The Blair Witch Project, a found-footage horror film written, directed, and edited byDaniel MyrickandEduardo Sánchez, has become a firm cult classic since its release in 1999. Inspiring filmmakers for decades to come, it made for a lightning-in-a-bottle scenario that will likely never be truly replicated. StarringHeather Donahue,Joshua Leonard, andMichael Williams, the movie follows three film students investigating thelocal legend of the Blair Witch. Unfortunately, for purists of the genre, viewingThe Blair Witch Projectin its proper form has been impossible for a long, long time.
For context, it’s best to let producerMike Monelloexplain it himself: “In 1999, theatrical films didn’t originate on video, so there was no codified process for putting them out on video,” Monellorevealed on his X account. “So they did it like all films back then: Theytransferred the 35mm negative to video. Unfortunately, the 35mm negative is not the actual camera negative.As a result, the version released for all forms of home video is incorrect. The colors, the motion, the strange rounded corners, it didn’t look like a home video, and it didn’t look like film.” If you’ve ever operated a camera of that era, you likely know exactly the aesthetic Monello references. Some styles cannot be artificially replicated. However, there’s cause to tepidly rejoice, for an official copypresentingThe Blair Witch Projectin its true, originalform finally exists.
How Can You Watch ‘The Blair Witch Project’ in the Original Intended Version?
Second Sight Films in the UK released a limited-edition 2-disc Blu-ray set that captures “the true look we wanted 25 years ago,” Monello said.Here’s the thing, though: it’s almost impossible to get your hands on.For one, the release was for “Region B” copies, meaning it only worked on specific players (namely throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand). Region B or “Region-free” players can be obtained outside their usual areas, but they can be extremely pricey in places like the United States. Moreover, the limited edition from Second Sight Films isalready out of print, and listed copies go for upwards of $270-$300+ on eBay.
The ‘Blair Witch’ Franchise Has Been Out of the Original Creators' Hands For Some Time
These creatives and this cast have been through a lot in the decades since its release — at least, more than you’d expect for a small team of such a massive phenomenon. It’s been regarded asa financial nightmare for its stars, who were not protected by the SAG-AFTRA union.Lionsgate owns the intellectual property rights, and the cast has spoken up about their exclusion from profits in continued sales, sequels, and reboots.Blumhouse is stilldeveloping future projectsfor the franchise, which has already seen sequels withBook of Shadows: Blair Witch 2andAdam Wingard’sBlair Witch.
‘The Blair Witch Project’ Ending Explained: Is There Anything There?
In 1999, this found footage film became a phenomenon. Its climax scared some, but confused others.
In 2024, actors Donahue, Leonard, and Williamsreleased a joint statementon Leonard’s social media, calling for several actionable forms of reconciliation between them and Lionsgate.Alongside requests for retroactive and future residual payments “to the sum that would’ve been allotted through SAG-AFTRA, had we had proper union or legal representation when the film was made,” the cast called for Lionsgate to institute a $60,000 yearly grant allotted toaspiring genre filmmakers. The grant would match their film’s original budget and assist in developing the first features for creatives who are in the shoes they once filled.
‘The Blair Witch Project’ Pioneered the Found Footage Genre
The Blair Witch Projectforever changed, bolstered, and emboldened the genre. Before the internet became what it is today, this filmtapped into a form of viralitythat morphed the legend of the Blair Witch intoa real-world mythin and of itself. It deservesa new lifein its proper form. At the very least, the mere hope that now exists, thanks to the limited release from Second Sight Films, is enough for fans to hold onto. Monello has even resorted to encouraging fans to lobby Lionsgate to make a wide release of the proper version. “I hope this version becomes the definitive version that shows up on streaming,” he said in the aforementioned X thread, even noting that streaming services currently offer the film “in the wrong aspect ratio, no less!“Leave it toThe Blair Witch Projectto still conjure a mysterious aura, even decades later.
The Blair Witch Projectis available to stream on Starz in the U.S.
WATCH ON STARZ
The Blair Witch Project
