THE WOODS (2006)

3 stars

Arrow Video. Limited edition Blu ray. 15th September

Director Lucky McKee is probably best known for his films MAY (2002) and THE WOMAN (2011). So it was interesting to catch up with folk horror THE WOODS, which he made after MAY but which sat on the shelf for three years.

It opens with a young girl Heather (Agnes Bruckner) sleeping – scenes of a wood. A tree being doused and set alight. Screams (as the 1963 song ‘Young and Foolish’ by Lesley Gore plays over the credits). She is being taken by her parents Alice (Emma Campbell) and Joe (Bruce Campbell) to a remote all girls boarding school, which is surrounded by a forest. Weirdly her father doesn’t say anything. She is less than thrilled to be there as they are greeted by the head of the academy, the slightly odd Ms. Traverse (Patricia Clarkson). We discover that Heather has a penchant for setting fires. She is given the scholarship test – which she completes swiftly – allowing her to stay.

She soon meets Marcy Turner (Lauren Birkell), who becomes a friend, and also has a run in with the resident school bully – one Samantha Wise (Rachel Nichols). That night, in the shared dorm room, Heather has another nightmare, this time with one of the girls all bloody. An attack by someone with a huge axe! Premonitions perhaps?

Later she hears the story of the three witches who took over the school almost a hundred years ago – they walked out into the woods one day and strange things started to happen. The headmistress was chopped up with an axe – this resonates with Heather as it echoes her visions. Legend has it that the lead witch still wanders the woods at night…

How will all this play into what is happening at the school now and how will it involve Heather as there is clearly something not right about this educational establishment?

This is a slow moving movie with a growing creepy atmosphere – a touch of CARRIE about it as our lead exhibits certain powers. Despite being made in 2006 this does feel like a film from an earlier era, which may explain why it was held back. Bruckner is fine in the lead and Nichols is suitably nasty as Samantha. Clarkson is quietly effective as the head who obviously knows more than she is telling. Bruce Campbell does make a triumphant return about an hour into the film. The fx work when the trees attack are well done and there is strong use of light and shadow by cinematographer John R. Leonetti – which is nicely rendered on this disc release.

Steve Kirkham

EXTRAS

Commentary by Lucky McKee and critic Walter Chaw

Interviews with McKee and storyboard artist Vanessa McKee (25 mins)/Agnes Bruckner (11 mins)

Storyboard gallery

Behind the scenes footage form Mckee’s archive

Trailer and Image Gallery

Also reversible sleeve featuring original artwork plus newly commissioned artwork by Vanessa McKee and booklet with writing by Walter Chow and Mia Boffey.