"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.

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 throughout ... and the presence of Bruce Campbell.

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

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 more. 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.

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 horrifying 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."