The Blair Witch Project officially returns next month to terrify audiences once more. One of the biggest “indie” movies ever made, The Blair Witch Project set the gold standard for viral marketing, changing the way studios sold their films. The movie blurred the lines between fact and fiction in a way mainstream audiences were not prepared for, which just increased its notoriety even more.

Released in 1999, The Blair Witch Project helped popularize the “found footage” genre, which existed at the time primarily on the fringes of the horror genre. Shot with handheld cameras and using unknown actors, The Blair Witch Project purported to be footage of the last days of a group of college students making a documentary about the titular witch. The film’s marketing took it a step further: when it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 1999, promotional materials were doctored up to resemble missing persons flyers with the actor’s faces.

When The Blair Witch Project went into wide release that summer, it became an unexpected box-office hit. Fueled by massive internet hype, as well as unsuspecting moviegoers who could not quite tell if it was real or not, The Blair Witch Project became one of the most profitable movies ever made, grossing back its budget many times over. Now, Lionsgate Limited is bringing out a new and definitive edition of the movie, with new cuts available in America for the first time.

The Blair Witch Project Returns In A New Blu-Ray Edition

This New Release Of The Blair Witch Project Will Feature Two New Cuts Of The Movie

Earlier this year, Lionsgate Limited, which produces collector’s editions of movies from its extensive catalog, announced The Blair Witch Project: Definitive Collector’s Edition on blu-ray. The release, which is available exclusively on Lionsgate Limited’s website, features three different cuts of the movie, all approved by the directors. These editions of The Blair Witch Project have been made available for overseas release, and The Definitive Collector’s Edition marks their stateside debut. All cuts have been restored from the original film elements.

The Blair Witch Project: Definitive Collector’s Edition will also come loaded with bonus features, many of which were available on previous releases, but have also long been out of circulation. Among the legacy features include audio commentaries, the Curse of the Blair Witch mockumentary and a host of other behind the scenes mini-documentaries. This release will also come with new features, such as interviews with the cast, as well as an exploration of the film’s legacy.

Finally, the packaging of The Blair Witch Project: The Definitive Edition will be a delight for collectors as well. It will arrive with new box art, as well as a poster by illustrator Ken Taylor, and a 104-page book filled with behind-the-scenes’ information as well as handwritten journals.

The Blair Witch Project Continues To Scare Audiences

There was nothing else quite like The Blair Witch Project when it arrived in theaters. 1999 was a stand-out year for movies, and The Blair Witch Project had maybe the biggest buzz of any film released that year save The Phantom Menace. A combination of factors came together at the right moment in time, and helped create a pop culture phenomenon that still exerts a hold over audiences, as evidenced by the sequels and remakes. A new remake is due out next year.

And while fans wait to see if this new take on The Blair Witch Project will live up to the original, they can revisit the classic that started it all in a new Blu-ray edition. With its bounty of extra features, this new release will have something for everyone, whether they are new to The Blair Witch Project, or were scared out of their wits the first time around.