The idea of the Blair Witch being in the woods and the associated superstitions in the local area are based on the true story. For example, the tales of people going missing in those woods were part of the real - life legend that the movie incorporated. Also, the sense of an otherworldly presence in the forest was inspired by the true story. It made the movie feel very grounded in a real - world horror concept.
The basic premise of a witch in the Blair Woods and the disappearances in that area are from the true story. The movie took these core elements and built its horror around them.
Well, the legend of the Blair Witch was about a witch who haunted the woods in Maryland. In the movie, the setting in the woods, the fear of something unknown lurking there, and the disappearances of the characters mirror the real - life stories. The movie also took the concept of the local superstitions and the general unease about the Blair Witch area and turned it into a full - fledged horror story, with the characters getting lost and experiencing terrifying events similar to what was rumored to have happened in real life.