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The Blair Witch branches out

Sites, sequel and games add to the myth

BY ERIC GRIFFITH

A scene from the Blair Witch-inspired computer game Rustin Parr.

Let's face it, when it comes to last year's hit film "The Blair Witch Project," there are two kinds of people: those who found it the height of annoyance and those who consider it a modern horror film classic.

If you're among the latter, you'll be happy to know that the centuries-old presence haunting Burkittsville, Md., a myth created by the original directors from Haxan Films, is ready to scare you even more in games and on the big screen—without the jittery camcorder cinematography.

The sequel, "Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2," opened in theaters Oct. 27. The new movie eschews the fake documentary style of the original, but its producers hope the Web helps generate a huge audience, as it did for the first film. The Blair Witch Legend and the Rustin Parr site, about a hermit driven mad by the witch, add an extra layer of depth to the film with background information and video.

The mythology continues to expand, now into computer games. Gathering of Developers is publishing three games, each set in a different century, but all tied to the witch and all using the same game engine as Nocturne, last year's scary hit 3-D game.

The first game, Rustin Parr, focuses on investigating what drove the man to kill in the early 1940s. The second, The Legend of Coffin Rock, takes place in the post- Civil War era, featuring woods filled with witch-created spookiness. The final volume is The Elly Kedward Tale, which focuses on the origins of the witch herself in 1786. Each game is expected to sell for $19.99; the first two are available now.

So prepare to get scared, minus the camcorder effects this time.

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Haxan Films
www.haxan.com

The Blair Witch Legend
www.blairwitch.com

Rustin Parr
www.rustinparr.com

Blair Witch Projects
www.godgames.com/games/blair