Customer Reviews

Deep in the Woods

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

A French slasher film. Who would've thought? And it's quite good.

To start, this thing is moody as all get out. The one thing I kept thinking was that it most reminded me of Suspiria, and other Dario Argento films. Probably just the European connection.

The plot is simple (always a plus in this genre): five college kids drive out to an old mansion in order to put on a surreal stage version of Little Red Riding Hood for the owner's creepy son (and, boy, was this kid creepy!). After a few tokes (and a gratuitous--although not unappreciated--Lesbian scene), they run out into the woods. After they return to the house, they notice one hasn't come back.

Then they start dying one by one.

For a slasher film, this one really held my interest. I kept wondering who was going to die next. And who was doing the killing. But all that doesn't really matter. The real star here is the direction. The moody eerieness never lets up from the beginning. Plus, effects like the use of after-shower steam as a vision obstruction brought a novelty to a tired field. And then there's that creepy kid. It doesn't take much, just for the kid to stare with wide open eyes, but it works.

The acting I can't really say much about. The English was dubbed instead of subtitled (I guess this was not marketed to foreign film fans, but horror fans), so it's hard to tell whether the acting was being done by the bodies or the voices. I was not disappointed in either, however.

I would definitely recommend this for fans of Argento (or other European horror filmmakers), or anyone looking for fresh ideas in the slasher subgenre.

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'.

Surpisingly good french movie, where everyone is not what he/she seems to be. This stylish sleeper is far superior to those teen-slasher flicks where everything is too obvious and there are too many explanations. Erotic, really intriguing and extremely ambiguous, "Deep in the woods" is a potential cult-movie from a 27-yrs-old director. In some ways, between Dario Argento and David De Coteau, with echoes from Mario Bava e Jean Rollin.

As teen-slasher movies go, I've seen a lot better, but for a French horror flick, it was a masterpiece. French horror movies usually make me shiver, but sometimes not for the reasons the director intended.

The original French language version of this film is better - the English dubbing on this one sounds a lot like the actors called it in on cell phones - but if you don't speak French, I'd recommend watching the French track with subtitles. The subtitles give a pretty accurate translation of the original - and the photography and directing make suffering them much less painful.

By the way, the original French version, "Promenons-nous dans les Bois," takes its title and underlying theme from a popular French children's song of the same name. The song sort of helps tie the movie together, but as they say "it was lost in the translation."

I've seen mostly negative reviews here about this film, I really don't think americans get it. So bombarded with "scary action horror comedies" like THE MUMMY or the new DAWN OF THE DEAD, the modern American perception of horror is a "non-threatening boo" with no substance. Another great example of modern american "horror" is 13 Ghosts which was ruined by a jive talking, step'n'fetchit maid.

That said, this movie is different. It's very artistic and truly gothic in a surreal Argento way. Of course it had slow spots and faults, but for a first time director, low budget and in France?! I loved it and was shocked by sequences and respected it AND was inspired by it. That's so much more than I've gotten from films over here for the last 25 years.

"Deep In The Woods" is an outstanding foreign film. Released here in the U.S. it has not fared that well. Many think of it as a bad version of "The Blair Witch Project", it is far from it. "The Blair Witch Project" was shot like a home video wanting to be a movie, this film is a movie. Though the dubbing is not that great, the actors and story make up for it. The story's focus is on the little red riding hood fairy tale, and a bunch of grisly murders. As the characters drop one by one everyone is a suspect. Vincent Lecoeur "Fredrick" is great in his role. Watch this movie for great scenes, and acting. You will not be disappointed, for this is a great thriller.

Personally I think this is the best slasher film for a while. It has a great atmosphere, goods performances and good direction. May I suggest watching this film with the subtitles and in French the way it was intended. Most people I guess just don't get it especially the French themselves. They absolutely slate the film. At least Brian Yuzna (an Absolute genius himself) like this film. Goes to show great minds think alike.

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.

This was a fairly entertaining movie that captured my interest across several fronts. First, foremost and of most entertaining value to me was the quality of camera work. There were some very creative camera shots/angles, and the movie did a good job of using creative photography techniques throughout the entire film. It wasn't overused, and made this movie much more enjoyable to watch than the script alone would provide. The camera work alone motives me to check out related work. The mood throughout was very effective. Unlike many american thrillers/horrors, the action built very slowly, but effectively, and the use of camera angles, mood and other techniques was highly effective. My only complaint is the story/plot; while overall pretty good and generally tight, there were a few scenes and/or specific actions that just didn't fit within the story, i.e., characters acting out of character and doing things that made no sense for them to do. But this was generally infrequent, and is easily overlookable by the quality of camera work and mood. The English dubbing was a little annoying too; perhaps I'm atypical, but I don't mind subtitles. The disconnect between moving lips and actual dialogue is distracting. All in all, I recommend it as a rental, but might not encourage a purchase w/o previously viewing. Its not necessarily a repeat watcher.

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".