I’m gonna just go ahead and post some of my notes I wrote for our podcast episode. I stepped away from this rewatch having SO many thoughts, and I didn’t feel like rewriting all of it. If you like what you read, feel free to tune in. I talk further about everything here as well as a few more things. Also, my sister has good thoughts too so you may enjoy that. Otherwise, here’s from my notes. They may be a bit messy because I use them as prompts when recording. Consider this a peek at my thought process. I’ll clean things up where necessary.
Hot Take: The Blair Witch Project is a Tragic Feminist Tale:
Yes, I know, another hot take from Melvin. And I get that. Here’s Why I Know It’s a Hot Take:
- The film was written and directed by men (Daniel Myrick & Eduardo Sánchez). IMDB lists Rei Hance as an uncredited writer but I couldn’t find evidence of this.
- The 3 main characters of the story were originally written as all men. However, the character of Heather Donahue was created because Rei’s audition was so impressive that they wanted her to be the lead. So, as far back as preproduction, the film was never intended to be a story about, or even involving, women.
- “But nothing happens in the movie! How is it about anything?”, which isn’t an entirely incorrect statement. The gang argues, the gang screams, and the gang is presumably missing.
For a lot of people the movie isn’t particularly profound or trying anything different. And that’s a totally fair read. And yet… may I present to you:
Art comes from a source, and that source gives context, but art also becomes its own thing. Art stands on its own apart from its creators just as much as its creators impact the art.
Let’s Look Further at the Context and Content of the Film:
On the 90’s:
Third-Wave Feminism in full swing. Gen X women born in the 60s having a “coming-of-age” moment regarding a world of women’s Federal Rights but clear social limitations.
Intrinsic qualities of manhood and womanhood are questioned. Why are they gendered? Are not good qualities in a woman as deserved as good qualities in a man?
Revival of Post-Modernism. Curious and academic skepticism and relativism. A broadening of understanding the functions of society and a person’s place in it.
Often connected to Third-Wave Feminism as Women born to newfound privilege earned by their predecessors now exist in new spaces. Think on it: Second-Wave yearned for the rights of equal workplace opportunity, but now Third-Wave was existing in that space and was learning so much.
Fresh eyes on old-concepts permitted a new outlook on pre-established patriarchal systems and boys-clubs. People then questioned: Why is it this way?
On the Historical Fiction of The Blair Witch Project:
The Blair Witch myth is about a woman named Elly Kedward accused of witchcraft and promptly killed thereafter.
Children accused her of draining their blood, presumably for potions and other such witchcraft.
Witch-Trials are historically understood as misogynistic acts of mass hysteria.
Interviewed by The Guardian, Historical Author Lucy Worsley spoke about the relationship between witch hunts and modern day misogyny:
“Today, ever so many people, but perhaps women in particular, feel a sense of kinship with our ancestors who were persecuted in this way. Anyone who has ever been put down as a ‘difficult’ woman hears a distant echo of the past.” -Lucy Worsley
Some men were tried for being witches, but largely women. Women would be tried because they exhibited qualities that seemed deranged for women: any comprehension of education, “mouthy”, or anything one could reduce to merely being “irritating to a man in power”.
Some accounts stated Elly Kedward was tied to a tree and left in the forest during a particularly grueling winter. Others merely say she died after being left in exile.
Following the events of her death, each child that accused her of witchcraft went missing.
People feared they were cursed and subsequently abandoned the town of Blair thereafter. It would remain abandoned until 40-years later when Burkittsville was founded.
On Heather Donahue’s Ambition:
Heather Donahue, curious about the myth and history of the Blair Witch, hires two men, Michael and Josh, to help in her student project.
Heather is an educated, confident, self-determined woman.
These are characteristics many gender traditionalists would call inherently manly. She exhibits qualities that would lead toward a witch-trial.
Heather is not only the leader of the crew but is also the only woman out of the three party members.
Rei Hance said she was warned by friends about the project, worried she was actually being tricked to be murdered. Whether this was a legitimate fear or merely a joke, who knows, but she stated that she did bring a knife with her for protection. (Editor’s Note: The original Paper Magazine interview seems missing, and the Wayback Machine, as of 2.18.26 is seemingly not working. So, here’s Showbiz Cheat Sheet quoting the interview)
Knives are a common thing to take with you when hiking or camping, so, again, this could be nothing more than some humor. Even so, it cannot be understated the relative danger a woman has in the presence of two men while alone in the woods. For, if it is inherent in men to conquer, express violence, and dominate the weak, then she would be absurd not to fear violence from them… no? At least, that’s what Doug Wilson thinks. /sarcasm
As for the character, Heather remains largely stoic, enduring Michael and Josh’s constant complaints, unkind banter, and general nastiness. Ironically, Heather showcases self-control whereas Michael and Josh constantly express a complete disregard for self-control – some might even say they become emotional – even down to Michael’s later revelation regarding his irresponsible demeanor.
It is typically understood among women that they must carry themselves a certain way, understanding they endure enhanced scrutiny for wrongdoing, whether intentional or not, solely because of their perceived gender.
Men are often handwaved for their irresponsibility as “boys being boys”, something that never goes away when they become men.
And, on men, when women exhibit qualities traditionally considered manly, the second they break under pressure and return to “being a woman” in their actions, they are reduced back to the worst thing many men can imagine: being a woman.
When Heather breaks down it’s a moment of deep shame. It hurts moreso than anyone else breaking down. Because its a reminder for Heather about what she is to these men: not their boss, not their leader; a woman.
Metatextually, My Feelings Remain Strong:
Rei Hance’s relationship with The Blair Witch Project can be attributed to, in some regards, misogyny. Not only was she “awarded” a Worst Actress Award for the 20th Razzies, she also stated she had difficulty getting work after the film released due to the atmosphere cultivated with the project:
The Blair Witch Project didn’t coordinate with SAG so there were no union benefits afforded to its actors. This lead to weird workplace contracts preventing the team from being in future projects. You know… because the film was treated as REAL and if these actors appeared in other projects that would undermine the legitimacy of the project.
The incredible success of the project, due to non-union contract with the film, led to many legal disputes.
These issues have also affected Michael C Williams and Joshua Leanord.
These conversations have been ongoing as recent as 2024 when news of a Blair Witch reboot circulated, as all three actors were requesting some form of compensation for their work and longstanding impact with the film. (Editor’s Note: Here’s a summary)
Even as recent as July 24th, 2025, has Michael C. Williams posted on Instagram about a positive conversation he had with Lionsgate and Blumhouse about future compensation.
“While I wont get into details, I can say that after 26 years, I finally feel like a valued contributor to the world of The Blair Witch Project”. -Michael C. Williams
So, What SPECIFICALLY Makes The Blair Witch Project a Feminist Tragedy?:
On Heather:
Heather, an ambitious woman of the 90s hires two men to complete a project.
Heather is almost constantly criticized by her crew, seldom receiving support from either party.
Heather maintains her composure, a massive contrast to Michael and Josh who are constantly acting by the seat of their pants. Heather only lets out small moments of self-criticism (like when she has her documentary monologue by the lake), then loses it towards the end when a certain distrustful act takes place.
Heather understands the responsibility of her project and the two men she is leading into the woods, and is no doubt aware of the precarious situation she has cultivated herself. Heather is a woman, and although she is acting in ways only a woman of the 90s can, she understands this basic biological fact: she is a woman compared to two men. If, for any reason, either man chose violence, their act is likely to be fulfilled regardless of her desire.
On The Blair Witch:
Elly Kedward is a woman suffering the consequences of a witch-trial that may or may not have been legitimate. A woman who lives during a time wherein woman’s rights, which federally would not be recognized for centuries and socially had been reductive since time in memoriam, were subject to men’s wrongs.
As stated earlier, women of intelligence and confidence were demonized. Blaming women for witchcraft can simply be a replacement for finding it annoying that a woman is merely smarter than another.
A bit of a stretch here (but, I’ve also been doing nothing but gymnastics this whole time so bear with me), Ecofeminism is a school of thought born in the mid 70s (2nd wave Feminism) wherein the relationship between women and nature was observed in contrast to men and malehood. In short Ecofeminism was a response to observed social constructs: Men treating both women and the whole of nature as something to conquer and own like property. Men are expected to be world changers and culture makers while women are expected to maintain the Earth beneath a man’s feet by tilling their garden, for men have far too many important tasks to complete. The response then is that both women and nature ought to be treated respectfully, independently, and with reverence to their intrinsic power and beauty.
So, when I think of a woman being tried for witchcraft, exiled from town, tied to a tree, and left for dead during a cold winter… well… It’s as though the soil of Blair is cursed with revenge for Elly Kedward’s death.
On The Two Meeting Together:
Heather exists in a world Elly, or any woman of old, could barely dream of. Heather is in academia for goodness sake! She’s hired two men to be her employees for a project. Heather is independent and her tenacity is thick.
Sometimes when we see others who have what we want… well… sometimes we get violent. Sometimes when we come into possession of power, yet are unable to supersede that which presides over us, we then lash out at those beneath us.
So, I just read this movie as this tragic mix between two types of women:
- The nihilistic “No matter how much better it gets you will ALWAYS be less than a man” kind of woman in Elly Kedward’s Blair Witch jealousy.
- The ambitious “I exist in an age cultivated by the work of countless women and men who sought to get me where I am today, and I am ready to seize the day” kind of woman in Heather Donahue’s modern, free lifestyle.
The tragedy is in how easy it is for beautiful, ambitious, intuitive women to be beaten down by the circumstances surrounding them, whether it be the irresponsibility of the men around her or the nihilistic outlook of the women beside her.
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Melvin Benson is the Founder, Editor-In-Chief, and Lead Host of Cinematic Doctrine. Whether it’s a movie, show, game, comic, or novel, it doesn’t matter. As long as it’s rich, he’s ready and willing to give it a try! His hope is to see King Jesus glorified as far as the east is from the west!
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