THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT (1999)

Despite the internet pannings on facebook horror groups I'm in, I have to say this isn't a bad movie, I'm not sure whether I'd really call it horror, maybe more of a mystery/ thriller or something that does have some dark subject matter, and I think there-in lies the problem. People must be hoping for something gorier or faster paced and that's where I think it looses fans.

I found this one quite interesting as it followed the plight of three young filmmakers, Heather, Mike and Josh investigating mysterious 'occult' happenings / killings connected with witches in a rural American town in Maryland. The filmmakers eventually get lost on their investigative trackings and the tension between the three begins to mount as tempers and tension flares up. Eventually they all crack in their own ways.  The footage is recovered a year later and basically that's what we see as the film. The film takes the concept of found footage (as seen in films like "Cannibal Holocaust") a step further as the found footage basically becomes the film. For what its worth you can feel the tension grow and the acting seems to hold up quite well given the plot of the film. I found it to be enjoyable (though not a classic)

With no known actors or any real special effects this film would have been produced on a miniscule budget (later found out to be around $60k) and grossing an unexpected $240+ million world wide this is an undoubted and somewhat unlikely success for the film makers and a cash cow for the investors. I can't think of any film produced on such a small budget that went on to achieve anything like the success this film has achieved. 

As said before this isn't the fastest paced film and neither is it packed full of gore. But if you're in the mood for something more in a mystery vein this is a pretty cool film! 

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GRUESOME / SALVAGE (2006)

Hmmm? Luck was not on my side at the flea market today when I bought this one. Initially attracted to the cover and the title of "Gruesome" I held high hopes for a splatter fest of epic proportions... I had a friend over on first attempt to watch it and I have to say it was pretty painful and didn't seem to go anywhere, until he requested I turn it off after which it almost went into the bin. We decided to  watch reality TV cooking shows instead........ :/ not a good sign.

One good thing about the film is that the main starlet is fairly cute in that 'girl next door' kind of way (she reminds me of Marcia from the Brady Bunch a bit) . It was in fact the only thing that kept us watching as long as we did. The film appears to be about a girl who is experiencing lucid nightmares about a guy who is trying to kill her, and in the dreams he manages to catch her again and again as she relives her own horrifying death. The premise of the movie is pretty cool actually and has some definite potential but I have to say it is poorly executed.

On subsequent research the next day it seems that the movie had been getting half decent (but far from good) reviews in some of the other online sources such as wikipedia and imdb (where it is also known as "Salvage") so i decided to give it another shot and see how it went...... for what is worth I do see some small amount of  merit in it, especially since finding out the whole movie only cost $25000 to produce, but sadly on second viewing I fell asleep and woke up in time to see the ending and it just didn't do it for me.

I won't be trying for a third time. Recommended only for those who are bored out of their skulls basically best left as a last resort

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