It’s hard to overstate the seismic impact of The Blair Witch Project. Released in 1999, this oft-imitated classic popularized the found footage genre, revolutionized independent film marketing, and taught a generation of filmmakers that successful horror films could be made on the smallest of budgets. Its journey began with a midnight screening at the Sundance Film Festival and ended with the film earning nearly one-quarter of a billion dollars at the box office. 

The Film Club event series will devote its spooky-season October session to The Blair Witch Project. A monthly, community-driven deep dive into the soul of the Sundance Film Festival, Film Club highlights one film each month from the recently-published Sundance Film Festival 101 Watchlist. 

In this free, online event, Film Club host Kiva Reardon dissected the formal inventiveness and lasting legacy of The Blair Witch Project. How did this ultra-low-budget first feature from two then-unknown directors (Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez) become one of the most influential films of the last 30 years? Reardon offered a close analysis of what makes Blair Witch work as a standalone fright film and what has made it the enduring cultural phenomenon it remains today. 

Reardon’s presentation included clips, slides, and a Q&A during which attendees asked questions about this Halloween-time staple. This event concluded with participants entering breakout rooms to discuss the film in small groups. 

Visit JustWatch to learn where you can stream or rent the film in your region.