MovieChat Forums > Blair Witch (2016) Discussion > The jump scares ruined it for me

The jump scares ruined it for me

posted 8 years ago by andrewrrrr
19 replies | jump to latest

Sooo many of them and they were all so predictable and forced. People in the woods just kept tiptoeing and sneaking up to each other, jumping in front of their camera and screaming for no reason as a loud sound effect was blared to startle the audience. The original was very flawed but at least it felt real and it actually felt like a found footage movie instead of the way this one feels like a studio trying to make a found footage movie ya know? I didn't mind the first few but there was such an over-reliance on them in this movie

[–] adhesive222 8 years ago

Seems to be the only way studios can scare people these days. Over-reliance on jump scares usually means the film is a turd.

Paranormal activity didn't do this..it was creepy.

Insidious didn't do this either..it just created a creepy atmosphere.

I prefer movies that mind *beep* you rather than the cheap scares.

I won't even call them scares, I'll call them "startle jumps"

[–] ThatNoodleLizard 8 years ago

I agree, but both Paranormal Activity and (especially) Insidious were full of these.

Still, I do the same thing and refer to them as "startlings". If my cat suddenly jumps out from under the bed when I'm not expecting it, I don't credit him with being some sort of horror genius - he's just being an ass. Moreover, I don't enjoy being startled whereas I genuinely love being scared - creeped out, afraid to turn the light out at night. Startles, by definition, simply have no lasting effect. It's not a coincidence that the horror movies often named among the best (The Exorcist, The Shining, the original BWP) have very few startles, and certainly don't rely on them.

That's not to say they can't be done well, of course. The original Thai version of Shutter has a bunch, but they're tastefully implemented, perfectly-timed and feel completely "earned". That's far from the case with most modern horror movies I can think of, even the "respected" ones.

Oh and yeah, this Blair Witch was total toilet.

[–] robmorganQ 8 years ago

Completely agree with this.
I've never rolled my eyes so much. The jump scares were terrible.

[–] soupmurdock 8 years ago

I agree .. I thought the same thing as I was watching it .. The first couple I was thinking "ok" ., then they kept happening .. Definitely went to the well too many times

[–] Drew_Darko 8 years ago

Totally agree. I think jump scares can be very effective when used sparingly and when they are actual real scares. But this movie had way too many jump scares and most of them were just fake-outs. They became so monotonous by the end.

[–] funkiste 8 years ago

I agree. I don't mind SOME jump scares when they are mixed in with genuine scares. But this movie had way too many of the former and not nearly enough of the latter. Also way too many minutes of people running around screaming someone's name. A sign of a movie with not enough in it.

[–] Centralline92 8 years ago

I counted only 5 or 6 jump scares in this because I had heard so much about "millions" of them and they weren't that bad. The first 3 at least were acceptable to me under the conditions they were happening in. Like Lisa jumping into James' tent because she was scared of the noises, or Lane (I think it was) suddenly appearing when James and Talia went to look for him during the first night noise scene. The jump scares were being made out to be jokes by some people on here as if characters were pranking each other in the film, which they most definitely weren't. Yes, they were a little tiresome towards the pandemonium scene, but then they stop after that. They kind of kept me on edge a little during the first half of the film.

[–] sillyheart1977 8 years ago

I completely agree Centralline92, i counted about 7 or 8 as well and honestly, they were not really that bad.

[–] adouthit-1 8 years ago

If 7 or 8 is acceptable to you, you must have very low standards for what makes a movie scary.

[–] sillyheart1977 8 years ago

Well i certainly couldn't have as high of standards as you obviously do... dick.

[–] phillatthemoment 8 years ago

Those aren't even high standards. It's common sense. Like, why would you keep scaring your friends in the woods like that while you're in a messed up forest. What if they accidentally stabbed you when scared

[–] ChrisB1986 8 years ago

I think the racial/ethnic sensitivities also did it.

Mixed Asian

[–] fede_4488 8 years ago

Not racist enough for you?

[–] ChrisB1986 8 years ago

Well, you do your best, and then it's over. Shouldn't be over. Like how you feel good racially.

❄ The chill is in the air

[–] fede_4488 8 years ago

Is English your first language?

[–] ChrisB1986 8 years ago

Why, yes. I do believe, so.

❄ The chill is in the air

[–] fede_4488 8 years ago

Because none of what you said makes any *beep* sense.

[–] ChrisB1986 8 years ago

Well, the racial pressure in the movie must have taken its toll! It was unnecessary.

❄ The chill is in the air

[–] darthleather2011 8 years ago

They were awful. It was so *beep* bad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z55W6ihUY-c
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