**This post contains MINOR spoilers**
The Story- Following the events of The Blair Witch Project, Jeff (Jeffrey Donovan) leads a tour group into the woods of Burkittsville, Maryland. Jeff, the leader, organizer, and owner of The Blair Witch-Hunt, a website and touring service, promises to deliver a surreal experience for Erica (Erica Leerhsen), Kim (Kim Director), Stephen (Stephen Barker Turner), and his girlfriend, Tristen (Tristine Skyler).
Jeff receives a series of stern warnings from Sheriff Ronald Cravens (Lanny Flaherty), and more troubling problems emerge for Jeff and his new clients, after a bizarre and baffling nighttime experience in the woods of Burkittsville….
My Thoughts- Erica is a Wiccan. Kim? She’s an eccentric young goth woman, who enjoys relaxing in graveyards. Oh, and apparently Kim also has psychic abilities. Stephen and Tristen are doing research together for a book on mass hysteria, and Jeff is the kooky Burkittsville local!
Yes, if we’re comparing this one to the original, Book Of Shadows features a variety of characters with more depth. The problem is, there’s a bit too much zaniness attached to the main cast. Erica’s act as a Wiccan is just too goofy and over the top. Jeff? Oh, boy. Jeffery Donovan is surely dedicated to playing Jeff. There’s no denying that, but the character just comes off as this unlikable and annoying douchebag, who ruins most of the serious moments throughout the movie.
Kim Director, playing the rebellious goth lady, looks the part, and she easily has some of the best scenes throughout the movie. Tristine Skyler and Stephen Barker Turner play the roles of two intellectuals, who really don’t fit in with the rest of the crowd. Kim and Stephen are boring characters, but I guess you could say that’s the whole point, to add to the dynamic and irony of two people, who decided to tag along with a group of kooks.
I can’t remember the last time I watched Book Of Shadows. I barely remembered what happened, and I’m still confused about what they were trying to accomplish here. Is this supposed to be a straightforward horror film? Comedy horror? Or, a parody of a horror film?
Jeff and the locals are selling Blair Witch merchandise, including rocks, and you can buy official Blair Witch dirt, too! Seriously? Why would you shit all over the key items that added to the mystique and the spooky parts in the original? I just don’t understand the approach of making a mockery out of the dangerous and deadly physical reminders and warnings for the Blair Witch curse. Also, there’s a brief little feud between Jeff’s group and a different touring group named The Blair Witch Walk, because for some reason we needed more comedy.
Lanny Flaherty delivers a weirdly hammy performance as Burkittsville’s Sheriff, complete with a comically thick southern accent. It’s strange, because you would think the SHERIFF would be portrayed as a more serious character, but you could tell Flaherty was having fun.
The main cast? There’s nothing to write home about. I understand Jeff was abused in a local mental institution, but with the way his character is portrayed, it’s easy to get the impression they just decided to poke fun at the fact that he’s not all there upstairs. I honestly can’t think of one good or truly solid performance here, and the rigid dialogue in certain scenes is just terrible.
Blair Witch 2 adds more layers and details to the lore and the dark history behind the Blair Witch. But Book Of Shadows is a prime example for what you don’t want out of a follow-up sequel for a successful original film.
The entire movie feels like a shameless cash grab, and they dropped the found-footage POV. Book Of Shadows opens with real news clips, clips from late night talk shows, interviews with locals, and Jeff talking about the Blair Witch and Burkittsville, but that’s it for the real footage side of the movie. Sure, you could say the production values are more professional and polished, but the end result is a forgettable and bad horror flick.
The tone for Blair Witch 2 is all over the place, and all the attempts to be a more serious film are huge misfires. The reveal for the footage of what actually happened at Jeff’s warehouse and the woods at night during the tour is just laughable. Seeing the truth was supposed to deliver a big shocker, but it’s hard not to laugh at the footage from the woods. Yeah, I get it. Everyone is supposed to be possessed, but it’s easy to get the impression that you’re just watching a bunch of people, who were way too drunk and high doing silly things that intoxicated people would do. And of course, the group was drinking and smoking weed at the campsite, so that had to play a part in the evil shenanigans, right?
Rating- 2/10
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