The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Directors:

Daniel Myrick
Eduardo Sánchez

Writers:

Daniel Myrick (writer) &
Eduardo Sánchez (writer)

Release Date:

30 July 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

In October of 1994 three student filmmakers disappeared in the woods near Burkittsville, Maryland, while shooting a documentary...A year later their footage was found.

Plot:

In October of 1994, three student film makers disappeared in the woods near Burkittesville, Maryland. One year later, their footage was found.

Plot Keywords:

Forest | Legend | Maryland | Student Film | Video Camera

Awards:

11 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Heather Donahue	...	Heather Donahue
Joshua Leonard	...	Joshua 'Josh' Leonard
Michael C. Williams	...	Michael 'Mike' Williams (as Michael Williams)
Bob Griffith	...	Short Fisherman
Jim King	...	Interviewee
Sandra Sánchez	...	Waitress (as Sandra Sanchez)
Ed Swanson	...	Fisherman With Glasses
Patricia DeCou	...	Mary Brown
Mark Mason	...	Man in Yellow Hat
Jackie Hallex	...	Interviewee with Child

Directed by
Daniel Myrick
Eduardo Sánchez		(as Eduardo Sanchez)

Writing credits
Daniel Myrick		(writer) &
Eduardo Sánchez		(writer) (as Eduardo Sanchez)

Produced by
Robin Cowie	....	producer
Bob Eick	....	executive producer
Kevin J. Foxe	....	executive producer
Gregg Hale	....	producer
Michael Monello	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Tony Cora

Cinematography by
Neal Fredericks

Film Editing by
Daniel Myrick
Eduardo Sánchez		(as Eduardo Sanchez)

Production Design by
Ben Rock

Art Direction by
Ricardo Moreno		(as Ricardo R. Moreno)

Art Department
Patricia DeCou	....	art technician
Brigan Gresh	....	scenic artist (as Brigan Docking)
Andrew White	....	scenic artist

Sound Department
Harry Cohen	....	final sound mixer
Gerry Lentz	....	final sound mixer
Dana Meeks	....	sound mixer
Jack Sherdel	....	sound
Rich Weingart	....	final sound mixer
Eddie Bydalek	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Paul Curtis	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Elisabeth Flaum	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Shawn Kennelly	....	foley mixer (uncredited)
Clive Taylor	....	sound editor (TV version) (uncredited)

Stunts
Steven A. Blake	....	stunt rigging
Douglas Retzler	....	stunt rigging

Camera and Electrical Department
Stefanie DeCassan	....	still photographer (as Stefanie Decassan)
Hector Lopez	....	additional photographer
Julie Ann Smith	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Lisa Dane	....	additional casting

Music Department
Dan Barrio	....	music assistant
Tony Cora	....	musician

Other crew
Melvin Bayer	....	location
Howard Bernstein	....	phase one instigator
Mark Bobrow	....	production assistant
Beverly Brooks	....	video to film transfer
Shelley Buell	....	accountant
Rachel Carter	....	audition assistant
Harry Clein	....	marketing
Ray Combs	....	behind-the-scenes video
Matt Compton	....	audition assistant
Matt Compton	....	location
Sarah Cowie	....	accountant
Carolyn DeCassan	....	audition assistant
Carolyn DeCassan	....	production assistant (as Carolyn Decassan)
Stefanie DeCassan	....	audition assistant
Stefanie DeCassan	....	production assistant (as Stefanie Decassan)
David Donaldson	....	video to film transfer
Julia Fair	....	production assistant
Lonnie Glerum	....	key production assistant
Christian Gueverra	....	location
Trey Howard	....	investor tape production (as Trey Butts)
Chrystal Jordan	....	investor tape production (as Crystal Jordan)
Shannon Kibler	....	production assistant
Kurt McNew	....	production assistant
Zubi Mohammed	....	behind-the-scenes video
Britt Nichols	....	audition assistant
Gene O'Baker	....	accountant
Kelly Phipps	....	audition assistant
John Pierson	....	phase one instigator
Billy Plank	....	production assistant
Tina Plank	....	production assistant
Dave Poole	....	production assistant
Sandra Sánchez	....	production assistant (as Sandra Sanchez)
Dave Segal	....	investor tape production
Wendy Smith	....	investor tape production
Joe Solari	....	investor tape production
Adrian Steinbach	....	production assistant
Fahad Vania	....	audition assistant
Fahad Vania	....	production assistant
Jeremy Walker	....	marketing
Dennis Warner	....	investor tape production
William L. Whitacre	....	legal (as Bill Whitacre)
Jenn Winn	....	investor tape production
Sam Barber	....	pre-production supervisor (uncredited)
Cathy Ziehl	....	assistant to studio vice president (uncredited)

Thanks
Jane E. Barrick	....	special thanks
Teresa Bone	....	special thanks
Steve Boudreau	....	very special thanks
Peter Broderick	....	special thanks
Carmen Cacaven	....	special thanks
Larry Carneglia	....	special thanks
Karo Cavanaugh	....	very special thanks
Brian Clark	....	special thanks
Fran Cowie	....	very special thanks
Les Cowie	....	very special thanks
Sandy Craig	....	special thanks
Matthew Curtis	....	special thanks
Cecilia DeCassan	....	special thanks
Gino DeCassan	....	special thanks
Stefanie DeCassan	....	very special thanks
Sarah Foxe	....	special thanks
Ingrid Fraley	....	special thanks
Richard Fraley	....	special thanks
Melanie Gasper	....	special thanks
Ellen Gillis	....	special thanks
Lonnie Glerum	....	special thanks
Christian Gueverra	....	special thanks (as Christian Guevara)
Dee Guzzi	....	special thanks
Jackie Hale	....	very special thanks
Tonya Hale	....	special thanks
Lynda Hansen	....	special thanks
Thomas Ethan Harris	....	special thanks
Diana Iwanow	....	special thanks
Jeff Johnsen	....	special thanks (as Jeff Johnson)
Mary Johnson	....	special thanks
Bob Jones	....	special thanks
Mike Jones	....	special thanks
Nancy Jane King	....	special thanks
Louise Levison	....	special thanks
Jean Lipphard	....	special thanks
Sandra Lukas	....	special thanks
Scott Macquarrie	....	very special thanks
Terry Martin	....	special thanks
Kurt McNew	....	very special thanks
Margarita Moreno	....	special thanks
Oscar Moreno	....	special thanks
Dick Morris	....	special thanks
Joe Nagy	....	special thanks
Michael Nelson	....	special thanks
Dave Norman	....	very special thanks
Gene O'Baker	....	very special thanks
Peg O'Keef	....	special thanks
Anthony Pekarik	....	special thanks
Klark J. Perez	....	special thanks
Janet Pierson	....	special thanks
John Pierson	....	special thanks
Don Rhodes	....	special thanks
Jim Ritzel	....	very special thanks
Korrin Ritzel	....	very special thanks
Brian Saway	....	special thanks
Cecilia Saway	....	special thanks
Rita Saway	....	special thanks
William Saway	....	special thanks
Jack Sherdel	....	very special thanks
Catherine Smith	....	special thanks
Don Smith	....	special thanks
Ali Steinbach	....	very special thanks
Francis Tanner	....	very special thanks
Lindsey Tanner	....	very special thanks
Jan Ungaro	....	very special thanks
Richard Ungaro	....	very special thanks
Dennis Warner	....	special thanks
Paul K. Williamson	....	special thanks
Lorraine Wood	....	special thanks
Tara Zwicker	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Haxan Films

Distributors

• Alliance Atlantis Communications (1999) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Arthaus Filmverleih (1999) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Asmik Ace Entertainment (1999) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Budapest Film (1999) (Hungary) (theatrical)
• Egmont Entertainment (1999) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Eurocine (1999) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Filmes Lusomundo (1999) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Klock Worx Company, The (1999) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Mars Distribution (1999) (France) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Entertainment (1999) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Parco Co. Ltd. (2000) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Pathé (1999) (UK) (theatrical)
• Shôchiku Eiga (1999) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (200?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Artisan Entertainment (1999) (USA) (all media)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2000) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2000) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Laurenfilm (2000) (Spain) (DVD)
• Lions Gate Films (2003) (USA) (all media)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (retail)
• Pioneer LDC (2000) (Japan) (DVD)
• Yorin (2003) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)

Other Companies

• 4MC  video to film transfer
• Chapter III Records  soundtrack
• Clein + Walker  marketing
• Digitec  audio
• Jeremy Walker + Associates  publicity
• Wishire Stages  final mix
• Wolf, Young, O'Baker  accounting

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Malaysia:18PL | Hungary:16 | South Korea:18 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA (original rating) | Australia:M | Belgium:KNT | Chile:14 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Iceland:12 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R13 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) | Singapore:PG (original rating) | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #36716) | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Adamstown Village Market - 5550 Mountville Road, Adamstown, Maryland, USA

Company:

Haxan Films

Trivia:

When Joshua Leonard and Heather Donahue pick up Michael C. Williams, they were originally listening to the song "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" by The Animals on the radio. However, Haxan Films couldn't get the rights to keep it in the film.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: While Rustin Parr's house was said to be burned down (notably in Curse of the Blair Witch (1999) (TV)), we see it and go inside. But this is probably a supernatural phenomenon of some sort - possibly a time warp; it explains, in part, why the filmmakers were never found.

Quotes:

Heather Donahue: Mmmm. Marshmallows. Soft.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Something to Scream About (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

God is god

Not your average horror film

A film which fell foul of its own publicity machine, `The Blair Witch Project' was abhorred and derided by the mainstream film-going public which it became unfortunately directed at due to its extraordinary and outlandish marketing campaign. `The Blair Witch Project' is not a typical film that the typical cinema-going public would normally be exposed to. The camera-work is jerky, the dialogue repetitive and inane and the action virtually non-existent. At times confusing, annoying, irritating and tedious, this film is nonetheless a brilliant piece of arthouse experimental film-making. This movie is virtually all style-there's hardly any plot, no real action, no semblance of a real script-and one that works on a deeper psychological level than the standard mainstream horror film. Indeed, only the very last image in the film is truly frightening, and only if it can be correlated to an incident at the very beginning. The rest of it only becomes scary afterwards, when the audience has had time to consider what they've seen. It is groundbreaking, manipulative cinema made without a script, with an amateur cast and with little or no post-production values. This is a remarkable film which can only really be appreciated, if the accompanying hype is overlooked, as a unique, avant-garde art film and not the regular Hollywood stock it was presented as to the public.