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The Woods
DVD/APPROX. 91 MINS/2006/USA UNRATED
DVD/APPROX. 91 MINS/2006/USA UNRATED
Sometimes being named 'Lucky' just isn't enough. Lucky McKee, director of the wonderful slow-burn mind fuck Frankenstein wannabe May, had to
eat a big pile of bad luck with his latest film, The Woods. Tragically shelved when it became caught up in the company merger of UA and MGM, and
then a Sony buy-out, it was then dumped unceremoniously direct to DVD, where hopefully it will have a second life.
McKee, who is also known for the unusual 'Sick Girl' episode of Masters of Horror, directs here a first time script by David Ross with an outstanding
cast that includes the lovely Agnes Bruckner from Venom, Patricia Clarkson from The Dead Pool, and of course, the chinman himself, the wonderful
Bruce Campbell of Evil Dead fame who plays completely against type in this film.
The Woods is set in New England 1965 and tells the tale of a wayward girl Heather Fasulo, (Agnes Bruckner) who is being sent to the private
school Falburn Academy by her parents Alice (Emma Campbell) and Joe (Bruce Campbell) after she sets fire to a tree on their property that almost
burns the house down. Here she is introduced to the headmistress Ms Traverse (Patricia Clarkson) , her quirky staff and fellow schoolmates,
including quiet choir girl Marcy (Lauren Birkell) and superbitch Samantha (Rachael Nichols). Her stay Falburn is fairly normal until she notices the
strange goings on, including the disappearance of some students, disturbing dreams and the discovery of a horrifying history. Then, when her
parents intervene and remove her from the school, the terror really starts...
This is another excellent piece by McKee who combines acts of serenity with sudden acts of violence to amazing effect. The casting is excellent,
especially the teachers, one of whom's nervous tic is scarily real. Bruce Campbell has his acting chops tested as a forty something father and who
for the first time in my experience, never degrades into a cartoon character. McKee and Ross are riffing Argento to the max with this film and the
familiarity to Suspiria is obvious. This doesn't interfere with the enjoyment of though as it steers away from being derivative and sticks to a solid
story with some great violence and decent special effects.
There are no extras on this disc save for trailers for The Da Vinci Code, Ultra Violet, RV, Population 436 and Zathura.
While not a gorehound's paradise, it does have the occasional swinging axe, but this film ticks the boxes for spooky, crafty and clever. A good
watch, and while not for everyone's collection, it is worth a spin.
eat a big pile of bad luck with his latest film, The Woods. Tragically shelved when it became caught up in the company merger of UA and MGM, and
then a Sony buy-out, it was then dumped unceremoniously direct to DVD, where hopefully it will have a second life.
McKee, who is also known for the unusual 'Sick Girl' episode of Masters of Horror, directs here a first time script by David Ross with an outstanding
cast that includes the lovely Agnes Bruckner from Venom, Patricia Clarkson from The Dead Pool, and of course, the chinman himself, the wonderful
Bruce Campbell of Evil Dead fame who plays completely against type in this film.
The Woods is set in New England 1965 and tells the tale of a wayward girl Heather Fasulo, (Agnes Bruckner) who is being sent to the private
school Falburn Academy by her parents Alice (Emma Campbell) and Joe (Bruce Campbell) after she sets fire to a tree on their property that almost
burns the house down. Here she is introduced to the headmistress Ms Traverse (Patricia Clarkson) , her quirky staff and fellow schoolmates,
including quiet choir girl Marcy (Lauren Birkell) and superbitch Samantha (Rachael Nichols). Her stay Falburn is fairly normal until she notices the
strange goings on, including the disappearance of some students, disturbing dreams and the discovery of a horrifying history. Then, when her
parents intervene and remove her from the school, the terror really starts...
This is another excellent piece by McKee who combines acts of serenity with sudden acts of violence to amazing effect. The casting is excellent,
especially the teachers, one of whom's nervous tic is scarily real. Bruce Campbell has his acting chops tested as a forty something father and who
for the first time in my experience, never degrades into a cartoon character. McKee and Ross are riffing Argento to the max with this film and the
familiarity to Suspiria is obvious. This doesn't interfere with the enjoyment of though as it steers away from being derivative and sticks to a solid
story with some great violence and decent special effects.
There are no extras on this disc save for trailers for The Da Vinci Code, Ultra Violet, RV, Population 436 and Zathura.
While not a gorehound's paradise, it does have the occasional swinging axe, but this film ticks the boxes for spooky, crafty and clever. A good
watch, and while not for everyone's collection, it is worth a spin.
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