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Agnes Bruckner, Patricia Clarkson, Bruce Campbell, Lauren Birkell, Emma Campbell ... see more see more... , Gordon Currie , Colleen Williams , Jane Gilchrist , Kathleen Mackey , Marcia Bennett , Rachel Nichols , Ivana Shein

A teenage girl is drawn into the path of the unknown in this tale of terror. Heather (Agnes Bruckner) is a teenage girl whose father (Bruce Campbell) and mother take little interest in her. Heather's ... read more read more...parents enroll her in a private boarding school for girls located deep in a remote forest; Heather isn't happy with this turn of events, and she doesn't get along well with her classmates or the head mistress, Ms. Traverse (Patricia Clarkson). As she struggles to make the best of her situation, Heather notices that slowly but surely the other students at the school have been vanishing, and there seems to be a mysterious force in the nearby woods which has been claiming the lives of the young women -- and will soon be coming after Heather. The Woods was the first major-studio feature from director Lucky McKee, who earned enthusiastic notices for his independent film May. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

40% liked it

24,778 ratings

Critics

67% liked it

12 critics

R, 1 hr. 31 min.

Directed by: Lucky McKee

Release Date: September 26, 2006

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DVD Release Date: October 3, 2006

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Flixster Reviews (842)

  • imrealgod
    December 14, 2010
    imrealgod
    The performance by one and all the actors & actresses involved was top-notch. Wish I could say that about the movie's script too!!! While the movie wasn't great, it was relatively watchable. See it or miss, whatsoever you wish.
  • romy861
    December 10, 2010
    romy861
    I have watched this twice now, and have changed my original rating from 3 1/2 to 4 stars. I think the first time I watched it I expected a standard horror movie, which this isn't.
    I actually really enjoyed this second time around as I could appreciate it's subtleties a little mo... read morere. Instead of pretty cardboard cut out teens with little background being terrorized, you have real characters here and the story takes time to build.
    I was very impressed with Agnes Bruckner here as Heather - i had only seen her play the cute girl prior to this. And while she is still attractive here, it is in a more plucky and individual way - certainly she is outcast here and teased about her red hair.
    Heather has been sent away to boarding school by her parents for misbehavior at her previous school. Her mother can't wait to get rid of her. She is offered a scholarship to this school, though she circles any old thing on her multiple choice quiz, which is the first clue that the beautiful, but creepy headmistress played wonderfully by Patricia Clarkson, wants her for some other reason than her brains!
    This takes time to build up as you slowly get to know the girls, and by the time some of them start to disappear, you care about them.
    Not an overly gory movie and the body count is fairly low for this genre, but I don't necessarily call that a bad thing. There are plenty of scares and creepy moments here.
  • dreamfaeries
    August 29, 2010
    dreamfaeries
    Figured out the ending way early. Watched mostly due to Patricia Clarkson being in it, but it wasn't scary or even the least bit creepy to me. Could have spent the time doing better things.
  • LWOODS04
    August 7, 2010
    LWOODS04
    Cast: Agnes Bruckner, Patricia Clarkson, Bruce Campbell, Lauren Birkell, Jane Gilchrist, Colleen Williams, Marcia Bennett, Rachel Nichols, Kathleen Mackey

    Director: Lucky McKee

    Summary: Set in 1965 in the buttoned-up world of an all-girls private boarding school, this horri... read morefying tale features the acting chops of Oscar nominee Patricia Clarkson, who appears as the chilly headmistress. Based on the nightmarish visions she's been having since her arrival, new student Heather (Agnes Bruckner) knows that the woods surrounding the school aren't normal. And when her classmates begin disappearing, she has no choice but to investigate.

    My Thoughts: "I wouldn't say it's a scary flick, but its a bit creepy. Has some chilling moments. But it wasn't that great of a film for me. The acting was there, the scenery, and the big creepy house covered in vines. But what wasn't there was a strong story-line. It just felt really cheesy to me at times. Plus it didn't help how predictable it was. Would have liked it more if they explored Heathers, or even the teachers powers a bit more. So, not great, but worth seeing."
  • Deano78
    July 14, 2010
    Deano78
    A very slow paced eerie horror. It has an ok cast with some well known faces, the idea and location seem a good setting. However this didn't live up to expectation for me. The ending did feel rushed and seem to leave a few loose ends not really explained. It's ok nothing great.
  • ScoopOnline
    December 19, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    A Movie based upon real events. Very nice made.
  • flixsterman
    January 18, 2009
    flixsterman
    I wanted to like this one but couldn't lower my I.Q. far enough to find any of this original or interesting.
  • drblood
    November 20, 2007
    drblood
    This is now the best horror movie that I've seen not just this year but for many years. I don't understand why this turned out to be a straight to DVD release as it's certainly good enough for a theatrical distribution.
    I can't find enough good things to say about this at all. N... read moreot only does it do for witches what "Ginger Snaps" did for werewolves but everything is perfectly executed from the 1960s period setting to the outstanding acting by everyone involved.
    The director, Lucky McKee, was also responsible for the more lacklustre "May" but don't hold that against him. This time he really got everything right. Again, he has used a very strong lead, Agnes Bruckner, and she will definitely enchant you (pun intended) throughout.
    It has a sufficiently spooky atmosphere, great characterisation, a good storyline and excellent gore scenes at the end.
    Don't believe anyone who writes bullshit comments about this being "derivative" and "unoriginal". Yes, it does have similarilties to "Carrie", "The Initiation of Sarah" and a great many others but it does it all so much better and mixes the elements in a far more entertaining way. You'll be drawn in so much by it that you won't even notice the "clichés" that the nitpickers like to point out.
    The plot is indeed also similar to "Suspiria" but only in the way that "Suspiria" is the same as "Rosemary's Baby", i.e. they both have a coven of witches involved. But whereas "Suspiria" is an unwatchable boring crapfest, this is a much smoother affair and much more enjoyable in every way.
    Even the music is good!
  • YosemiteSamFan
    August 18, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    A girl uncovers an evil coven at her boarding school in this atmospheric and horrifying film, which reminded me of "Suspiria" in ways.
  • MovieGeek13
    May 22, 2007
    MovieGeek13
    It seems that a really good film could have been made out of this material. But McKee's effort essentially is more shlock than shock.

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Critic Reviews

Brian Holcomb
April 20, 2008
Brian Holcomb, Beyond Hollywood

"The Woods" plays like a classic Lewton film of the '40's, where the emphasis was on telling a good yarn without much ado and wrapping it up in a tightly wound 70 minutes. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
April 11, 2008
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Never justifies the witches' tale it was spinning. Full Review

Jette Kernion
April 8, 2007
Jette Kernion, Cinematical

Not a groundbreaking or innovative horror film, but contains many elements that make horror movies appealing: screaming schoolgirls, spooky forces of nature, stylish camerawork, a good sense of humor ... Full Review

Nick Schager
October 19, 2006
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

One of the most polished and inventive horror flicks of the still-ongoing year, a synthesis of classical supernatural and sexualized imagery that expands upon, rather than simply regurgitates, its cel... Full Review

David Nusair
October 13, 2006
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

...a well-made yet thoroughly impenetrable horror flick.. Full Review

Kevin N. Laforest
September 30, 2006
Kevin N. Laforest, Montreal Film Journal

Lucky McKee's latest is not as singular as May, but it's still a solid flick. Full Review

Staci Layne Wilson
September 29, 2006
Staci Layne Wilson, Horror.com

There's a lot to like about The Woods, but it never really takes root. Full Review

Scott Weinberg
September 2, 2006
Scott Weinberg, DVDTalk.com

Those expecting a shock-a-minute gore-fest will most likely walk away scratching their head, but as a semi-homage to Dario Argento's Suspiria, The Woods is a creepy little winner. Full Review

Christopher Null
August 26, 2006
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

The actors obviously don't understand the material any more than we do, nor do they seem to care. Full Review

Jean-François Vandeuren
August 18, 2006
Jean-François Vandeuren, Panorama

Derrière The Woods se cache sans l'ombre d'un doute un film d'horreur qui aurait pu facilement devenir un classique du genre. Full Review

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The Woods Trivia

  • Which Akira Kurosawa classic is literally translated to English as "In The Woods"?   Answer »
  • Which movie featured a 19th century village living in mortal fear of creatures that lived in the woods near where they were settled?  Answer »
  • Never go into the woods. Joaquin Phoenix leaves his isolated village to fight his fears in the forest.  Answer »
  • What was the name of the Promotional short film, created by Sam Raimi, while he still attended college?  Answer »
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