Deep In The Woods (2000)

Weird, strange, nonsenscial, taxing, incoherent and boring.

I should preface this review by stating that I love GOOD European horror films, especially Italian horror films by Dario Argento. With this point in mind, I must confess that I had high hopes for "Deep in the Woods". After all, it is a European slasher flick with a different flavor to it than American horror films. Unfortunately, "Deep in the Woods" is a complete dud of a horror film. Now, let me just go on the record as also saying that "Deep in the Woods" is absolutely nothing like a good Argento movie or any kind of quality European horror cinema that I have seen, other than the fact that it is a "whodunnit" like murder mystery, but you get that in many of your garden variety American slashers anyway, so that's not saying much. "Deep in the Woods" represents the kind of movie that is different, strange and weird, but that does not make it good in and of itself. In fact, what ultimately transpired in "Deep in the Woods" was a lackluster and mostly incoherent and nonsensical play on the patience completely lacking in style and atmosphere.

"Deep in the Woods" is about a group of young people who are solicited to a mansion in the middle of nowhere to do a play for a traumatized child. However, when the young people get there, they realize that they have come to a place where the strange and bizarre are the norm. Eventually, people start dying, and a "whodunnit" type mystery takes form. The killer is disguised in a wolf costume a la "Little Red Riding Hood" (which is a theme throughout the movie) so as to create a mystery and elicit suspense in the audience.

I liked the wolf costume bit a lot for the killer, and I wish the movie had been a little more mysterious about the killer throughout the film rather than its unconvincing attempt to tidy things up with the movie's conclusion; this tactic inevitably leads to a letdown in these types of films, and "Deep in the Woods is certainly no exception to this rule.

There are virtually zero scares in "Deep in the Woods", and aside from the wolf-costumed killer, there really is not much in the way of horror at all. The kills are not very impressive at all, the acting was pretty bad, and the movie just never really seemed to get off the ground. In fact, the wooden acting in this film only worked to accentuate the lifeless screenplay that was adopted for this film. Overall, I cannot in good conscience recommend this movie to anyone because "Deep in the Woods" is a boring waste of time and a very poor excuse for a horror movie. April 1, 2008

mmm, euro good

I completely missed this film when it first came out and was pleasantly surprised when I stumbled across its existence recently. I originally assumed from the Artisan DVD package design that this was yet another low budget american Scream wanna-be production and ignored it but this turns out actually to be a quite satisfying french (belgian?) Scream wanna-be production. For me, euro good, though I know there are those who don't respond well to foreign films of any sort, horror included: euro bad. But euro horror tends in my general experience to be more atmospheric and often pays much more attention to visual details and style in filmmaking than american horror (and often tries to do more with subtext); logic does tend to take a back seat to effect of course. You can tell right off from the first sequence that there is a strong Argento influence in this film, and I spotted various references, perhaps intentional tributes or maybe just unconscious influences, throughout to lots of euro horror classics.

The main reason to watch this film is in the execution; there isn't anything here you haven't seen before but it's done much better here than usual. For anybody who values storytelling technique in horror films, you should find much to your liking here. The suspense is built very nicely and some of the deaths are first rate in my view. The actors are generally pretty appealing and there is a refreshing lack of comedy and irony in this movie. Rather, in springboarding off the little red riding hood tale, the film tries to go for a more serious dream-nightmare fable feel. My problem with comedy and irony in horror these days is that it tends to mean that the filmmakers are making excuses for themselves, building in a defense against criticism, rather than trying hard. (You mean you took us seriously? But it's all just a joke these kinds of movies, don't you know.) The ending is a bit too positive for my tastes, as tends to be the case nowadays, so I am docking it a star, sorry to say.

I strongly recommend that you watch this movie widescreen (in the dark of course) and go with the subtitled french audio rather than the dub, which is, as usual, pretty poorly done. For euro horror fans, definitely have a look. March 12, 2007

Overlooked, Enigmatic Horror/Mystery Gem

Very well-made and underappreciated cryptic horror movie about a small group of performers hired to stage a private play for a strange family of rich recluses 'deep in the woods'. Very mysterious, with a unique strain of eerie sinister tension running throughout. On a much less dark note, features a hot girl-on-girl scene that wins lots of bonus points for being not just a sex scene but actually a very affectionate bona fide Love Scene (albeit rather on the brief side). Other appreciated scenery includes the lush, absolutely gorgeous forest within which the movie takes place, captured well by very fine cinematography. Somehow placing the subtle menace in the midst of such beauty makes it seem all the more dangerous. An ambiguous film that could go in pretty much any direction it wanted if it were to have a sequel. Should appeal to fans of everything from "The Blair Witch Project" to "Friday The 13th" to "Raising Cain". November 22, 2004

Great gothic atmosphere

Right from the opening murder you can tell that its going to be serious.At times it reminds you of Dario Argento's Suspiria with the whole fairy tale theme.And the killer's mask was creepy.I recomend this to horror fans who loved 'Suspiria', 'Scream', and 'The Blair Witch Project'. November 18, 2004

Beautiful atmomspheric horror

Reminding me many times of Susperia due to the fairy tale atmosphere, this movie is a must-see if you love Argento. The movie has amazing camera work and although the gore isnt crazy, there is some to keep you satisfied. It has a lot of straight up eerie aspects that create a kind of dreamlike quality to the movie.

The english dubbing is a bit annoying at first but you get used to it. i would use subtitles but i only have the VHS.

This movie blows away all the recent american slasher flicks.

September 15, 2004

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