AnhartLinkin
This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.
Aiden Melton
The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.
Philippa
All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
Leofwine_draca
THE WOODS is at least a film with a slightly different atmosphere to distinguish it from the more mundane glut of teen horror films currently popular with the masses. This one is set in the 1960s, has an isolated girl's school as is setting, and is for the most part a subtle, eerie film that works hard on atmosphere rather than needless death sequences and moronic teen humour. It's also a virtual remake of the Dario Argento classic SUSPIRIA, as the lead finds that her new school holds dark secrets: namely, most of the staff are witches, eager to bump off their students in the name of black magic...It goes without saying that this isn't a patch on the Argento movie. Comparisons between the film just aren't worth it, as this is the lesser effort in every respect. However, it is a fairly good movie that does well building up some good suspense, and for the most part the literate script works hard to stop things descending into predictability. There are a few missteps here and there: the lead character isn't very sympathetic, and while Agnes Bruckner's acting isn't bad, she fails to make her in the least bit likable. Angsty and peed off, yes, but not likable. Still, there's a bonus in the form of supporting actor Bruce Campbell, who has been away from the genre far too long: he doesn't have a great deal to work with in the 'protective father' role, but he does get to have some fun and do a little ass-kicking along the way, so it's not all bad. Kudos too to Patricia Clarkson, whose sinister headmistress is the film's most interesting character.The witchcraft elements are fairly well handled and despite the presence of some of that horrendous MTV-style super-fast editing in the horror sequences, they are genuinely frightening on occasion. I could have done without the resort to some lame CGI menace near the climax (the killer roots, while looking good for CGI, are still so obviously CGI) but then the filmmakers make up for it with some hack 'n' slash fun with an axe for the gore fans. This isn't a great film, no, but it's okay for what it's worth.
GL84
Sent to a remote boarding-school, a troubled teen girl gradually comes to believe that the faculty are centuries-old-witches looking to utilize her burgeoning paranormal powers to restore their coven's powers and tries to save the other girls at the school.For the most part this one wasn't all that bad and had enough to like overall here. What really seems to help this one quite a bit is the rather exceptional build-up that occurs here which comes from several impressive elements brought forth in here. One of the better elements featured for that is the ghostly action and visions she experiences that set-up the idea of what's happening, with the first vision of the ghostly roommate scaring her away with the quick attack and self-disfigurement, the early scene in the woods where they see the strange figures and the visitations to the different sections of the school on her hunt for answers throughout offer some great parts that really paints up the mystery of what's going on. Likewise, their treatment of her and how her visions and voices in her head finish that off is a rather nice and enjoyable aspect as well with plenty to like overall here. The school is pretty creepy and is presented as a large, foreboding building that is hundreds of years old filled with vines growing through all the windows and across the walls, the large, spacious rooms, huge interiors and old-school Gothic vibe is effectively used and conveys a really effective atmosphere. It paints a quite effective and memorable location, and it's used to it's most effective. The other part that really delivers is the titular woods. The aura exuded from their presence is undeniable, and they're the best part of the film dominating every scene they're featured in as spooky voices coming out of the woods lends some great suspense scenes early on. The other part that works is the wild finale, with the impressive car accident, the race to get to the ceremonial pit in the woods and the crazy axe-swinging fun that really gives this a strong finishing mark. While these issues make this enjoyable, there's a few others here that hold this back. One of the biggest problems here is that the film has a real problem of going back on itself. So many times it repeats the same scenarios that do nothing but lose audience members by featuring such tropes as the feeling that the teachers are odd, the other students are disappearing, her chick-bully is mean or she's having odd dreams and is hearing things. This set of events are repeated with such frequency that progressing forward by having more info divulged from the flick is next to impossible. It seems like the film would be much better as a short instead of being stretched into a full-length feature, and it is filled with lots of unimportant ideas that completely work against the premise. It's redundancy is the reason why the film is pretty much the same for the first hour or so and that hurts the fear quota of the flick. The film also suffers from a big flaw in complete and utter boredom as it creeps along so slowly without anything to keep you watching. Worst of all, the movie just isn't scary. There's a couple suspenseful scenes and lots of spooky whispering, but that's about it. These here do manage to hold it back.Rated R: Violence and Graphic Language.
TheMarwood
Made under the watch of MGM and then MGM was purchased by Sony, The Woods fell into the hands of a studio who could care less about the thing. After being re-edited and having release dates pushed back again and again, The Woods was unceremoniously dumped straight to video and with the final twist of the knife, Sony removed all special features from the DVD and released it bare bones. The Woods deserved a better fate and while there are some issues throughout, the film has a remarkable atmosphere, the cast is uniformly good and the cinematography and art direction is quite nice. The ending is not so much botched as it seems a bit rushed and incoherent, especially considering the slow burn pace of the rest of the film. Agnes Bruckner wisely underplays her role as a semi-disturbed girl sent to a boarding school, where the school is a coven of witches. There are a few jarring shots of a girl screaming at the camera at the end of a dream sequence which are not only out of place, but a down right embarrassment of editing and failed scares. That aside, the film has a dreamy, hallucinatory feel which is a bit disconnected, but overall the film has many qualities worth seeking out.
Woodyanders
Recalcitrant and rebellious problem teen Heather Falsulo (an excellent performance by Agnes Bruckner) gets sent to an exclusive all-girls boarding school that's run by the imposing Ms. Traverse (a superbly understated portrayal by Patricia Clarkson) and located deep in the forest. Heather finds her life in considerable jeopardy after she discovers that the place is harboring a horrifying secret. Director Lucky McKee, working from an absorbing script by David Ross, relates the compelling story at a deliberate pace, offers a flavorsome evocation of the 1960's period setting, makes inspired unnerving use of the isolated sylvan setting, and does a masterful job of creating and sustaining a beautifully chilling and brooding sinister atmosphere. Moreover, McKee warrants extra plaudits for eschewing cheap scares and excessive graphic gore in favor of a supremely creepy mood that becomes more increasingly scary and unsettling as the narrative unfolds towards a harrowing conclusion. The exceptional acting from the top-rate cast helps a great deal: Bruckner and Clarkson both do sterling work in their parts, with stand-out support from Rachel Nichols as snarky bitch bully Samantha Wise, Lauren Birkell as the mousy Marcy Turner, Kathleen Mackey as the fragile and frightened Ann Wales, and, in a nice atypical straight dramatic role, Bruce Campbell as Heather's father Joe. John R. Leonetti's sumptuous widescreen cinematography gives the picture an impressive polished look. John Frizzell's shivery score hits the spine-tingling spot. A real sleeper.
