MovieChat Forums > Blair Witch (2016) Discussion > Let's talk sound.

Let's talk sound.

posted 8 years ago by pirateking888
13 replies | jump to latest

The audio for this movie was terrible, and here's why:

1). The quality of the audio didn't change dramatically enough while switching from different mediums (drone, DV cam, head cams, HD cam, etc). The camera quality changed, but the audio remained consistent? I can understand not wanting to mess wth the audiences ears too much, but they didn't seem to have a problem doing that with shaky footage and camera changes

2). Every sound they heard in the forest involved the bassy BOOM. This included the stinger sounds to set ambience, as well as any time the "witch" made a noise in the woods, which brings me to #3.

3). WHY did the witch(es) sound like bigfoot when they were in the forest? Part of what was great in the original is that the witch would throw rocks, scream, and breaks branches, but this time around she sounds 15 feet tall and can knock trees over no problem.

4). There were actual scary music cues in a film that is trying to play itself as FOUND FOOTAGE. There was even a point where Peter says he hears something, and you can't tell if he's hearing the music cue or the music cue is for the audience and he's hearing something else.

[–] stesta621 8 years ago

ok but how many times do you wanna talk about it?

[–] sarahkrafft 8 years ago

Lol yeah, OP you kinda posted this topic three times in a row. :/

[–] somesunnyday 8 years ago

Couldn't agree with you more. The sounds from the original sounded real whereas all of a sudden you're taken out of the effect of reality with these over the top sounds.

[–] funkiste 8 years ago

Yep I agree, every jump scare was accompanied by a "boom" sound for effect/ambience/scare. But it's supposed to be a found footage movie. Did the witch add these Audio FX to the footage?

And yeah, she was scarier in the first movie before she became a giant, tree-breaking monster. Way scarier when she was just a mysterious, creepy witch.

[–] Horrified 8 years ago

The last few minutes of the original had very inventive, creepy sound design. This movie didn't have an ounce of creativity to its name.

[–] cmb_1455 8 years ago

Everything you wrote is spot-on. As a filmmaker and sound mixer/recorder myself, this bothered me right away. While there wasn't anything that could be called "music" in the sound design, the low-end bass heavy sound cues really took me out of the film every time they happened. Every time someone is shining a flashlight in the woods trying to see something, you can hear those sound cues come in.

The other thing that bothered the *beep* out of me is that is every actor can be heard clearly, plain as day, in every scene. Never once did any of their voices sound as if they were farther away from the sound capturing device (in this case, the microphones on the camera). The original did a really good job of the sound design, so I'm not sure why they chose to Hollywood the sound on this one.

I think this film really failed on the "found-footage" feel. Obvious acting, camera angles that are too convenient, and sound design that was not at all realistic for the situation. Much more like Paranormal Activity than The Blair Witch Project.

[–] Ocelot006-X4 8 years ago

Uh oh.

Somebody let the 'as a this' guy on the loose.

No. Please do elaborate as to why 'as a this that and the other' adds to your opinion?

Porch Monkey 4 Life

[–] sarahkrafft 8 years ago

Huh? I am confused by your grammar.

[–] cmb_1455 8 years ago

I was going to respond, but then I realized you gave Inherent Vice ten stars. I don't believe anything I type to you will make sense.

So instead, have a great day!

[–] Ocelot006-X4 8 years ago

Oh I'm sorry, was there some sort of 'as a filmmaker I can't take someone seriously that loved Inherent Vice' spiel you were almost going to give me?

Or did you realize I was correct in observing that your 'as a filmmaker' adds absolutely nothing to your opinion?

Porch Monkey 4 Life

[–] cmb_1455 8 years ago

It adds everything to my opinion because I tend to pay attention to sound design more than the average joe because I do that kind of work for a living. Had I been on the sound design team I would have told them they were making a huge mistake.

You don't have to agree with my opinion, but being a douchebag isn't helping your case. What difference does it make to you whether or not I mention my background when critiquing a certain aspect of the film. Especially when it actually pertains to the conversation. It wasn't like I said "as a burger flipper at In-and-out..."

Chill out and find someone else to dish out your douchebaggery to.

[–] Buzz_McCallister 8 years ago

Let's talk soundly.

11... 92... 12...

[–] tperry667 8 years ago

One thing that annoyed me is that when they wanted to convey the black girls cut hurting, they made it sound like her leg was snapping in half. Like a bone breaking. Cuts don't make noise.