Bloodtype Online

It sure took a while for Lucky McKee to get his second feature length film to reach the masses. In 2003 I bought May on DVD and I have no problem saying that the film is one of my all time favorite horror movies. I will mark out for this movie for the fact that Angela Bettis (The starring actress in “May”) has a voice cameo in this film. The Woods was originally supposed to hit the multiplexes in 2004 but studio problem prevented the film from being seen. “The Village” was originally supposed to be titled “The Woods” but changed names to avoid confusing movie goers. It’s now two years later and this entertaining boarding school/ witch film has been given the unfair direct to bare bones dvd treatment. I feel sorry for Lucky McKee because he is a great filmmaker with a hell of a future in horror ahead of him. The shitty release and promotion of this film isn’t slowing him down whatsoever because he has a producing credit in the upcoming “The Lost” which is based of a Jack Ketchum novel. Also he directed a one hour film for last years biggest horror series “Masters of Horror”. Being labeled that with the likes of Don Coscarelli, Stuart Gordon and Tobe Hooper has to be a huge honor. Now that I realize I’m going off on a rant about the guys accomplishments I might as well go on with my review

The story takes place in 1965 at Falburn Academy. Heather Fasulo(Agnes Bruckner) get’s dropped off by her parents( The father being played by cult fave Bruce Campbell!) and from the very start no one seems normal at this school surrounded by woods. Patricia Clarkson (Wendigo) plays the headmistress Mrs. Traverse and is very fit for this role as Heather’s nemesis. All of the staff is suspicious and eerie, hell even one of them has a nervous twitch throughout the flick. Heather also has a younger enemy by the name of Samantha. Samantha must hate red heads because she loves throwing insults like “Fire Crotch” at Heather like I like throwing water balloons at big titty girlies rocking the white tee’s! Agnes Bruckner is in this situation for setting her house on fire.

One night Heather hears voices from the woods and also has a nightmare with a bloody girl named Ann who shows up later in the story after being in the hospital because of a suicide attempt in chemistry class. Ann is the first student to go missing but not the last.

Through this sleeper witch film is boarding school brawls, witchcraft, axe kills, disappearing students and lots of back story. Some stuff is predictable and some stuff isn’t but I was never bored. The score and soundtrack are both efficient because they matched the era and the vibe of the film. “The Woods” is small budget by Hollywood Standards at 12 million bucks but the effects were top notch. I heard a lot of “Suspiria” comparison before I viewed this film and I did see a direct homage in one scene. This movie has the strict boarding school instructors you want to see die a grizzly demise and also dimwitted a police officer that by no fault of his own has not a clue what is going on. The film is a mixed bag of horror, mystery and characters. The performances in this movie were quite good and by that I mean the entire ensemble. I don’t like many movies dealing with witchcraft but I am sold on this one.

Lucky McKee busted down the door with 2003’s May and delivered a fun episode on “Masters of Horror”. He now has a solid direct to video feature that may gain cult status. You know how  fans love to pick a director’s lesser known film as their favorite like message board horror fan’s go berserk for Romero’s “The Crazies” or New Yorker insomniacs are quick to mention Martin Scorcese’s “After Hours”. This is one of those films that will no doubt find an audience and will be a message thread in forums rabid horror fans love to type away on. I recommend this film for anyone disappointed in the theatrical releases in 2006. This was supposed to be in theatres two years ago but now it got the “Save the Last Dance 2” treatment. The movie did not deserve to be put out with no extra features but honestly a movie with this quality speaks for itself even if you are a die hard for commentary and deleted scenes. Go out and rent this movie instead of bitching about all of the sequels that are out. Here is an original with an accomplished director, terrific performances and a complete story.