The Woods (2006)

Director:

Lucky McKee

Writer (WGA):

David Ross (written by)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Every high school has its secrets...

Plot:

Set in 1965 New England, a troubled girl encounters mysterious happenings in the woods surrounding an isolated girls school that she was sent to by her estranged parents.

Plot Keywords:

Girl Bully | Decapitation | Possession | Kicked In The Face | Missing Girl

Cast

Agnes Bruckner	...	Heather Fasulo
Emma Campbell	...	Alice Fasulo
Bruce Campbell	...	Joe Fasulo
Patricia Clarkson	...	Ms. Traverse
Lauren Birkell	...	Marcy Turner
Catherine Colvey	...	Ms. Leland
Marcia Bennett	...	Ms. Mackinaw
Jane Gilchrist	...	Ms. Cross
Rachel Nichols	...	Samantha Wise
Kathleen Mackey	...	Ann Whales
Cary Lawrence	...	Ms. Charevoix
Colleen Williams	...	Ms. Arbor
Gordon Currie	...	The Sheriff
Jude Beny	...	School Nurse
Melissa Altro	...	Barb (as Missy Altro)

MPAA:

Rated R for horror violence and language, including sexual references.

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

Finland:K-15 | UK:15 | Australia:MA (2006) | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating/Manitoba/Ontario) | Singapore:NC-16 | Australia:MA | Germany:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Cité du Cinéma, Montréal, Québec, Canada

Company:

Cinegreen

Trivia:

This film, which sat on the shelf for nearly three years, caused M. Night Shyamalan to have to change the name of his 2004 film from "The Woods" to The Village (2004).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Towards the end, when Dr. Fasulo is in the hospital, he talks to Ms. Traverse who is on his right side. In the next scene, Ms. Traverse walks over to his left side, but in close-up shots, he continues to look to his right side while talking to her.

Quotes:

Ms. Traverse: [Ms. Mackinaw brings Heather into the office] What is this?
Ms. Mackinaw: Miss Fasulo attacked Miss Wise in the dining hall.
[Her head twitches]
Ms. Traverse: Is that so?
Heather: I didn't...
[she twitches intentionally]
Heather: ... attack anyone. I was just trying to defend myself.
[Ms. Mackinaw looks embarrassed and upset that Heather made fun of her twitch]
Heather: I'm sorry. I didn't meant to...
[Ms. Mackinaw twitches again and leaves angrily]
[...]

Movie Connections:

References Suspiria (1977)

Soundtrack:

You Don't Own Me

"I'm a fire-crotch."

If you are looking for a bloody slasher flick, then look elsewhere, as this film is a spooky thriller along the lines of Dario Argento.

Agnes Bruckner, a superb young actress, plays a troubled teen whose mother puts her in a boarding school. It just so happens that she has special talents the headmistress (Patricia Clarkson - The Station Agent, The Green Mile, Pieces of April) and the other teachers are looking for.

Despite warnings from sexy Rachel Nichols, she is trapped and part of their diabolical scheme.

The suspense is tense throughout and it only gets bloody at the end. The acting is great and the tree effects are spectacular.