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Overall Rating : 6.5/10
Directed By : Lucky McKee
Agnes Bruckner (Venom)
Patricia Clarkson (Good Night, and Good Luck.)
Bruce Campbell (The Evil Dead)
Angela Bettis (May)
Supplied By : Sony Pictures
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : Aug 29, 2006
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| PLOT Based in 1965, an all-girls private school deals with the mysterious going-ons in the woods surrounding the school. |
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| THE REVIEW Well THE WOODS was one of my personal most anticipated films, I have been waiting a good 2 years or so to see this film. The film was originally owned by MGM and was to be distributed theatrically via it's United Artists label, but when part of MGM was sold off, Sony purchased the film only to shelve it - thus making THE WOODS one of the most awaited Horror films, at least by the more passionate fan. After the huge success of Lucky Mckee's much talked about MAY..... fans couldn't wait for the next project from the hot newcomer( I know I couldn't.). THE WOODS is finally here and will be out on October 3rd, 2006, fans will be happy for that, but I have to tell you I am fairly unhappy with the cover art, and the bare-bones disc....whose only "special feature" is the choice between a full screen or wide screen presentation. The German DVD's cover art is much more appropriate and to me would draw more consumer attention....but instead, just as sony has been doing as of late, churns out a generically cheap looking cover.....the same was the case on their recent I'LL ALWAYS KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER release. On to the film, THE WOODS in my opinion is a film that was definitely worth waiting for. Lucky McKee's previous film took a rather indie approach and I think that was part of it's initial charm...here, he sort of enters the gritty mainstream style of filmmaking all the while not forgetting what won fans over, the atmosphere and character development. THE WOODS follows suit of most 80's Horror films in which a new girl arrives at school... they think she's different, so they pick on her (there is even a volleyball scene that is reminiscent of CARRIE for that matter). Heather is sent to Falburn Academy because her parents(mostly her mother) think she is headed out of control and has deemed her a pyromaniac do to a few fires she has set. When she arrives she is told that do to her father's insufficient wealth, in which he appears to have... but actually doesn't, Heather must complete a special test to gain a scholarship to attend the all girls school. But what see doesn't know is that the prestigious academy was taken over by a brood of treacherous witches hundreds of years ago and the tests are their way to find girls that have the potential to be a future leader of the clan. The story goes that years ago, three witches whom happen to be sisters emerged from the dark woods that surround the school, seemingly out of nowhere. The girls as well as the teachers alike took the witches in as their own, even though they were both strange and mysterious - they would often hear voices coming from the wood, voices only in which they can hear. The girls kind of brush the womens' behavior off as just being weird but when they catch them performing a ritual in the school....well that's when all hell broke lose, and to the students they were officially deemed as witches. As the story would go the students of the school run down the three witches and beat them up pretty badly....after their defeat the witches cried out for revenge to the woods around them....saying they would "deliver the souls of all the children at the school" and set the tortured souls within the woods free. Shortly after the witches are slain but not long after...the kids start missing only to come back later to have their way with the headmistress, while being lead by Clara the main witch. In the film, new girl Heather seems to be the chosen one in which the witches believe to lead the next generation and free the souls of the school's children.....something in which Heather doesn't find out until later, and then wants no part of. As she watches the demise of a few of the only close friends that she has made at the school, Heather attempts to uncover the school's secret. The pace moves along quickly and the fact that the film is set in 1965, the film has a retro feel that makes it more fun and unique, not to mention being occasionally sprinkled with the type of pop music that graced the radio airwaves in that time period. The look and feel of the film is very crisp, and even more polished than MAY.....it is a travesty that this film never saw the light of day in theaters because it is a lot better than most Horror movies being released theatrically today....even if it may not be all that traditional so to speak. I absolutely loved that whenever some tries to escape from the school the woods actually become something of life, and attack. With this idea, THE WOODS could have easily become a B-Movie creature feature the likes of say, SLITHER, but the woods' interaction is kept, well I wouldn't say to a "minimum" but it is not over drawn and is done in a menacingly realistic manner.....in other words, not so "cheesy" as it could have turned out. The acting is, in my opinion excellent in this film, the casting could have not been more appropriate. If you are going to have a mean witch that runs an all girl academy in which almost everyone hates, you have to get someone that can do it naturally, and Patricia Clarkson does just that! In the film I thought she was a downright bitch, and that's good because her character is supposed to be.... and the thing is, she does it without exaggeration nor overdoing it. Some of the girls in the film are very attractive I must say, but none more than Agnes Bruckner and Rachel Nichols, both equally beautiful, both equally engaging....they had this chemistry together that was just seamless and realistic.... I really loved watching the two bicker at each other, this is my second time seeing Nichols, the first being in The Amityville Horror remake, and in this film she proves to be a far better actress than I once believed. I have always been a fan of Agnes Bruckner and will continue to do so, here sporting a bright red mane(a hair color that got her branded the affectionate nickname "fire crotch" in the film), a look that is quite different for her, but what hasn't changed is her poise and natural ability to get a viewer's attention, her appearance may be one reason, but it is always in her performances for the most part....you are connected to her character of Heather all the way until the film's emotional ending. Bruce Campbell makes an appearance that's a little longer than a cameo but leaves you wishing he had more screen time....one good thing is that in the film's final showdown, it's like seeing Ash all over again! Overall, THE WOODS proves that McKee is more than a "One Hit Feature Wonder" if you will...I believe he is here to stay and as long as he has the fans' support, I am certain that my Man will continue to make films we love....although a few "baddies" are inevitable, it just comes with the territory... | ||||
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| GORE
METER 5.5/10 The film's gore really doesn't come out to play until later in the film. I was very pleased that it wasn't over executed and when it was executed it was done in a rather artistically fun manner. |
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| MUSICAL
SCORE 6/10 I really like the soundtrack used in THE WOODS. you had hard hitting orchestrated themes, but what I liked about it most was the occasional use of 60's pop.....I love retro themed films, and that won me over.... |
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| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM I greatly enjoyed THE WOODS, the plot as well as the acting make this both a very entertaining and well executed film. I did expect to rate this film even higher than I have, but there are some points in the plot that are not that easy to follow and may take a few punches on the rewind button to fully grasp....but this does not ruin the overall viewing experience. I highly recommend THE WOODS, as it is a film that could have relied on a more "creature feature" aspect, but chooses a psychological approach that happens to make it that much more suspenseful and frightening. This DVD will be released on October 3, 2006 |
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