The Woods (2006)

Director: Lucky McKee

Writer: David Ross

Tagline: Every high school has its secrets...

Actors: Agnes Bruckner, Patricia Clarkson, Rachel Nichols, Lauren Birkell, Emma Campbell, Marcia Bennett, Gordon Currie, Jude Beny, Bruce Campbell

Runtime: 1h 31m

Category: Curse, Witchcraft

Synopsis: In 1965, after provoking a fire in a forest, the rebel teenager Heather Fasulo is sent to the boarding school Falburn Academy in the middle of the woods by her estranged mother Alice and her neglected father Joe (Bruce Campbell). The dean, Ms. Traverse accepts Heather in spite of the bad financial condition of her father. The displaced Heather becomes close friends with weird Marcy Turner, while they are maltreated by the abusive mate Samantha Wise. During the nights, Heather has nightmares and listens to voices from the woods, and along the days she believes that the school is a coven of witches. When some students, including Marcy, simply vanish, Heather believes she will be the next one. She must discover the secret of Falburn Academy before it is too late.

Review: I have to say that the only reason I rented this movie is because the awesome Bruce Campbell is in it. I was disappointed to find out that he had a very small roll in the film. Normally I am not in the habit of renting movies about girl’s academies. With that being said, the movie was not half bad. The acting was strong but the story was kind of loose and I figured out the ending within the first 20 minutes. Normally I would not have watched the whole thing but again, I was waiting to see how Bruce Campbell was going to save this thing and make a crappy film good. It didn’t happen. Even though I knew how the movie was going to end it was interesting to see how it unfolded. The scenery was great and for a period piece (No pun intended) the sets were quite authentic looking.

Rating: 14. The sets and the acting saved what could have been a total debacle. I wouldn’t recommend it because it makes me look like a pedophile. It works out in my favor because the movie wasn’t that good anyway. Rent it if you like movies about teenage girls but if you are not prepubescent it probably won’t keep your interest through the whole movie. (14of25).