]

Arguably the best marketing of any film in history.

[@RandomVideos66]

My introduction to this movie was the Scooby Doo parody version. Also I would recommend the Good Bad Flicks review of the Book of Shadows.

[@toneloak]

That's exactly the same for me.

[@kate.2769]

Agreed! A great deep dive into all the production issues Book of Shadows faced, and how that altered the final product.

[@memeghost6850]

Yes same lol

[@edward4840]

Gary Matrix reviews. Good Bad Flicks has introduced me to so many really good films. He is true royalty

[@Sm0k3turt]

That movie is so bad it was terrifying

[@redgreen2453]

video games do know that you can have ptsd and _not_ be a child murderer, right?

[@LifeIsABeach3210]

Sorry but they go hand in hand

[@kassandra7313]

@Orion but he for sure murdered a child, that was the reason he was going into the woods in the first place - to get redemption for shooting a kid (which is at least more than Most child-murdering cops do, i guess)

[@PrinnyWesker]

​@@kassandra7313 Yeah, he shot a civilian by accident as a soldier and later a kid when he was a cop. There was also that thing where he and his friend went into the woods and only he came out that I don't think ever got fully explained? Or if it did I missed it. So yeah, he had some serious PTSD but I didn't think he was the abductor? I was under the impression the Witch was taking advantage of his state of mind to trick him into believing he was and using the time loop to turn him into the Carver. Because the bad ending has him becoming the Carver while the good ending has him breaking the timeloop by dying as himself and never becoming the Carver in the first place. At least that was my takeaway. Please do tell me if I misunderstood or missed somethings!

[@richardvlasek2445]

i agree that you can have PTSD without being an american soldier

[@alexbristol4413]

@@richardvlasek2445 Ouch, hahah

[@sylas3265]

I still think of the goth woman’s intro even now. “I’m trying to find the energy” “from beyond the grave?” (Deadpan)”No, to stand up I’ve been walking for hours”

[@RandomParkShots]

Ryan “Lets talk about it” Hollinger

[@alexbristol4413]

I look forward to him saying that every time too! :)

[@niallreid7664]

@@alexbristol4413 I'm a hyever man myself

[@cheezyfilmsproductions1842]

Let’s talk Abuyut it

[@rkochamp07]

I had a huge crush on Kim “the goth chick” when the movie first came out lol

[@alexbristol4413]

Had? Still kind'uv do! xD

[@XenomorphLV426]

Yes

[@somerandolad]

Eh, I just found her annoying.

[@26michaeluk]

I had a crush on the witch girl Erica.

[@tzera_rhuon]

Both the goth and Wiccan are hot imo.

[@genericbandit6333]

Im scared to open my eyes sums up how i watch these videos, i love horror but im also a massive coward

[@rakkatytam]

But also it's just entertainment, you shouldn't be obligated to feel uncomfortable

[@genericbandit6333]

Although being a coward who loves horror is pretty lucky for me when you think about it :)

[@WarriorGaming4575]

I never knew there were as many Blair Witch sequels as there was. I only knew about the 2016 film and the 2019 game. Thanks for the interesting insight, Ryan!

[@lynnevetter]

The second movie is fun. I recommend it as a connected but more stand alone selection

[@NeroWalker]

I mean.. There's only one more than you thought

[@MORRTUK]

daniel cheyne 2

[@bddb9239]

@@MORRTUK, if he knew there was a sequel then wouldnt it just be one?

[@Road_to_Dawn]

bd db I mean, there’s also the 10 books or so that Ryan mentioned at the beginning

[@TimeMayVary]

Famous actor James Allen McCune is the only actor i trust when it comes to Blair Witch sequels

[@hansenriquez1810]

Ah, a fellow chicken boy out in the wild.

[@Henry8VIII8]

Glad to see another Famous Actor James Allen McCune fan club member.

[@bbrbbr-on2gd]

*Famous Doctor Mickey Mouse

[@susannahgenevieve1287]

Gus and Eddy...?

[@darren9752]

Famous actor James Allen McCune is great.

[@AnotherJenn42]

I will say, I wasn’t scared when I saw the Blair Witch Project movie back in 1999, but it did stick with me. Just thinking about it later, especially at night, was enough to make my skin crawl.

[@dizzle1119]

Must've never gone camping in the middle of nowhere in ya life. If you had.....you weren't doing it again after Blair Witch. :)

[@DJtheBlack-RibbonedRose]

A great way to describe watching the film. It may not necessarily SCARE you, but it sticks with you. I've had that happen with several other horror flicks (Midsommar, Mother!, Suspiria 2018...)

[@williamerickson520]

I call that a stealth unsettle. You don't realize that it hit you until later. In my mind that is the hallmark of good horror.

[@dogboy0912]

Yeah the time concept felt so sinister to me even if I was mostly bored watching the movie.

[@Werewolf914]

I used to not like it (which is funny because I love Found Footage and it created that genre basically) but then I heard it had an ARG to go with it and that made me love the movie, and after going back and rewatching it I learned to really appreciate it for what it is.

[@ashoat2388]

I actually found the first Blair Witch unsettling. I’m a New Englander and I saw it late at night in a theater by myself and drove home to an empty house on a hill at the edge of a dark wood. My town’s recreational area was a thin walking path winding through a large area of foreboding woods. And everything in New England is haunted. So it was a perfect storm of creep for me. Until I saw “Ju-On” years later and realized I needed to be afraid everywhere.

[@pentalway]

Why on earth would you have watched it knowing your situation?

[@kate.2769]

I actually feel like I'm learning something when I listen to Ryan's videos. Something deeply intellectual but also accessible. Passionate, and approachable. The perfect balance. If writing and filmmaking ever fails you, you would make an amazing teacher. You have a gift.

[@matthewirving4877]

Same

[@MsIvalane]

i agree

[@davidj.thompson]

He's like a well-educated cousin from the UK.

[@1000000man1]

When they introduced the time warp in the 2016 film, they had the opportunity to make it so the original film is happening at the same time. They could've heard the characters from the original film in the distance. Maybe the characters in the 2016 film were responsible for some of the stuff that happened in the Original film.. for example, maybe they came across the tent and ransacked it. Maybe they were some of the noises in the distance of the original film. I was actually disappointed that they Didn't do that. This would easily fit into the film because rmember why the brother character decides to go in the first place. He sees footage of what he thinks is his sister and it turns out to be footage of one of his own group of friends in the Future; which I honestly worked out straight away when I saw the film. I'm Not Just saying that to sound smart.

[@whitethunder9064]

Man, your idea is way more interesting! They should've done that!

[@MichaelScott-es5gy]

I cannot lie. I really felt that first sentence!

[@thedorkknight9684]

holy crap, i'd give my soul for that, that sounds AWESOME

[@benjbutton]

Exactly what I thought! Real missed opportunity to do a Final Destination 5/Back to the Future 2!

[@huntereitel8305]

Sir, it is time....’The Wailing’ is calling

[@Adam-yi2zq]

I second this.

[@oldsoul8429]

All in favor 🖐🏼

[@Wulfsmasher]

My favorite Korean movie, without a shadow of doubt

[@beccawoo2650]

Please! One of my favorite Korean movies

[@4thwallbreaking870]

Please, sir, I need a video on this... Really enjoyed the movie (although it had a terrible german dub) but was always quite startled by the anti-japanese stuff (?) in it

[@AddamsrUs13]

I'm so curious about what program use to edit. Your editing has evolved so much, and it's only getting better with each video

[@RyanHollinger]

Adobe Premiere

[@therealharshlycritical]

@@RyanHollinger did you self teach yourself or go to school for editing? Because it's getting better every video.

[@55MrRockets55]

I came across his spec ops the line video recently, he's improved a lot

[@JBX07]

@@therealharshlycritical I think Ryan has mentioned he was a filum student before.

[@LaurLoVideo]

What a nice thing to say to someone! ☺️ it’s easy to ignore how little by little the editing gets tighter and more streamlined, so good eye for noticing that detail!

[@hatednyc]

Now hear this, y'all: *"THERE IS NO GOT DANGED BLAIR WITCH!"*

[@lulugu3]

As if he expects all the goth kids to go "oh well in that case, sorry to have been a bother Mister, we'll get out of your hair" 🤣

[@JeanMarceaux]

That's exactly what A Blair witch's henchman would say!

[@whitedragoness23]

That scene is hilarious

[@smashfanwii]

"Desensitized to authenticity" is a sentence I never thought I would hear. Interesting way to describe current audiences.

[@emiliestinson3086]

According to Joe Berlinger in the book Metallica: This Monster Lives, the studio gave him free reign to make the film he wanted to make. Then right when the movie was almost finished, the studio got a new head, and they told him he was making the wrong movie, that it needed to be an R-rated teen slasher flick. Berlinger not only refused, but tried to get his name removed from the credits, and the studio hired someone else to film new material, which is why Book of Shadows wound up such an unwatchable mess. And since the film did so poorly, Berlinger's career kind of dropped off for a while until he was hired to document the recording of Metallica's 2003 album St. Anger, which basically brought him and his partner Bruce Sinofsky back into a sort of prominence as documentary filmmakers.

[@phantomzone2725]

He also directed a movie about Ted Bundy years later

[@emc704]

Wasn't the creature in the reboot someone else that the witch had turned into a guard dog of sorts? I could be wrong haha

[@karabartley]

I think you're partially right becuse, as another commenter said, we still have not seen the Blair witch; only her victims

[@luismiguez7428]

You are right.

[@mega6836]

I'd like to believe that it's actually Heather from the first movie.

[@dogboy0912]

Yeah, for what it's worth there are figurines of the monster and it's not the witch

[@giannidescalzo2101]

The creature felt tacked on to me.

[@TheBrclear66]

For anyone curious about what happened with book of shadows I recommend checking out Good Bad Flicks video on the production and problems with the movie. He also goes into the esrever stuff in the movie

[@EngineerJerry]

Dammit, you said it first. I have watched the rebuilt version of Blair Witch 2, it is good.

[@alyssaakabob]

You beat me to it! 😅 Thanks for mentioninh this. Does anyone know where we can find the rebuilt version? Been wanting to see it for a while

[@HarleyBB]

i'm gonna be third to say you beat me to this. great minds ya'll.

[@nu-metalfan2654]

Imo Blair Witch 2 Book Of Shadows is underrated and doesn’t deserve the hate it gets.

[@kyleshiflet9952]

I agree I thought it was entertaining

[@mrflipperinvader7922]

I feel the same for the 2016 film

[@toneloak]

Yeah, it suffered from studio interference in many ways. But I enjoyed the performances and the sense of dark discovery in the movie. I'd really like a HBO Max cut of the movie.

[@KardboardKenny]

Cecil from Good Bad Flicks has a great vid on the total mess the studio made out of that movie.

[@MyHairyRoommates]

My husband LOVES that movie. I didn't hate it and I don't think it was bad.

[@TheDeliciousMystery]

Wasnt the game a failed pitch at another western "amnesiac in a therapist purgatory" silent hill game that just got hastily reworked to INNAWOODS and had the blair witch name tagged on?

[@WolfTeen2010]

That's definitely what it felt like.

[@JohnWilliams-wl9px]

I heard the original creators didn’t know about it until the reveal trailer

[@abbie_joan]

that's seem to be the case because it literally had no connection to Blair Witch it could have changed a couple names a been a stand alone but they slapped Blair Witch on it to gain more popularity but id be lying if it didn't have some damn good visuals and keeping the dog alive isn't a bad ending either

[@DarkLordofInsanity]

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Dead Space Downfall and Dead Space Aftermath, both animated horror movies as prequels to Dead Space 1 and Dead Space 2 respectfully. Both of an analysis of animation in horror and on the psychological and physical dangers that come from Dead Space itself.

[@garyking1986]

I'm surprised you didn't talk about how the ending of the Blair Witch game completely betrays the morals and themes it was setting up. I genuinely don't think I've ever been let down so hard by a game's ending. The Blair Witch game tackles the taboo subject of suicidal depression in young men, and for the most part it does it with a surprising level of nuance and compassion. As someone who always has and is still currently dealing with these types of issues, it felt really impactful to have a game tackle such a risky theme so boldly. The main character Ellis is suicidal, and has attempted to kill himself in the past. Throughout the game, he keeps saying to himself that all he's ever done in life is bring other people pain, and that maybe the world is better off without him. This spoke true to me as that's exactly the negative mindset people at risk of suicide have. They see themselves as a burden, and only a detriment to others. So when I was playing the game I thought, "Okay, it's a Blair Witch game, so I'm not exactly expecting him to get out of the forest alive, but the character's arc must be about him finally redeeming himself and saving the kid, possibly by sacrificing himself". However, the game reveals that the kid can't be saved and that Ellis is destined to become the witch's minion. He will spend the rest of his days kidnapping and murdering children, meaning that the "good" ending involves Ellis deliberately getting himself killed to break the cycle. This ending hurt so fucking bad because the game pretty much just threw away it's empathy and understanding of people suffering from suicidal depression, and basically confirms that Ellis is a burden, and that the world is better off without him, and he should kill himself so that he doesn't bring anyone else anymore pain. It essentially spits in the face of everything it was building up, and only ends up portraying an extremely harmful message. EDIT: I know that horror isn't always empathetic and doesn't always go with a comforting and cathatric ending, but what I'm saying is that the game set up this very risky moral. The way I see it, Danny Boyle once said that story telling is the artist trying to make a statement and trying to prove something. The game was gearing up to do something intimate and special and had all the pieces, but then abandoned it entirely. I'm a large fan of the Blair Witch series, and I know a more redemptive ending would have felt out of place, but then again, the whole game feels so unsimilar to the rest of the franchise that I think that tackling a mostly tiptoed around topic would have been bold and help form it's own identity.

[@DJtheBlack-RibbonedRose]

Wow, that's a messed-up message to promote. I'm sorry you had to endure that. :P

[@Jill4ChrisRedfeild]

Dude, YES! I thought it was good then thought about it and oof, I really hated the fact the endings message just fucked itself over :(

[@garyking1986]

D.J. Rose Thanks, man

[@smilehappyface8]

@@DrRhubarb hmmmmmmm, but the fact that this aspect of the game isn't too obvious, (I mean I know it's all time loops and whatnot) still doesn't help that they send a mixed and harmful message. Just sayin, the game could've done better in many ways.

[@williamerickson520]

I get where you're coming from and am sorry that the game had that effect on you. However, I your expectations appear to be misplaced. Horror is the wrong genre for empathy and understanding.

[@jwnj9716]

I'm still waiting for the director's cut for Part 2. The new Blair Witch...well, some interesting ideas but then you get the stupid ending. The first one is the best one where you aren't sure if its supernatural or not. The 2nd one had some great ideas but the studio ruined it.

[@terrybennett4053]

His commentary track is really interesting

[@alexbristol4413]

Fun story! When I was a young lil' cub scout my friend's father (and our scout master) told us about the mystery of the Blair Witch.. He told us about the movie and how the people in the movie disappeared. He then pulled out the VHS and the 5 of us kids all huddled up a d watched the movie, which he had describes as a documentary, and we all thought it was real. As we where alone in the VT wilderness at night.

[@thebloodletter7824]

When did you find out it was’t real?

[@brandonhamilton5141]

My name is Brandon Scott Hamilton and I was wondering if you would talk about the Scooby-Doo parody of The Blair Witch Project called the Scooby-Doo project

[@Yucko000]

i love how you sound so formal for that bizarre request LOL

[@ShardtheWolf]

@Ikonoya Shirou Formality is used to hide motives. Likely not in this case, I think brandon up there was either being funny or is actually new on the internet, but still.

[@biologist12389]

The snapping of the chicks back gets me every time 😭

[@ravencollins5638]

It personally gets me rolling with laughter everytime

[@benfrancois7856]

Another interesting thing about the Blair Witch is how it could possibly tie into the Missing 411 phenomenon I would love a movie to explore that option

[@jusdoriange7930]

I did one of my first uni papers on Blair Witch so I have a weird attachment to it and I did a part of my work on the sequels, I'm really eager to see your thoughts!

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

The scene in the 2016 movie where the girl folds in half genuinely freaked me out, and I’m a hard dude to freak out.

[@yareyare7806]

Please do The Lighthouse next, I would love to see your thoughts about it.

[@devante_topdawg491]

Damn I almost forgot about that one lol

[@silvialiken855]

Why not a satisfying movie of both of the director's movies ? The Witch and The Lighthouse. That way, while discussing the individual films, the underlying pattern can also be discussed.

[@theofficialvernetheturtley338]

Ryan, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on Nosferatu, and the Klaus Kinski remake.

[@hamtaroSUS]

Dude omg yessss Cover nosferatuu

[@conjman7343]

Stop taking like an alpha bruh

[@theofficialvernetheturtley338]

@@conjman7343 I wasn't aware I talked like an alpha, but I appreciate the compliment.

[@fonebone783]

Brilliant suggestion.

[@jwnj9716]

Its pretty much the same as the original but you get a memorable soundtrack and atmosphere. I was expecting to be a bit gory but no. Still, worth a watch.

[@hopegallows1392]

I watched the original, rented it from Blockbuster, with my grandparents. I was like 9 and they were both 70+. I was super spooked and my grandpa was just taking the piss, grandma fell asleep at some point.

[@aimeekatz]

"But does that mean that they're bad? Well...." me, at the top of my lungs: *LET'S TALK ABYOUT IT*

[@chad933]

I think the first sequel's idea of "exploring the aftermath of blair witch" was a secret genius destroyed by the weird horror psycho bs the movie made out. If they had stuck with a more grounded and tragic theme I think it could have been stellar. Instead it hardly even feels like a sequel, not even a parody really.

[@BriarPatchNyra]

Well the director did, the studio effed him over

[@brodyhawnersan2784]

It's like the 1998 Psycho Remake. Something good in theory (in FILM THEORY), but that ends up being terrible in its execution.

[@robofistsrevenge3288]

I personally love the theory that there was no Blair Witch, but instead Mike and Josh psychotically pulling all the strings to lure Heather into the woods so that they could murder her, destroy or hide all evidence, and then just disappear. That really touches on the risks of falling too deep into the whole urban legend phenomenon while still providing us with a genuinely horrifying thriller. I know a lot of people love the supernatural "what you DON'T see is scarier" vibe of TBW, but Josh breaking his own equipment and Mike throwing the map into the creek just to drive their unsuspecting victim deeper into madness and paranoia is 100 times more terrifying to me than "a witch did it".

[@isaakfaulk8067]

True I think that this theory is way more credible than anything else these people are talking about. Also the fact that it was so easy to manipulate her and the audience was terrifying alone. Just as scary as a witch.

[@mixmastermind]

... why didn't they destroy the tapes?

[@j-rey-]

This is very late, but there is definitely a supernatural element. They walked all day in a straight line and ended up at the same spot. Also, the tapes were found buried in the undisturbed wreckage of Rustin Parr's house, which was burnt down by an angry mob in the 1940's. This means that when they were in the house at the end, they were actually in the 1940's and the tapes were unintentionally buried there after the house was torn down. The tapes were then found around 50 years later. This time loop concept was then brought back in the '16 sequel, just more explicitly.

[@shemjeffs2953]

​@@j-rey-it's been a while since I watched it so I could be wrong, but I thought the walking in a straight line and ending up in the same spot was because they accidentally walked in a big circle as a result of keeping the sun on one side of yourself, without accounting for the sun moving across the sky as the hours pass (although I'm not sure if this would genuinely happen if put to the test)

[@notBrocker]

@@shemjeffs2953no it’s confirmed to be super natural The game confirms this even more

[@feathero3]

One thing I never hear anyone talk about with "Book of Shadows" is the hidden images. At least on VHS, there were letters that appeared during the end credits. After the credits, there was a message that said to "play the tape backwards" (Like they had to do in the movie) to spell out words with the letters in the credits. Then look for those objects spelled out to see hidden images in the film. As a kid I thought this was an amazing and clever idea and gave me another good reason to watch the film again!

[@TJSTOYZ]

These videos are the only things keeping me sane during this pandemic.

[@FantasticAlbum77]

No one: Ryan: "Houiyever..."

[@SevOneSev7en]

I like to believe that the creature we see in the newest movie is a dead/possessed Heather that's being used by the witch to chase her brother.

[@desertfox738]

Please do a full video on Martyrs, I know you talked about it a bit in the French Extreme video but that’s my favorite horror movie of all time, would love to see you do a longer video on it.

[@KeKKi]

GREAT movie!!

[@desertfox738]

KeKKi yeah amazingly enough I first rented it at blockbuster back in the day (I couldn’t believe they had an extremely violent French horror movie). My mind was blown by the time I finished watching it, I’ve seen hundreds of horror movies and that one is my all time favorite. Also I own it on Blu Ray (I’m pretty sure it’s either really hard or next to impossible to get that movie on Blu Ray nowadays so I’m glad I have it)

[@SyntheticKill]

just rewatched your blair witch project video, i swear i have powers

[@Helloitisstillme]

While I was kinda so-so on Wingard’s sequel, the scene where she’s crawling through the tunnel REALLY got under my skin.

[@LoreleiCatherine]

As a native Marylander who always has a steady supply of old bay on hand to put in just about anything, I've lways had a soft spot for anything blair witch, and not many movies at least tried sometimes to differentiate between dark and light magic symbology but those ones diddddddd, so refreshing.

[@BrandosGrassesOn]

Lol, I paused the video right in the middle of the skin care advertisment, got invested in some random conversations, almost an hour later came back to the video and got really lost as to what the hell I was watching. Great video my friend, always delivering quality, I'll support you to the end of days.

[@MindEy3]

Can we talk more about how book of shadows on VHS had a whole segment after the movie that had a huge puzzle for you to solve and go back into the film and see all the secrets hidden in the background and shit. It was cool

[@TJF588]

Pop-Up Video: D.I.Y. Edition

[@strawberrycream2974]

I actually preferred blair witch 2. It had a storyline that kept me guessing still to this day.

[@toneloak]

Agreed. That movie was about these different people sharing the feeling of discovering dark things about themselves.

[@lennoxmate4064]

Decent sequel. It tried something different. It doesn’t succeed on all its ideas but it has its moments.

[@Aster_Risk]

@JOHN JOHN I sincerely hope you aren't an adult, because your reaction is absurdly childish.

[@mikaelpalm2130]

Well, now i want Ryan to cover more horror video games like the Forest.

[@kailee3275]

In my first childhood home the window in my room overlooked what i as a 5 year old perceived to be a huge forest. In the distance there was an old dilapidated shack, and for some reason my best friend and i spent a lot of time watching classic scary movies. Long story short i was CONVINCED the blair witch lived outside my bedroom window and it was terrifying

[@randomaccountmadeyup]

This was a great one man. Felt short as hell even though it was almost half an hour.

[@paigeproffitt1830]

i loveeee your videos dude! you’ve improved so much and i’m really happy you’ve been getting the attention you deserve! :D and thanks for introducing me to the terrifying movie that is Possum!

[@RyanHollinger]

Thanks!

[@cathydoyle8804]

Your the only person on the internet who I can safely say gives very good well thought out videos about films! You come across so well and good! Thank you so much , enjoy all your stuff!

[@robinallen9537]

I love when you say "Well, let's talk about it." Before beginning your observations on the movie. That's such a simple opening but works so well. Love the videos bro. Keep up the good work!

[@DinoReviews]

I still haven’t seen the second sequel but I absolutely love Book of Shadows! It’s such an underrated and uncomfortable movie.

[@timeneses]

(insert the misshapen "you tried" star)

[@JW-dp4we]

For some reason I assumed the monster in the third movie was actually Heather herself and not the witch. Like, the witch does to her victims what was done to her in life

[@SNPixel]

honestly, that was such a slick ad read that didn't break your videos usual flows. one of the better well implemented ad reads i've seen.

[@BloodyBreakdown]

Book of Shadows is guilty pleasure of mine, I love what it could have been especially. The newest film, I thought, was pretty well done. BIG fan of the franchise!

[@The_kookclub]

Ok the last Blair was good. It scared me in a way making me feel like a child bring back nostalgia. I remember mother buying it for me (I was a little emo dude as a teenager) and then riding my back alone after watching it with my Neighborhood friends. neighborhood friends Quite nostalgic and scary the witch at the very ending was and how the darkness in the woods knowing something was there.

[@fangthusiast]

I'm very early to this video so I just wanted to let you know that I look forward to your content more than any other youtuber. Your videos are so insightful and well done and you've really changed the way I look at horror movies. Thank you for being you!

[@megan9104]

I need Ryan to record some audiobooks I can fall asleep to

[@greybeard6504]

“No”, would be my cursory answer. The original happened to have been made at just the right time.

[@Horror-Man]

I finally watched Under The Silver Lake today and LOVED it! Though mainly a dark comedy, I still think the film's 'soul' is dark enough for an analysis by this channel.

[@Mr_Case_Time]

That movie made me feel more stoned than I should have.

[@ILoveMarsBars]

Omg YAY Im finally early to a Ryan vid (notifications on just for you). Just want you to know you're literally one of my favourite film analysis channels ever, and I get most of my movie recommendations from you. I then in turn force my film geek friends to watch your recs and I can proudly say they have never been disappointed, ily keep up the good work king

[@mlp_firewind8129]

This video will feature heavily in the “Ryan is becoming an old man” super cut.

[@TheFlipped1]

I love the "Book of Shadows" more than the original. The 2016 version was just boring.

[@benfrancois7856]

I actually like the blair witch 2 book of shadows it's my favorite blair witch movie most likely because it's very nostalgic for me same goes for the original blair witch project movie I loved them as a 10 year old kid it brings back good memories but I also liked the 2016 blair witch movie as well so maybe I would have liked all the blair which movies even if I didn't have the nostalgic memories I'm expected to see how the next blair witch movie and games do I'm sure I will love them as well the 2019 game was also pretty good but unfortunately not many people like the blair witch 🧙‍♀️ so it might not get very many more movies series or games

[@manabluerose]

I remember seeing both Blair Witch and Book of Shadows when they came out. I watched Book of Shadows at a friend's place during the weekend and had baked ziti. So now I always associate baked ziti with the Blair Witch 2.

[@brickwallpictures]

Great retrospective. I enjoyed Winguard's Blair Witch when I first saw it at an early screening and upon rewatch. I think I'll check out the video game now, looks interesting enough to spend some time with.

[@Lisa_Ookami]

Wiccan: these symbol actually have a positive meaning, only scaring the ones that do not understand them. Also movie: pEnTaGrAmS BAD lol

[@Imtrappedinaclownbus]

Before watching the video I must say with confidence Book of Shadows is ambitious and clever; it was just executed poorly and made worse by studio interference. Blair Witch 2016 is a fun by the numbers jump scare fest that succeeds the most in respecting the legacy and expanding on lore.

[@maxdoran2504]

My mate introduced me to your videos around the time invisible man came out. And ive loved watching all of your videos! Keep them coming 😁

[@DangerousMuteLunatic]

I remember being genuinely freaked out by the doll snapping killing the bluehair. That was a really fun kill.

[@marsgrey8964]

"Few typical jump scares" xD lol The whole movie was based on jump scares.

[@irishjoe2941]

I honestly liked Book of Shadows

[@irishjoe2941]

Black lodge exactly it wasn’t Great but still Entertaining

[@cthulhluftagn3812]

While the creature we see in the Blair witch is thought of as the titular witch it actually isn't, it's Edith the woman who was accused of bieng the first witch. According to the director she was just another victim of something that's been in those woods for long before Europeans ever got there, proper lovecraftian stuff, but since there won't be a sequal we'll never get that confirmed in film

[@davidj.thompson]

I found "Book of Shadows" quite entertaining. The core ideas could have been presented better, but I viewed it as part psychological, part supernatural horror. The paranoia of the characters was handled well.

[@shroomyesc]

I understand how the film probably had a much larger impact when it originally came out but to me when I watched it for the first time in 2014 (and I am and always have been scared shitless by horror) I really couldn't focus on the horror aspects because I was just perpetually annoyed by the constant screaming and cursing at nothing in the forest. And also annoyed at absolutely nothing happening for almost the whole film.

[@mdc123-v2v]

The first film is a masterpiece to me and there's nothing gimmicky about it. It was innovative and and pushed the envelope of horror cinema, spawning a 500 million dollar sub-genre. It was competently shot, really well acted and the marketing was sublime. It had a similar impact on my generation that the Exorcist had on boomers. It's one of my favourite horrors of all time.

[@KH12foreve]

As someone who loves the Blair Witch franchise as a whole, I am so thankful this video exists. It's nice to feel some vindication for liking the universe of these movies. I highly recommend checking out the fan made director's cut of Book of Shadows

[@edwardteach4677]

I grew up not far from Burkittsville and when the first movie came out I remember how everyone truly believed it was real, it was a terrifying time to be a 9 year old and having to take the short cut through the woods to school or to go to friends house

[@notwilhulbert]

I still think my favourite thing about the series is the theory that if you look at the first film in isolation it's actually about the two men leading heather into the woods to kill her and that there is no Blair witch

[@ScrilboBaggins]

I didn’t expect much but I actually really liked Blair Witch (2016).

[@infjgirl3850]

For what it’s worth, I appreciated the Easter eggs in Blair Witch (2016) as tributes to the original: having the girl in the video at the beginning dressed in the same outfit heather wore at the end of TBWP (to the point I actually think it *was* Heather Donahue making a cameo in the movie), the group in the sequel staying in the exact same motel as the trio in the original, the stand-alone glitchy image of the huge stick man from TBWP appearing within the 2016 footage, and the fact the 2016 team tried so hard to remodel the house identical to the original Rustin Parr house (like, holy shit - the basement layout was so spot-on!). The 2016 sequel was okay (better than Book of Shadows), and the Easter eggs were an added bonus. If they didn’t have the continuous jump scares and the booming sound effects, I would have enjoyed it a lot more.

[@wanderingseth]

I just watched all three films for the first time. I felt Book of Shadows was inspired by Donna Tartt's The Secret History. I wish we could have seen the director's vision for this, because there were some genuinely intriguing elements.

[@Equus21]

I really liked the movie "Blair Witch" 2016. I truly think it's a good companion piece. A good modern spin, while still keeping things terrifying.

[@lewisdavidson571]

First video I watched of yours was the Blair Witch video 4 years ago. Content has only gotten better!

[@Neocoolzero]

For those interested, there's a series of 3 games back from 2000 published by GOD studios and made by such studios as Terminal Reality, Human Head Studios and Ritual Entertainment, Blair Witch Volume I: Rustin Parr, Blair Witch Volume II: The Legend of Coffin Rock and Blair Witch Volume III: The Elly Kedward Tale. All 3 games focused on the myth and origin of the Blair Witch and take place in diferent time periods, 1941, 1886 and 1785. They all use the same engine, first used by a game called Nocturne, and many will find it similar to the likes of Resident Evil or Dino Crisis, but using what at the time was brand new techniques, such as real time shadows and volumetric lights, wich made for incredible environments and atmosphere. While the combat might feel a bit clanky, they're all short games and wortwhile to try them out and explore if you enjoy the theme and old games.

[@WaterHazard86]

This sounds very out of place, but can you please cover Neon Genesis Evangelion?

[@Nicolas-hh5cp]

Is nice to see you talking about video games again

[@Falquano]

The thing that I don't understand with the sequels is that they drop the most interesting fact about the original move : the fact that there is nothing paranormal at all in the movie...

[@reizak8966]

Tried to scroll down in the comments to not see the creature in the hall, only to realize too late that on the app it keeps the video in view. 🥺😱