Opening Image

We open with Heather at her home in suburban America, where she feels safest, which she remarks she’ll be leaving behind to make a documentary.

Set Up

Heather and Josh are friends, and they will be accompanied by Mike, whom they are meeting for the first time. We see Mike leaving his house and saying goodbye to his mother. Throughout the movie, references to their mothers appear a few times, highlighting the fundamental sense of comfort and safety that children experience when they are with their mothers. However, in the woods, they find themselves in the clutches of something inhuman.

The ghost decorations and pumpkins all around indicate that Halloween is close by, a day rooted in pagan and ritualistic practices but now reduced to candy and costumes in today’s world. The subtext here suggests that the film students are so accustomed to the comforts of civilization that they see it as a shield protecting them from the unknown. However, the rules that shape and govern society are meant for normal occurrences; they don’t account for anything supernatural, which often simply cannot be comprehended. This false sense of security is further highlighted by the steps they’ve taken to prepare for filming, such as reading several books and stocking up on food. Civilization’s attempt to do away with the unknown is even carried over to the name of the town, which is now called Burkittsville, and was formerly known as Blair

Filming continues by interviewing the locals about the Blair Witch legend, through whom we learn of several grisly incidents: the murder of seven children, hunters who’ve disappeared in the woods and so on. Despite how one feels about the legend, most locals know better than to go into the woods. Interestingly, one of the interviewees, states that he doesn’t believe in the supernatural but is religious, a mindset that’s highly contradictory, as both deal heavily in the unknown. It’s just one of the many ways today’s world tries its best to simply ignore anything unpleasant that cannot be understood.

Theme

They’re seen at a graveyard housing the corpses of several children believed to have been victims of witch. Before filming, they’re seen getting the clapboard ready and Josh jokingly suggests they mark the occassion with their blood, showing a sense of unawareness to the dark forces around them.

Catalyst

The locals direct the three to Mary Brown, who is considered an outcast by most in the town.

Debate

She claims to have actually seen the witch, but she appears to have an unsound mind and asserts that she works in various unrelated professions, further questioning her credibility. As a result, the trio don’t take anything she says seriously.

Break into Two

Despite Mary’s warning, the three still move ahead with their plans. On the way, we see Heather and Josh discuss their equipment and how it works in the metric system, which is foreign to them compared to the American system. This highlights that, by choosing to proceed, they’re leaving the security and familiarity of their world and venturing into unknown territory

B story

After deciding to stop at a motel, we witness the bond of friendship and shared purpose among the three. The strength of their unity and resolve will soon be put to the test.

Fun and Games

As they venture into the woods, they interview two more people, one of whom disapproves of their project. Regardless, they continue on, remaining jovial throughout their time together. Even when Heather isn’t sure of where she’s leading them, they just tease her about it. The next day, before heading out, Josh mentions that he heard noises during the night.

Having established the first plot point, we move on to more of the same but with constantly increasing tension. Arguments among them become more frequent and severe, and their exposure to the supernatural intensifies. While Josh initially mediates between Heather and Mike, he too becomes agitated as desperation sets in. Meanwhile, each night, the mysterious sounds grow louder, eventually resembling footsteps.

One morning, they discover seven small cairns, each representing a missing child. Although Mary had warned them about the cairns, none of them had paid attention, and out of ignorance, one of them even knocks one over. One night, they discuss how Josh and Mike are similar to Gilligan and the Captain from Gilligan’s Island, a show about castaways trying to survive on an island—mirroring their own situation. Later, when asked if she believes in the witch, Heather admits she isn’t sure. If she had, she would have known to stay away.

Midpoint

They wake up to find three more cairns right outside their camp, and Heather realizes that her map is missing. This further escalates their quarrels and strains their friendship even more. As tensions rise, each of them grapples with their own anxieties about their situation.

However, amidst the turmoil, flickers of hope begin to emerge. They decide to put their differences aside and focus on getting out of the woods, signifying that they could still survive the ordeal. Heather, trying to reassure herself and the others, remarks that it’s hard to stay lost in this day and age and that eventually, someone will come looking for them, allowing them to momentarily regain their composure and continue their journey

Bad Guys Close In

At some point, Mike admits to throwing the map away out of frustration, leading to a major confrontation among the group. Heather feels betrayed, while Josh, who usually acts as the mediator, also loses his cool. As they continue their journey, they stumble upon ritualistic stick figures hanging from the trees. Heather, determined to document everything, insists on filming the scene despite the panic.

That night, hoping to avoid attracting any unwanted attention, they decide to turn off all lights and put out the fire. However, that doesn’t stop the mysterious noises from returning, louder and more unsettling than before. This time, the sounds are accompanied by the laughter of children. An unseen force violently shakes their tent, prompting them to flee into the darkness. When they return the next morning, they find their camp in complete disarray. Their belongings are scattered, and Josh’s possessions are covered in a strange, slimy substance.

In an uncharacteristic move, Mike suggests that they give Josh some time alone to process the situation, acknowledging that they are all feeling the strain. Heather and Mike recognize the importance of supporting each other, realizing that their survival depends on their unity.

All is Lost

Eventually, they come across the same river they had crossed at the beginning and realize that for the past few days, they’ve been going around in circles. As the gravity of the situation sets in, they realize they’re not making it out alive. Josh takes Heather’s camera and mocks her, while Mike tries to get him to stop, to no avail.

Dark Night of the Soul

That night at camp, they show signs of recovering from the arguing, by finding solace in wearily talking about the food they miss from home. Mike mentions how much he misses his mother’s mashed potatoes.

Break into Three

The next morning, they discover that Josh is missing. They desperately try to find him, to no avail. While deciding which direction to take, we see a shot of Mike in the bottom corner, with the trees towering over him from all sides.

Finale

That night, in a feeble attempt to find some semblance of comfort, they once again talk about what they miss from back home. Soon enough, the noises return, but this time, it’s Josh screaming for help.

In the morning, Heather finds a bundle of twigs outside their tent. Upon closer inspection, she finds a scrap of Josh’s shirt containing a gruesome collection of body parts: a tongue, a finger, some teeth, and hair. The discovery of which sends her into a state of panic. Interestingly, she handles the bundle with much more care than when she was putting the disturbed cairn back together. As Heather and Mike struggle to cope, we see a poignant shot of them consoling each other by gently rocking back and forth, like a mother would to a child, but once again surrounded by the ominous woods on all sides.

That night, Heather records herself apologizing to her family, as well as Mike’s and Josh’s families. She admits that they are being haunted by the witch, whose powers they never should have trifled with, and acknowledges that it’s too late for them, coming to terms with the fact that they are going to die. Before long, they hear Josh crying out to them again, which leads them to the ruins of Rustin Parr’s house, indicated by several walls covered in children’s handprints. Thus, their journey comes to an end similarly to how it began—in a house.

Closing Image

While desperately searching for Mike, Heather doesn’t realize that she’s being drawn deeper into the house as she rushes to the basement. She finds Mike there facing a wall as she’s struck by an unseen force. A few moments later, the camera cuts to black.