10 Horror Movie Flops That Everyone Saw Coming

The Blair Witch Project was a surprise hit thanks to an innovative marketing campaign and effective use of the handheld camera style of storytelling. Unnerving viewers more by implication than any major effects or set pieces, the film left people with a lot of questions that could only be answered in a follow-up.

Book of Shadows aims to expand upon the original, but only succeeds in scuppering everything that made it stand out. The shaky, handheld style is ditched in favour of conventional third person cinema, immediately stripping the film of some of its predecessor’s signature appeal. 

The film hits a few of the story beats from the original, but due to the tension-free filmmaking and rather questionable acting, it comes across as almost a Nickelodeon parody of the story. While the twist ending is surprisingly neat and could’ve been chilling with a better film before it, Book of Shadows offers little merit. 

The film was unsurprisingly thrown in the trash by critics and audiences alike, with many criticising its largely formulaic plot and lack of respect for the original. From the get-go, it was clear this was more of a quick cash grab than a valid, authentic continuation of the story.