After a quarter of a decade, fans of the iconic horror film, The Blair Witch Project, may have been watching the wrong version this entire time, the producer behind the film says.
Sharing an explanation on social media, Mike Monello explains that at the time of release, “theatrical films didn’t originate on video” and for this reason, it meant the film would have “no codified process for putting them out on video.”
“So they did it like all films back then: They transferred the 35mm negative to video,” Monello adds. “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.”
For those intrigued enough to find out what the real version of this beloved cult classic should look like, they won’t need to wait long. A limited version of The Blair Witch Project is expected on Blu-ray in November 2024, launched by Second Sight Films. The special edition, Monello cites, has been distributed “in the way it was intended to be seen.”
However, the Blu-ray edition will be released in the UK as a Region B disc, so fans are advised to check the compatibility of their Blu-ray players.
The Blair Witch Project, released in 1999, was received positively and is regarded as one of the best found footage films ever made. An independent venture, the film grossed almost $250 million at the time, making it highly successful. The film focuses on three film students setting out to capture evidence of the Blair Witch, an urban legend. A remake was released in 2016.
