Return of the Blah ‘Witch’

A fake spawned by a bigger, more successful fake, “Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2” was doomed to be inconsequential and forgettable, and it is.

Despite grossing $250 million worldwide on a $30,000 budget, the original “Blair Witch Project” was no more than a mildly spooky charade powered by a brilliant marketing campaign. The sequel is here only because of that success: The dynamics of the marketplace (follow-ups to successful films earn at least half of what their predecessor did) insisted it exist, and so it does.

Aware of the vulnerable position he’s in, “Book of Shadows” director Joe Berlinger (who also co-wrote with Dick Beebe) has provided journalists with a three-page, single-spaced “Director’s Statement” that talks about what he did and why. It’s a fascinating document, much more interesting than the film, though its chances of persuading anyone that what we’ve got here is “a meditation on violence in the media, and how the media shapes an event” are not great.

Berlinger was an interesting choice to make “Book of Shadows.” He’s been primarily a documentary director up to now, which fits with the fake-doc aspects of the original “Blair.” And his best-known works, “Brother’s Keeper” and “Paradise Lost,” were filmed in milieus similar to the rural environs of Burkittsville, Md., population 200, where both “Blairs” are set.

Berlinger’s sequel, in fact, does come up with a plausible premise, one that plays with the fact that the original’s Web site fooled many viewers into thinking that its tall tale of three young people who disappeared tracking a legendary witch was true. It doesn’t continuethe first film’s story but concentrates on another youthful group whose members, like many of their peers, saw the film and can’t decide if it was real or not.

“Book of Shadows” opens in this playful mode, with a mini-mockumentary about the effect “Blair Witch” had on Burkittsville, which was invaded by true believers (Berlinger gives himself an amusing cameo as one of them) intent on buying authentic Blair stones and sacks of bona fide Black Hills dirt.

But as if suddenly remembering what kind of film it’s supposed to be, “Book of Shadows” gets down to the formulaic and mostly unfunny business of putting together what becomes a piece of standard scare fare, full of people screaming, vanishing and saying, “I think something really bad has happened.”

First comes the introduction of the victims, led by Burkittsville native Jeff (Jeffrey Donovan), who missed the “Blair” opening due to an enforced visit to a mental hospital but made up for that by seeing the film 17 times once he got out. A “Blair” entrepreneur, he’s begun a new business called “Blair Witch Hunt--Tours by Appointment,” and we get to go along on his maiden minibus voyage. “We provide the amenities,” he feebly jokes; “you risk certain death and dismemberment.”

Along for the ride are Tristen (Tristen Skyler) and Stephen (Stephen Barker Turner), a couple working on a book to be called “Blair Witch: Hysteria or History” that looks to combine his rationalism and her belief. Also on the bus are Kim (Kim Director), a Morticia look-alike who has some ill-defined psychic powers, and Erica (Erica Leerhsen), a Wiccan or modern-day witch who is irate that “ ‘Blair Witch’ set us back 300 years, ruined our image.”

Out this group troops to some picturesque Black Hills ruins, the very spot where the original “Blair Witch” videotapes were allegedly found. Erica hopes to contact the actual 18th century witch, Elly Kedward, and use her as her mentor, and indications are she may have succeeded too well.

The one night the group spends in the woods, not to mention the succeeding time they hang out in Jeff’s dilapidated residence, an abandoned broom factory (brooms, get it?), is filled with all kinds of strange and inexplicable doings that seem like witch-inspired mayhem. Or do they? That’s the gimmick in a nutshell.

Despite some visual tricks and persistent flash-forwards, “Book of Shadows” is very conventional at heart with something of a Roger Corman horror-film feeling about it. Attempting to do things differently than the original “Blair,” it allows blood on screen and shows knives poking around where you wouldn’t want them to be, but by the standards of the genre doesn’t qualify as excessive.

Audiences who show up for the reason Kim gives for signing up for the tour--”I thought the movie was cool”--may not be so taken with the witch this time around.

* MPAA rating: R, for violence, language, sexuality and drug use. Times guidelines: some re-created murders but not overly gory for the genre.

‘Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2’

Kim Director: Kim

Jeffrey Donovan: Jeff

Erica Leerhsen: Erica

Tristen Skyler: Tristen

Stephen Barker Turner: Stephen

Released by Artisan Entertainment. Director Joe Berlinger. Producer Bill Carraro. Executive producers Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sanchez. Screenplay Dick Beebe and Joe Berlinger. Cinematographer Nancy Schreiber. Editor Sarah Flack. Costumes Melissa Toth. Music Carter Burwell. Production design Vince Peranio. Art director Rob Simons. Set decorator Susan Kessel. Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes.

In general release.