The Woods (2006)

Directed by: Lucky McKee | 105 minutes | drama, comedy, horror | Actors: Colleen Williams, Lauren Birkell, Jane Gilchrist, Ivana Shein, Marcia Bennett, Jude Beny, Angela Bettis, Agnes Bruckner, Bruce Campbell, Emma Campbell, Melissa Carter, Patricia Clarkson, Gordon Currie, Li Li, Kathleen Mackey, Elizabeth Marleau, Rachel Nichols, Linda Pine

‘The Woods’, a film for which expectations (with a select group) were high, but which, due to circumstances, was still in studio-no-man’s-land for about a year and a half. Now we can finally see with our own eyes what the (feature film) successor to the surprising, and rather brilliant, cult hit from 2002, ‘May’, looks like. ‘May’ was so effective because of the careful character study and the originality of the film, which was both sympathetic and disturbing, and had a surprising “closeness”. You never knew what was going to happen and as a viewer you were willing to follow the endearing protagonist, May (Angela Bettis), on her personal journey and experience for yourself where and how it would end.

And now there’s “The Woods,” director McKee’s first studio film, which allowed him to attract the likes of Patricia Clarkson; and of course the great hero of B horror movies, Bruce Campbell. The latter has a supporting role as Heather’s father, and later shows up in full ‘Evil Dead’ mode to help fight evil.

But, the high word has to be said: ‘The Woods’ is slightly disappointing, especially if you are familiar with McKee’s earlier work. He has once again selected an interesting and unknown actress for the lead role, the feisty Agnes Bruckner, who as Heather plays the rebel in an amusing way at school, and does not shy away from (handing out) a headbutt or a big right direct in the middle. face of the school bully, Rachel Nichols. However, the complications in the school building are simply not very special or exciting. Or, at least, they are not worked out as such. Dramatic scenes sometimes come too soon, such as when Heather calls home after a single fight, but is ignored by her mother and breaks down into tears. It’s tough, indeed, but this moment could have had a lot more drama if Heather actually turned out to be cornered. The same goes for the way she collapses when Ms. Traverse (Clarkson) questions her about the voices in Heather’s head. “Stop!…Stop!” shouts Heather, but her fear seems unbelievable.

Furthermore, the whole fact of witchcraft in a girls’ school is not new. McKee is clearly inspired here by Dario Argento’s ‘Suspiria’, and the comparison with this superior film does ‘The Woods’ no good. A scary dream here, some mysterious looks there; unexplained disappearances… it doesn’t make the blood flow faster. Perhaps the film would have been more effective if it had chosen for a more intense immersion into Heather’s psyche or for more surprising or extreme events, but now the intended drama and tension leave the viewer fairly indifferent. Indifferent; not cold. After all, the mysterious atmosphere through camera work and effects, and Heather’s deplorable situation ensure that we remain involved in her entanglements to a certain extent. In addition, it is often amusing to see Heather go against the school board and annoying fellow students and experience her mocking remarks. Comments like “your makeup is upside down” when she meets Samantha, who she had blacked out the day before, are simply irresistible. In this area, the script does its job just fine. But Patricia Clarkson is, as always, a constant quality. She is a perfect director for this story: stoic, secretive, and intimidating. The effects are sometimes very nice too. With a higher budget, McKee can try some fun things, including an attack of tree roots breaking through the school’s windows and chasing Heather. We expect that at any moment her limbs will be grabbed and that she will be taken through the woods, a la ‘Evil Dead’, but no: McKee doesn’t make it that fur. Until Bruce Campbell suddenly comes to the rescue, of course, with ax in hand…

All in all, a fairly entertaining, but not great movie from Lucky McKee.