Missing a crucial sense of spontaneity

BLAIR WITCH Running time: 1h 29min Starring: Valorie Curry, Callie Hernandez, Brandon Scott Director: Adam Wingard Producer: Keith Calder

GETTING in on the reboot racket, horror show Blair Witch relaunches the long-dormant brand, putting fresh blood in charge with director Adam Wingard and screenwriter Simon Barrett taking over the reins.

However, by sticking so slavishly to the original film’s template, the result is a dull retread rather than a full-on reinvention, enlarging the cast numbers this time but sticking to the same basic beats.

Taking only two words from the original title, Blair Witch cleaves closely to the structure of the first film. Indeed, making protagonist James (James Allen McCune) the much younger brother of Heather (Heather Donahue), the ill-fated “director” of the first movie, emphasises rather literally the family resemblance. So just like his big sis did nearly 20 years ago, James sets off for the woods near Burkittsville, Maryland, equipped with supportive friends, assorted recording equipment and camping gear and a lot of bad luck.

He’s determined to find some trace of his sister in the woods, having obsessed for years over the footage that surfaced in 1999.

Holding the camera for much of the time this go-round is James’ earnest girlfriend Lisa (Callie Hernandez), yet another film student, his childhood friend Peter (Brandon Scott) and Peter’s prissy squeeze Ashley (Corbin Reid).

Unfortunately, despite all the similarities to its predecessor, the most glaring missing element is that sense of spontaneity that made the first film so effective. – Hollywood Reporter