The "Morphing Sound"

[simon]

You know the one. I have to say that this particular sound disturbed me more than any other part of the film. You can hear it on this clip at 1:03:



This sound generated some sleepless nights during my childhood and whenever I watch the film, I'm still chilled by it.

It doesn't sound like a child at all, although I've heard some speculate that one of the children was saying "rawr." One fan suggested it might be the sound of a "portal" to some other realm opening, allowing the ghosts of the children through.

Personally, I think it may have been the Blair Witch. It's exactly what I'd imagine an animal/human hybrid - much like the Witch as described by Mary Brown - would sound like.

[Tweek]

Sounds like a child's voice to me. But it could be something else. If you factor in what the new film adds to the mythology then a lot of things are possible.

Imagine what the actors in the tent thought, hearing that for the first time.

[simon]

Jan 21, 2017 14:57:08 GMT -6 Tweek said:

Sounds like a child's voice to me. But it could be something else. If you factor in what the new film adds to the mythology then a lot of things are possible.

I suppose it could have been some sadistic-minded child trying to make a really scary 'monster' noise. I think the children we hear were the boys who went into the woods to torture Elly. They sound a lot happier than the 7 would have been and you can also clearly hear dogs barking. If I'm not mistaken, the kids brought their dogs to the tree and sicced them on her.

I'm actually planning on buying and watching the new film tonight and catching up with you guys. The reception from both non-fans and fans seemed to be generally negative, but I was pleasantly surprised by Book of Shadows. Unless they completely perverted things, it'll be so cool just to be back in that universe!

Imagine what the actors in the tent thought, hearing that for the first time.

I can't even fathom it. Mike sounds genuinely terrified, and he later said that this was the most frightening moment for him.

[handel]

This exact noise has ALWAYS freaked me out too! I was actually disappointed when I rented the movie the first time and upped the volume so I could hear everything in the background because I thought it'd be more of that like, retching, almost animalistic (or at least very nonhuman) sound. The sound of kids would be freaky irl but doesn't do much for me in horror movies :/ I always assumed it was 'the witch'. Kinda fits with Mary Brown's description of Elly being all hairy and having hooves, plus that scene is where they had a dude dress up in white rags and run around off camera –– referenced when Heather screams 'what the fuck is that!?'

So maybe it was the sound that thing made.

Or I guess it could just be the kids.

[BlairWitchProjectFan1]

That sound sounded totally eerie. You hear it after you hear Heather whisper ''What is that sound?''

[sticksstonesteeth]

Nasty. Really creepy. I think hearing that in the dead of the night would be beyond terrifying.

[tizerist]

Jan 21, 2017 14:57:08 GMT -6 Tweek said:

Sounds like a child's voice to me. But it could be something else. If you factor in what the new film adds to the mythology then a lot of things are possible.

Imagine what the actors in the tent thought, hearing that for the first time.

I already mentioned before that in the Special Edition, the sounds are different, more evil. No childs voice. So I think that most of these sounds were added after.

[sticksstonesteeth]

Could you upload clips of that or have you been able to find any on the internet, tizerist? I'm sure we'd all love to heard the different version.

[Woll]

There are at least two TBWP workprints going around online. Their versions of the tent scene contain sounds that sound more like children. Josh (or Mike?) tries to calm Heather down after they hear a baby screaming. The baby scream is present in the workprints, but not in the main movie, but it is referred to. The morphing sound is still present in both. I'd edit and upload the scenes, but my computer keeps crapping out when I try.

[Woll]

Feb 5, 2017 15:47:35 GMT -6 Woll said:

There are at least two TBWP workprints going around online. Their versions of the tent scene contain sounds that sound more like children. Josh (or Mike?) tries to calm Heather down after they hear a baby screaming. The baby scream is present in the workprints, but not in the main movie, but it is referred to. The morphing sound is still present in both. I'd edit and upload the scenes, but my computer keeps crapping out when I try.

I got one of the workprints to not crash my editing software.



I'll convert the other version later to another format so maybe I'll be able to upload it as well.

[Monrozombi]

at 1:03 it sounds like Heather breathing in like she's catching her breath

[Heather, taking a piss.]

Feb 7, 2017 4:35:25 GMT -6 Woll said:

Feb 5, 2017 15:47:35 GMT -6 Woll said:

There are at least two TBWP workprints going around online. Their versions of the tent scene contain sounds that sound more like children. Josh (or Mike?) tries to calm Heather down after they hear a baby screaming. The baby scream is present in the workprints, but not in the main movie, but it is referred to. The morphing sound is still present in both. I'd edit and upload the scenes, but my computer keeps crapping out when I try.

I got one of the workprints to not crash my editing software.



I'll convert the other version later to another format so maybe I'll be able to upload it as well.

Thanks so much for this.
Editing went beyond video, I hear. Glad, baby sounds like a pig.

[sticksstonesteeth]

That is just terrifying, I love it.

[hauntedforest]

I was going to buy the blu-ray version for better picture and sound but I also read that it isn't much better than standard since it wasn't meant for blu-ray quality. Is that the special edition you're talking about? Also, I don't hear anything. I hear the baby sounding demonic before they turn their lights on but that's it.

[tizerist]

Blu Ray is slightly better footage wise.
The special edition is Separate, with little changes here and there. VHS only, I imagine.
And the sounds, in commercial version there is baby / children noises, as opposed to the SE's demonic hissing and rasping.

[Monrozombi]

Jun 18, 2017 19:17:39 GMT -6 tizerist said:

Blu Ray is slightly better footage wise.
The special edition is Separate, with little changes here and there. VHS only, I imagine.
And the sounds, in commercial version there is baby / children noises, as opposed to the SE's demonic hissing and rasping.

when you say Special Edition and commercial version what do you mean? There's only one version of the film released on home video

[tizerist]

Commercial as in, it's available for purchase. Maybe mainstream was a better word. The SE is only available for home viewing by sending PM's to people on this site AFAIK.

[Monrozombi]

oh ok. You mean the sundance cut then as in SE i'm assuming.

[morphius]

Jan 21, 2017 14:48:31 GMT -6 simon said:

You know the one. I have to say that this particular sound disturbed me more than any other part of the film. You can hear it on this clip at 1:03:



This sound generated some sleepless nights during my childhood and whenever I watch the film, I'm still chilled by it.

It doesn't sound like a child at all, although I've heard some speculate that one of the children was saying "rawr." One fan suggested it might be the sound of a "portal" to some other realm opening, allowing the ghosts of the children through.

Personally, I think it may have been the Blair Witch. It's exactly what I'd imagine an animal/human hybrid - much like the Witch as described by Mary Brown - would sound like.

[morphius]

Wtf are some of you saying that weird morphing sound that sounds like a demon/ audio tape being slowed down is definitely not a fucking child. You know it's the devil/demon voice sound made by the witch. You can tell because as soon as they hear that sound the 3 campers start freaking out saying OMG, Jesus Christ, and quickly and nervously start moving around and gathering their things. Yes there is also kids playing and on that filtered version u can hear the baby crying/scream. I couldn't hear that in the regular movie. From the earlier post the author says "you know the one" at 1:03 of the video they posted. That sound made the movie actually scary and hands down the best part of the movie.It is definitely the Witch and it's definitely a satanic/demonic voice sounds like she saying the word waaaaait!!!! But it's slowed down like playing a music tape on slow motion.or Maybe she's yelling at the kids she brought to her house b4 she cut them because they're playing around and she reused it on the campers. I tell my friend imagine if we were camping together or solo deep on the Appalachian trail in the mountains and we heard something like that at 2:00am.... fuck that I'm definitely not taking the time to grab a camera or fucking audio equipment, I'm running, I would welcome hearing a bear or wild animal or even ghost children playing but not that demonic devilish sound at 1:03 of video on this page that shits definitely not of this world!!

[Tweek]

Had I been in that tent there would be no footage. I'd have likely destroyed the tent getting out and left the camera far behind. And I wouldn't stop running until I found the car. Or the witch got me

[jchisholm]

The other version with the baby crying or screaming is far more scary and creepy. I didn't know that it existed and I always remember Heather mentioning that when they run away from the tent. The eerie sound though at 1:03 sounds more like the witch attacking the children. 

[jchisholm]

I wonder why they didn't go with the alternate tent scene?

[pocketcheeseburger]

this has always been the creepiest part of the movie to me. that sound kept me up at night a lot as a kid. i've always wanted to know what it was supposed to be, but i feel like if i did it would ruin how scary it was