'The Blair Witch Project'

Nothing rocked the socks off us kids more than The Blair Witch Project. Everyone now would like to pretend it wasn't creepy as shit or that it was terribly overrated.

Instead, it was a miracle in filmmaking, guerrilla in nature and a marvel in marketing.

First, the marketing. Before the film even came out, the studio unveiled a multi-pronged multi-media marketing campaign, probably one of the most extensive that almost primarily utilized the Internet to create a deafening buzz about their film. There was a website along with fake news stories and reports concerning the disappearance of three university filmmakers in the Maryland woods while making a documentary about a witch legend.

The rumors that it was a hoax was a mere whisper, a passing breeze.

The film came and it rocked us to the core. The pace was frightening. The minimal build-up dashes directly into this unforgiving, desperate situation involving these three people, almost strangers tied together in this shocking turn of events.

The "cast" were given directions in milk cartons and each individual were given direction in their attitudes and behaviors. They were harrassed at night and deprived of food and sleep. If they looked like shit, it's because they no doubt felt like it. If they look terrified, it's probably because they were a little.

It ended as every horror film -- everyone dying.

Those who deem it overrated are too chicken to admit it was pretty scary, and to deny that it wasn't a brilliant move in marketing and creating a film is insane.