My The- Blair Witch Project Tie-In Collection
After a particularly slow September here on The Nicsperiment, I've got a ton a
great content planned for the rest of 2024. To end this fallow period, though,
how about as niche a post as possible?
My 90s Movies Podcast, Filmshake, recently covered 1999s The Blair Witch Project--fitting considering it's not only that film's 25th anniversary, but the start of autumn...and The Blair Witch Project is quite an autumnal film. To close out not just this long, lazy summer period on The Nicsperiment, but also Filmshake's coverage of The Blair Witch Project, here's a look at some of the movie tie-in items I've collected for this film.
This first item is a comic book, published by Oni Press, dedicated to the folk tale lore and mythology surrounding the film. It's written by Jen Van Meter, with art for its three individual short stories by, respectively, Guy Davis, Tommy Lee Edwards, and Bernie Mireault. One of the stories focuses on the witch's possible origin, one on the Rustin Parr killings, and another on the incident at Coffin Rock. All three stories conjure the autumnal feel of the film, with wonderfully distinct artwork for each. The writing is good, as well.
On one hand, I think this comic is a must have for fans of the film. On the other, if you've got strong emotional ties to the way you've personally envisioned the lore from The Blair Witch Project, based solely upon the excellent worldbuilding the film does through its interviews with local townsfolk, you may want to take a pass. Personally, I'm glad I read it, and I even enjoyed looking at its rad 1999 movie ads.
The version pictured above is my reading copy, the third printing. However, I also have the Dynamic Forces Stickman Acetate Glow-in-the-Dark Virgin Variant (yes, that is its entire name), which, as the name states, glows in the dark and looks pretty gnarly. Considering the fancy holographic seal on the back of the bag and board, I guess I will not be opening this thing...ever...which is fine, as the contents beyond the cover are the same as in my regular old third printing version.
Another item in my Blair Witch collection is the tie-in music album, The Blair Witch Project - Josh's Blair Witch Mix, which is purported to be based upon the mixed CD found in the film character, Josh's car. The songs are an interesting mix of grimy industrial and punk that actually make for a strangely fitting companion to the film. The disc even closes with the single piece of music composed for the film, Antonio Cora's exceedingly creepy ambient track, "The Cellar." I am a little torn on the way the disc weaves in a few audio snippets from the film, as it nearly breaks the suspension of disbelief of this being the CD found in Josh's abandoned car in the woods. However, the included booklet not only includes a note about how the album has been released in this format with the cooperation of Josh's family, but includes a timeline of the history around Josh and his fellow filmmakers' disappearance. It even unfolds to create a nice-sized poster. Over all, a very cool package, particularly for fans of the film.
And finally, there's my DVD for the film. Considering the way the film was shot (handheld cameras, etc.), it should look no better than it does on this DVD. There's no removing the heavy film grain without removing the film itself, and upping the resolution would kill the The Blair Witch Project's lo-fi charms and tension. The audio is also on point. The DVD extras maintain the suspension of disbelief that the film is a real documentary, except of course for the (vital) director's commentary. The disc also includes the incredible Curse of the Blair Witch companion documentary (a documentary about the legend of The Blair Witch, played completely straight), which is almost as good as the film itself. The standout for me here, though, is the incredibly 1999 DVD menus, featuring moving graphic overlays that could have come from no other decade.
And speaking of "no other decade," the same goes for the film itself. The Blair Witch Project was a one-of-a-kind phenomenon that could only have been born in 1999, and 25 years later, I love it more than ever.
My 90s Movies Podcast, Filmshake, recently covered 1999s The Blair Witch Project--fitting considering it's not only that film's 25th anniversary, but the start of autumn...and The Blair Witch Project is quite an autumnal film. To close out not just this long, lazy summer period on The Nicsperiment, but also Filmshake's coverage of The Blair Witch Project, here's a look at some of the movie tie-in items I've collected for this film.
This first item is a comic book, published by Oni Press, dedicated to the folk tale lore and mythology surrounding the film. It's written by Jen Van Meter, with art for its three individual short stories by, respectively, Guy Davis, Tommy Lee Edwards, and Bernie Mireault. One of the stories focuses on the witch's possible origin, one on the Rustin Parr killings, and another on the incident at Coffin Rock. All three stories conjure the autumnal feel of the film, with wonderfully distinct artwork for each. The writing is good, as well.
On one hand, I think this comic is a must have for fans of the film. On the other, if you've got strong emotional ties to the way you've personally envisioned the lore from The Blair Witch Project, based solely upon the excellent worldbuilding the film does through its interviews with local townsfolk, you may want to take a pass. Personally, I'm glad I read it, and I even enjoyed looking at its rad 1999 movie ads.
The version pictured above is my reading copy, the third printing. However, I also have the Dynamic Forces Stickman Acetate Glow-in-the-Dark Virgin Variant (yes, that is its entire name), which, as the name states, glows in the dark and looks pretty gnarly. Considering the fancy holographic seal on the back of the bag and board, I guess I will not be opening this thing...ever...which is fine, as the contents beyond the cover are the same as in my regular old third printing version.
Another item in my Blair Witch collection is the tie-in music album, The Blair Witch Project - Josh's Blair Witch Mix, which is purported to be based upon the mixed CD found in the film character, Josh's car. The songs are an interesting mix of grimy industrial and punk that actually make for a strangely fitting companion to the film. The disc even closes with the single piece of music composed for the film, Antonio Cora's exceedingly creepy ambient track, "The Cellar." I am a little torn on the way the disc weaves in a few audio snippets from the film, as it nearly breaks the suspension of disbelief of this being the CD found in Josh's abandoned car in the woods. However, the included booklet not only includes a note about how the album has been released in this format with the cooperation of Josh's family, but includes a timeline of the history around Josh and his fellow filmmakers' disappearance. It even unfolds to create a nice-sized poster. Over all, a very cool package, particularly for fans of the film.
And finally, there's my DVD for the film. Considering the way the film was shot (handheld cameras, etc.), it should look no better than it does on this DVD. There's no removing the heavy film grain without removing the film itself, and upping the resolution would kill the The Blair Witch Project's lo-fi charms and tension. The audio is also on point. The DVD extras maintain the suspension of disbelief that the film is a real documentary, except of course for the (vital) director's commentary. The disc also includes the incredible Curse of the Blair Witch companion documentary (a documentary about the legend of The Blair Witch, played completely straight), which is almost as good as the film itself. The standout for me here, though, is the incredibly 1999 DVD menus, featuring moving graphic overlays that could have come from no other decade.
And speaking of "no other decade," the same goes for the film itself. The Blair Witch Project was a one-of-a-kind phenomenon that could only have been born in 1999, and 25 years later, I love it more than ever.
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