The Evil Woods follows a tried and true method of creating a horror movie. The film starts off with a number of high school teens setting off to camp out at a place that was known for paranormal activity. Ignoring all warnings, they look to get absolutely trashed and messed up, since there is virtually no chance that anything could happen. As the night falls on these individuals, an older individual – who will only give the name “The Ranger†– tells the collected group about the “Beer Hunterâ€. The “Beer Hunter†will kill and otherwise harm those individuals that have littered on eir property.
After the story ends, the individuals just assume that the Ranger is looking to scare away the group and force them into picking up after themselves, but the next morning comes and their tires have been slashed. Soon after, The Ranger stops back by and assures the individuals that they can gain service if they wait until the night falls again. Before that can happen, however, members of the group start disappearing. While the premise is something that has been done a number of times over in previous horror movies, the collected cast is strong enough to make the actions and feelings of the group realistic. Furthermore, there are a few special features that are present in this DVD edition that will provide further insight.
This means that there is a featurette concerning the creation of the film, an outtake real that has its moments, and a number of original trailers for the film. Aaron Harvey’s first entry as a director is a strong one, and it will undoubtedly get individuals interested for the next projects (Catch .44, Fast Girl, and Blood Island) that Harvey is associated with. A final strength about the film is its length; at 83 minutes, the film is able to close things up quickly and not cause the action to drag, which is a common occurrence with psychological and horror types of movies. Lionsgate, despite having a number of major films and properties under its belt, really does well in giving an untested director a shot. The DVD is great, with a sharp transfer, great sound, and a great story. If you find yourself a fan of horror, past or present, The Evil Woods should be a film that you pick up.
The Evil Woods / 2008 Lionsgate / 83 Minutes / http://www.lionsgate.com /
Rating: 7.2/10