Good films you've never seen part 666: The Woods

The Woods is one of those low-budget, intriguing little horror films that get a messy, desultory release by an studio who have no idea how to market it, and, as a result, falls through the cracks ending up in bargain bin obscurity.

Sometimes obscurity is the best thing for such a film. Sometimes though the film is a gem. I can see The Woods meaning a lot to some of those that stumble upon it. Mainly, I suppose, a certain stripe of teenage girl - those with Cure lyrics scrawled in curly, silver handwriting on their school bags, maybe.

Me, I was quietly surprised. I thought it was a bit Suspiria crossed with Heathers - the main character is actually called Heather. I'm guessing it might be a reference. But though it falls way short of either of those two main reference points, it has some interesting touches.

Set in an all-girls' boarding school situated deep in New Hampshire countryside in the mid-sixties, it tells of a rebellious teen who is being sent away by her estranged mother. Once accepted into the school by eerily calm dean, however, it begins to dawn on the girl that there is something darker afoot than the usual queen bees and wannabes of school life.

There's a nice blustery, autumnal feel to it, and a constant woody creaking that plays throughout that adds a sinister presence. Despite the best efforts of the silly trailer (posted below), which tries quite a bit to hard to sell this as some noisome shocker, it is in fact very subdued. relying on quiet spookiness and a dreamy unease to unsettle us.
And Agnes Bruckner, defiant yet vulnerable in the lead role, recalls the pouty insouciance of a circa 2001 Scarlet Johansson. No scream-queen this one, I liked her.

Apparently the film sat on a shelf for a few years before getting a straight-to-DVD release. It's a little scrappy and not a great deal happens - no real scares either - but it deserved a better fate than the one it got. Check iiit.