The Blair Witch Project vs. Cloverfield vs. Open Water vs. Paranormal Activity?

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

You're feeding yourself a line, friend. Detractors of the film are predominantly those who realize that atmosphere only goes so far; if there's not even a shred of payoff, the audience just got played.

In my experience regarding this film, those who dislike it overwhelmingly do because of its marketing. It's the same with a film like 2001. About half the detractors don't like the film because they don't understand it, and the other half don't because of its hype. Same for Cloverfield, same for many other films. It becomes less about distaste for the film and more about distaste for what the film stands for.

How can you possibly say there wasn't a payoff?

[Show spoiler]The whole movie you wonder if the Blair Witch is real or not real. The last scene, which many on this site consider one of the most chilling in film history, is one of the best horror payoffs--standing in the corner equals the Blair Witch is real equals they're about to die, as per the story of how she kills people. Dropping the camera and having that as the last scene is undoubtedly one of the great decisions in horror movie history

On that note, what's the payoff of Cloverfield and how is it possibly a greater payoff than Blair Witch? I believe it has a payoff but that payoff is infinitely weaker (and I like the film quite a bit).