The horror genre is in a bit of a renaissance right now. Rather than stale franchises and torture porn, there are new and original horror movies hitting theaters every few months. Acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh is even getting in on the action, with his new psychological thriller Unsane. The film has been getting a ton of press for it being completely shot on an iPhone, but horror fans will also be pleased with its cast. Playing opposite The Crown's Claire Foy is actor Joshua Leonard, who is perhaps best known for his iconic role in 1999's The Blair Witch Project. I recently asked him what he thought of the state of the genre, especially in the wake of Get Out's recent Oscar win. The Unsane star told me,
I was so glad that Get Out got recognized, because it was as technically great and socially relevant and well written and executed as any of the other movies last year. I think it's another example of a film that plays as a traditional thriller, but also Trojan Horses its way into other issues that are socially relevant. And that's one of the great things from the genre. And I love that we're moving farther away from the slasher film and the kill count, to the opportunity to say something, but do it in a fun and scary way.
Joshua Leonard has seen the horror genre go in many places in the nearly 20 years since he made his debut in The Blair Witch Project, especially in the past few years. With Get Out having broken the door for horror movies to possibly become award fodder, it seems like the future is wide open for future thrillers to possibly get nominations.
Get Out is one of the most widely successful films of last year, and Jordan Peele's directorial debut quickly became a massive pop culture moment. The film tackled difficult issues of race, while also providing plenty of scares and fun for audiences. It's this tradition that Joshua Leonard seems to hope continues. Just because a movie is scary doesn't necessarily mean that it can't also have a message. Other than run away from danger.
Meanwhile, Unsane is tackling its own set of issues. The psychological thriller centers around a woman named Sawyer Valentini (Claire Foy) who is suffering from trauma related to her stalker (Joshua Leonard). In addition to bringing attention to issues revolving around mental health issues, it also seems to be making a statement about the mental health and system in the country. Sawyer is essentially tricked into being admitted, which may or may not have to do with her medical insurance's ability to pay for a week's stay.
You can judge the message of Unsane for yourself now, as it's currently in theaters. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
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The Blair Witch Project - Wikipedia
Watch The Blair Witch Project 1999 Full Movie Online in HD. In October of 1994 three student filmmakers disappeared in the woods near Burkittsville, Maryland, while shooting a documentary.
The Blair Witch Project | Horror Film Wiki - horror.fandom.com
The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 American supernatural horror film written, directed and edited by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez.It tells the fictional story of three student filmmakers—Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, and Joshua Leonard—who hike in the Black Hills near Burkittsville, Maryland in 1994 to film a documentary about a local legend known as the Blair Witch.
Watch The Blair Witch Project Online Free | Full Movie
Joshua Leonard, Actor: The Blair Witch Project. A filmmaker, writer, and actor, Joshua Leonard has made an indelible mark on independent film and television throughout his career. He first came onto the scene in 1999 with lo-fi sensation The Blair Witch Project, perhaps one of the most talked about indie films of all time.
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The Blair Witch Project's ending was conceived out of the need to end on a creepy note, but without revealing the witch herself. There are a number of theories over what happens in the final scene, but the most commonly accepted is that the Blair Witch lured Heather and Mike to the house and killed them.
Joshua Leonard - IMDb
The 1999 horror movie "The Blair Witch Project" was not real, until it was, much to the chagrin of a small Christian town. and Joshua Leonard "disappeared in the Black Hills Forest in 1991
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In 1999, The Blair Witch Project premiered in theaters, firmly cementing the found-footage genre as a huge horror moneymaker. The film was made on a shoestring budget of around $22,000 to $35,000
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The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 American horror film written and directed by Eduardo Sanchez and Daniel Myrick. It was one of the first films to utilize the "found footage" filiming technique. It was one of the first films to utilize the "found footage" filiming technique.
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