‘Blair Witch’ Appeal

Kenneth Turan’s view that “Hollywood has a lesson to learn” from the success of “The Blair Witch Project” is laughable (“ ‘Witch’s’ Brew Is Bad for Studios,” Aug. 16).

While it is understandably satisfying to see the big studio publicity machines get a comeuppance from this low-budget thriller, the big box-office numbers are a case of a massive one-time-only lightning strike.

There is nothing “honest” or “real” about “The Blair Witch Project.” It is a fictional story, performed by actors. It is just as fake as “Star Wars” or “Jurassic Park.” Its success comes from its very real effect of fooling the audience.

Suckers will always pay to be taken in. That’s the lesson whether it’s a $100-million movie or a $35,000 one.

ANDREW B. HURVITZ

Studio City

Much more expense and artistry went into the packaging and presentation than went into the product. Clearly, “The Blair Witch Project” is the Pet Rock of low-budget films.

The actual Urban Myth is that the movie cost $35,000. That may have been the filmmakers’ out-of-pocket expenses, but making a film on such a shoestring meant laborers and creative people worked for free. We protest when Third World factory workers are exploited so American corporations make a profit, but Artisan Entertainment is held up as a shining example for making a huge profit on a product created by donated time and talent.

MARSHA SCARBROUGH

Los Angeles

I will always be in Turan’s debt for his position on “Titanic.” The only purpose of that film was to show neat ways people could die.

But I take issue with aspects of his column on “Blair Witch.” I’m 54 and I thought it was a good film; no, a great film. I would vote it best of the year and Heather Donahue best actress. Not because they used “tricks” to beguile the public and “make” it look honest. Because it was honest and true.

No tricks in the plots, no gaping plot holes, no script meetings, no red herrings, no overemotional scenes, no contrived “tear jerking” scenes, no bailing out on the third act. The audience is respected.

The filmmakers took an old story and three actors and both by design and luck came up with a great film that stays with audiences for weeks afterward. When is the last time a Hollywood film did that without the usual tricks of the trade?

JOHN JOHNSON

North Hollywood

Despite the huge grosses of so many recent films, Turan concludes that Hollywood does not care about customer satisfaction. “The movie business doesn’t care what you think of its product as long as it has got your money in its pocket.” Evidently Turan’s contempt extends to the viewing public, who in his opinion are duped into paying hundreds of millions of dollars to see films they dislike.

This view of Turan’s is laughable. His notion that the public dislikes these huge hits is false to anyone who has talked to the people who have seen them.

Turan may dislike virtually all films, but he is mistaken if he thinks the public who pays hundreds of millions to see them does. It is his own private world that is “topsy-turvy” and “anti-Hollywood.”

VIK RUBENFELD

Santa Monica

The fact that Kenneth Turan only found “Blair Witch” “mildly spooky” explains why he thinks its audience must be delivering a “calculated slap in the face” to studios. If he didn’t come away with a deep and lasting case of the creeps, he’ll never be able to understand that the response is precisely because of what the movie is, rather than what it’s not.

Audiences aren’t all that calculating, nor that reactionary. Nobody says, “I’ll show those studios, I’ll spend my money on something that doesn’t look like them.” The lesson here is way simpler: We like this movie because it recognizes that we do have imaginations and we do have attention spans, and it feels good to have demands made on them.

CYNTHIA CARLE

Los Angeles

I went to see “The Blair Witch Project” expecting, after all the hype, to be impressed and frightened. Instead I saw an amateur movie attempting to look even more amateur. I am afraid the continuing promotion of this film attempt is an excellent example of the emperor having no clothes.

ROBERT NOFER

Pasadena