Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 Content: -4

After the stunning success of the original, its no surprise to see a sequel to 1999s big profit maker, THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT. This time, once more supposedly based on a true story, four college students and their tour guide, Jeff (Jeffrey Donovan), hike into the Burkettville woods to investigate a house where murders of seven children occurred in the 1940s. But after camping only one night, they realize that none of them can remember five hours of the previous evening. Added to the fact that their video equipment and written records have been destroyed, the mystery grows. Luckily, they find their videotapes still intact, and head back to Jeffs place to investigate further. However, the events that follow change their lives forever. Blair Witch 2 makes some clever references to the original film, but lacks any truly scary moments. Its unlikely to gain the popularity of its predecessor.

Much was made of the occultic elements in the first film; however, witchcraft seems much more prominent in this sequel. One of the characters is even a member of the Wiccan religion associated with witches. The main focus of the Wiccan religion is harmony in nature, and spells are used to promote that harmony. Therefore, Wiccans (in the movie) feel more sympathetic to the Blair Witch than others, viewing her as a person much like themselves. While the extended commercial for Wicca is a concern, other elements are more disturbing, with graphic violence and an odd, sexual orgy of sorts. Eighty obscenities and 22 regular profanities heavily pollute the dialogue. Occultic elements, graphic violence, disturbing sexual practices, and frequent foul language in Blair Witch 2 should scare most viewers away.

Preview Reviewer: John Adair
Distributor: Artisan Entertainment, 2700 Colorado Ave., Second Floor, Santa Monica, CA 90404