To start, this thing is moody as all get out. The one thing I kept thinking was that it most reminded me of Suspiria, and other Dario Argento films. Probably just the European connection.

The plot is simple (always a plus in this genre): five college kids drive out to an old mansion in order to put on a surreal stage version of Little Red Riding Hood for the owner's creepy son (and, boy, was this kid creepy!). After a few tokes (and a gratuitous--although not unappreciated--Lesbian scene), they run out into the woods. After they return to the house, they notice one hasn't come back.

Then they start dying one by one.

For a slasher film, this one really held my interest. I kept wondering who was going to die next. And who was doing the killing. But all that doesn't really matter. The real star here is the direction. The moody eerieness never lets up from the beginning. Plus, effects like the use of after-shower steam as a vision obstruction brought a novelty to a tired field. And then there's that creepy kid. It doesn't take much, just for the kid to stare with wide open eyes, but it works.

The acting I can't really say much about. The English was dubbed instead of subtitled (I guess this was not marketed to foreign film fans, but horror fans), so it's hard to tell whether the acting was being done by the bodies or the voices. I was not disappointed in either, however.

I would definitely recommend this for fans of Argento (or other European horror filmmakers), or anyone looking for fresh ideas in the slasher subgenre.


The type of film DARIO ARGENTO SHOULD be making   April 9, 2004
 9 out of 12 found this review helpful

I've seen mostly negative reviews here about this film, I really don't think americans get it. So bombarded with "scary action horror comedies" like THE MUMMY or the new DAWN OF THE DEAD, the modern American perception of horror is a "non-threatening boo" with no substance. Another great example of modern american "horror" is 13 Ghosts which was ruined by a jive talking, step'n'fetchit maid.

That said, this movie is different. It's very artistic and truly gothic in a surreal Argento way. Of course it had slow spots and faults, but for a first time director, low budget and in France?! I loved it and was shocked by sequences and respected it AND was inspired by it. That's so much more than I've gotten from films over here for the last 25 years.


Deep in the woods of seduction.   June 4, 2002
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

Surpisingly good french movie, where everyone is not what he/she seems to be. This stylish sleeper is far superior to those teen-slasher flicks where everything is too obvious and there are too many explanations. Erotic, really intriguing and extremely ambiguous, "Deep in the woods" is a potential cult-movie from a 27-yrs-old director. In some ways, between Dario Argento and David De Coteau, with echoes from Mario Bava e Jean Rollin.


Deep In The Woods...Foreign Woods...   August 4, 2003
 4 out of 4 found this review helpful

"Deep In The Woods" is an outstanding foreign film. Released here in the U.S. it has not fared that well. Many think of it as a bad version of "The Blair Witch Project", it is far from it. "The Blair Witch Project" was shot like a home video wanting to be a movie, this film is a movie. Though the dubbing is not that great, the actors and story make up for it. The story's focus is on the little red riding hood fairy tale, and a bunch of grisly murders. As the characters drop one by one everyone is a suspect. Vincent Lecoeur "Fredrick" is great in his role. Watch this movie for great scenes, and acting. You will not be disappointed, for this is a great thriller.


1 star to many.   October 27, 2003
 4 out of 16 found this review helpful

Wow was that ever awful! I'd write more but Im busy cleansing my DVD player after loading that steaming pile!!!