The Woods

4/2/2018

Good plot and haunting ambiance, but mediocre story and weak characters RELEASED IN 2006 and directed by Lucky McKee, "The Woods" chronicles events in 1965 New England when a troubled teen (Agnes Bruckner) is dropped off at a spooky remote boarding school for girls by her estranged parents (Bruce Campbell & Emma Campbell). Weird, witchy things ensue. Patricia Clarkson plays the dean while Lauren Birkell and Rachel Nichols play fellow students, one nice and the other mean. This is a mystery/horror flick that combines “Suspiria” (1977) with elements of “Carrie” (1976) and “The Ruins” (2008) or “Man-Thing” (2005) (yes, I realize “The Ruins” came out later; I’m just trying to give people an idea of what the movie’s like). The haunting atmosphere and the Montreal location are very good

1/15/2021

Good watch, could watch again, and can recommend. While I'm going to say that this movie was over-hyped quite a bit, it is good, but I don't feel like it really does anything specifically special. It has a high level of good, but there is little I can see that would put that up to great. There are some scenes later in the movie as information is revealed that might surprise the audience, but I don't see it really as "scary" moments. This is more of drip-fed information investigation movie with and all girls school, coming of age story, but the one thing it is clear it is trying to do, it tips its hand fairly early. While I didn't find that detracting from the movie (it does add a bit of creepy atmosphere to the story), it could be a stronger reveal later. Ultimately worth t