It was one of the most successful horror films ever – and drove the audience out of the cinema in droves. But the reason for this was not just the usual shock effect.
When audiences took their seats in cinemas in 1999, they had no idea what horror awaited them. The Blair Witch Project didn’t just get the adrenaline pumping.
Blair Witch Project not only caused fear, but also nausea
In July 2024, Collider listed horror films that managed to chase their audience out of the theater as quickly as possible. Among them was Blair Witch Project by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, which follows a simple yet ingenious idea.
Take three students, Heather Donahue (now Rei Hance), Joshua Leonard and Michael C. Williams, and send them (as themselves) into a dark forest to investigate the (fictional) eerie legend of the Blair Witch with a documentary film.
But the witch in question has other plans, which is why the supposed documentary becomes an experimental horror trip. The actors filmed themselves in a wobble-cam style to appear more authentic.
The result triggered a violent reaction in cinemas. Many viewers became seasick and had to flee to the bathroom. A theater employee in Atlanta reported in 1999 in an interview with Tampa Bay Times :
On the first weekend, someone threw up in the women’s room, the men’s room and the hallway.
For many, this was part of the movie’s appeal. As producer Robin Cowie noted at the premiere at the Sundance Film Festival:
Some people just feel a little queasy when they feel the tension and pace of the movie. We hear that it’s a kind of challenge to see if you can make it through.
Even major newspapers like the British Guardian felt compelled to report on the health risk of the film in 1999: “This movie will make you sick!”
So the Blair Witch Project stands out not only for its innovative concept. The film can also boast of having initially lured horror fans into cinemas by the dozen – and then out again in record time.
