Steven Spielberg's 1975 blockbuster Jaws was the main inspiration behind The Blair Witch Project.
Blair Witch Project Movie Review
The summer of 1999 had big things planned for the supernatural horror genre. In the midst of blockbuster blockbusters grew a small indie film called The Blair Witch Project. Directed by two University of Central Florida students, Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, the film drew inspiration from Steven Spielberg's 1975 masterpiece Jaws.
At first, many studios dismissed it, as it was considered a risky venture. However, The Blair Witch Project grossed an incredible $248.6 million worldwide, despite having a shooting budget of $60,000. Furthermore, the film continues to haunt audiences even after 25 years of its release.
The film, which tells the story of three student filmmakers named Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams and Joshua Leonard, was a major factor in polarizing the found footage horror genre. To document the Blair Witch legend, the three enter the Maryland woods.
