Joe Berlinger, the director of Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2, didn’t realize people cared about the sequel. Continuing in the aftermath of the massively successful and influential The Blair Witch Project, the second installment attempted to differentiate itself somewhat through its style and narrative.
Blair Witch 2 followed a group of characters fascinated by The Blair Witch Project. Deciding to go to Black Hills, where the original movie was filmed, the group begins to experience supernatural occurrences which lead to their psychological unraveling. The sequel has witnessed its reputation improve since it first debuted in 2000, with retrospectives arguing that the film might actually be an underrated gem. In recent remarks, Berlinger shared his thoughts on the legacy of Blair Witch 2, and why the movie still falls short of what he’d hoped to accomplish.
Comic Book interviewed Berlinger in honor of the sequel’s 20th anniversary, allowing the director to reflect on his experience of Blair Witch 2. When asked about how the estimation of the film has grown in the decades since its release, Berlinger admits that he was initially surprised to learn that the sequel has a large fanbase. He also describes Blair Witch 2 as “prescient” in its attempts to highlight the erosion of truth and accepted reality. You can read Berlinger’s quote below.
“It is interesting since I actually wasn’t aware that anyone cared about the movie. It’s been reinvigorating to hear that there’s actually fans of the film and that they see some of the ideas that I meant. Even if it’s been bombarded with trappings that weren’t approved by me, but the thing that’s most interesting to me is the fact that, really, it’s a very prescient film that, again, I could never have imagined the times would be what they would be today. It kind of, in its own way, predicted this death of truth. Really, it was the whole reason I wanted to make the film.”
A documentary filmmaker, particularly focused on the subject of true crime, Berlinger and co-writer Dick Beebe intended for the film to examine the role of violence and fanaticism in the media. The director also planned to provide a bit of meta-commentary on the marketing of the original Blair Witch as a true story, comprised of genuine found footage. However, when Blair Witch 2 moved into post-production, the studio ultimately favored a more traditional horror approach in hopes that it would lead to wider commercial success. The more gory and violent end result was disappointing to Berlinger, who considered removing his name from the movie. Blair Witch 2 did well at the box office, grossing more than $47 million worldwide against a $15 million budget, but it was largely panned in reviews. Critics found the sequel to be formulaic and lacking in creativity.
While there’s no telling if Berlinger’s vision would have been more warmly received, it would have been different and served as something of a precursor to the horror movies which have garnered widespread attention in recent years. Far from being typical, the horror stories of Jordan Peele, Bong-Joon Ho and others manage to blend heightened scares with everyday issues that are relatable to broad audiences. At a time when most everyone is familiar with ideas regarding fake news and alternative facts, Berlinger might have had more luck with Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 if it was released today. Still, for the director, it’s a positive that his work has received a more favorable reexamination.
Source: Comic Book