A hype never seen before, or probably again turned the made for peanuts horror The Blair Witch Project into a huge success. It was a film that divided the movie going public like never before. You either hated it, or you loved it.

Luckily, or unluckily if you happen to be one of the makers of Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2, this film will not do that. People will just hate it. I am not a big hater of sequels but this film proves the theory of diminishing returns like no other (with the possible exception of the Howling sequels).

Things get off to a great start, it begins with a mock documentary with the towns people of the Maryland town complaining about the place being overrun with gorehounds, who want to see where it all took place. After this though it all goes down hill, with the brave souls being led into the woods on a witch hunt tour by Jeffrey Donovan. On the tour are Erica Leerhsen, who is a practising witch and Tristen Skyler and Stephen Baker Turner, who are writing a book about the Blair witch. Also along for the rider is Goth Kim Director, who has psychic abilities and a smart mouth.

After a night of drink and drugs at one of the most sinister sites, they wake up to find that their camera is destroyed. Luckily the tapes are fine, so their take cover in an abandoned house and watch the Video evidence. There then follows a nightmare of violent supernatural terror. Which unfortunately is as insipid as it comes, with mild shocks that show why it managed a 15 certificate.

Director Joe Belinger directs competently, but must take some of the blame for the weak script as he co-wrote it. The unknown actors give performances that will ensure they remain unknown and the whole film is a very poor relation of it’s better predecessor.

Of course the success of the original will almost guarantee the success of this one, but that is no reason for going to see. Avoid this unless you like mildly scary thrills.