‘Blair Witch’ Cashing in on ‘Paranormal Activity’s’ Success?
November 5, 2009 by Alison
Paranormal Activity, the little indie flick that could, surprised everyone with a number one spot at the box office–knocking out an established money maker, Saw VI. As the film continues to rake in the dough (totaling something over $61 million) another ‘true story’ phenomenon is watching from the sidelines as its successor takes the reigns.
Co-directors Eduardo Sanchez and Daniel Myrick have been chattering about Blair Witch 3 for a little while now and Sanchez recently revealed some more details [via Latino Review]:
“We’re at the step where we’re about to pitch to Lionsgate, which owns the movie rights now. It’s pretty much up to them. They can completely squash it or greenlight it.”
Though Sanchez and Myrick served as executive producers on the sequel, Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2, they were unhappy with the finished product and claimed to have little to do with the output. Blair Witch 3 will pick up after the first film (completely ignoring the second) and plans on using a ‘mixed first person’ style which would be similar to ‘District 9.’ Hmm…so far there’s a lot of talk about other movies. When will we get to hear about an original idea? Many would argue that this type of film was their original idea, but 1999 feels like it happened eons ago and you can only ride that wave for so long–the ideas and the enthusiasm has to keep coming and where have the boys been all this time?
And How does the Blair Witch duo feel about Paranormal Activity?
Sanchez said, “I wouldn’t be completely honest with you if I said I wasn’t jealous of Paranormal Activity.” Honesty is commendable and what artist hasn’t had at least a twinge of that feeling before? However, Sanchez goes further. Perhaps too far [via MTV]:
“I’m happy for [Peli]… but at the same time, there’s the feeling that, man, I could have done this. It would have been different and might not have been as good. But I know how to make these films. To me it’s like, man, maybe I should go back and kind of milk this one more time.”
Hopefully bitter turns to sweet for Sanchez and Myrick with Blair Witch 3 but admitting you’re out to ‘milk’ anything is not going to win you any support. Maybe the best thing they could do is attempt something entirely different, but perhaps this one trick pony is all out of tricks.
I actually appreciated how BW2 built on the mythology of the Blair Witch, it made the whole story more interesting than just a bunch of filmmakers running around a forest. The 3rd installment should be a mixture of both mythology and searching in the woods.
i never saw the second one–just wasn’t into the first one enough. but i agree and think that could be the winning combo. i just think their timing is totally suspect on this and hopefully they’ll keep their mouths shut for a little while. no more room with two feet in their already