Review by Kelly Parks

THE LAST BROADCAST - 1998 FFM Productions / Wavelength Releasing Rating: USA: Unrated

Okay, let's get it out of the way. I don't care what you've heard THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT is NOT a rip off of THE LAST BROADCAST. Once you've seen both (no one who hasn't seen both is permitted to comment!) I feel certain you'll agree.

Yes, there are similarities. Both involve footage recovered from a doomed expedition into the woods. But in THE LAST BROADCAST the scary video is a small part of the film, rather than the whole story as in THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT. And yes, I am aware that originally Blair Witch was going to be in more of a documentary style, like the sci-fi channel special THE CURSE OF THE BLAIR WITCH. But it's the finished product that matters, and that's what I'm comparing.

THE LAST BROADCAST (written and directed by Stefan Avalos and Lance Weiler) is presented as a documentary about an incident involving a cable access TV show called "Fact or Fiction?". The show interviewed local psychics and other similar individuals. To boost sagging ratings the show's two hosts, Steven Avkast (Stefan Avalos) and Locus Wheeler (Lance Weiler) decide to do a live broadcast from New Jersey's remote Pine Barrens region to investigate a legendary monster called the Jersey Devil. They hire a young guy named Jim Suerd (Jim Seward) who claims to have psychic abilities (but who is actually an amateur magician) to lead them to the best campsite in the woods. Sound man Rein Clackin (Rein Clabbers) completes the group.

The film maker and narrator, David Leigh (David Beard), tells us up front that Suerd is the only survivor of this expedition. The bloody bodies of Wheeler and Clackin are found by police near the camp site. Avkast's body is never found; a large pool of blood and his wool cap are all that's left. Shortly afterward Suerd is charged with the murders, convicted, and sentenced to life. Life is short for Suerd, who dies in prison after a few months.

Leigh's documentary centers around the question of Suerd's guilt or innocence. And if Suerd didn't do it, then who or what did? And what secrets are contained on a tangled mess of video tape anonymously mailed to the film maker?

The film is interesting and has some creepy moments, but it's not even in the same ball park as Blair Witch (and that's the last time I'll mention that). There's a confusing transition at one point between the documentary style that makes up most of the movie and actual "movie" acting. The surprise ending is not bad, but a little hokey. I give it three shriek girls.

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