The Village in the Woods (2019)

The Village in the Woods (2019)

I hardly ever watch film clips before watching films. I tend to watch them afterwards to remind myself of a film I’ve forgotten. But when I’m watching, I like to be as surprised as possible. That said, I did look at a few photos from this film before diving in. And I thought it looked quite artistic and that the actors seemed very good. I didn’t know if this film was going to be really scary, though…

So, artistic… yes! But the film is too slow to hold your attention throughout. What a shame! The film drags on and seems endless.

There’s an intro, a very nice beginning. Then there are so many things that can be scary: disturbing smiles, darkness, shadows, masks… But let’s admit that it’s rare to match films like Rosemary’s Baby (1968) or The Wicker Man (1973). Both films had incredible atmospheres and good pacing. They managed to captivate and unsettle viewers from beginning to end. There was no filler, no jump scares with music deliberately turned up too loud! A confusing and uncomfortable atmosphere was enough.

Here, we are once again faced with questions such as: How broke are you? What would you do for money? Would you stay in an unhealthy place if it meant earning a few quid?

Could you spend a few days in the cold, the chaos, the fog…
And how foggy is it already in your head, in your mind?

Admittedly, the main characters are very natural. The others are deliberately not. Their coldness and their superficial, theatrical welcome make you feel more than uncomfortable. But all this is not enough to make a good film. It takes the right balance for it to work.

Just because the main actors are natural doesn’t mean we want to follow them in their boring daily routine. Especially if they’re not happy. No, it’s not that I don’t care about people’s misery, but sometimes the solution and the problems are right in front of our eyes… so why not seize the opportunities? This is what frustrates the viewer, who knows where the story is going without being sure of the method used, but almost certain that it will be déjà vu. The connoisseur will find themselves on familiar ground and contemplate a series of events that are not very original.

Once again, I watched helplessly as a couple embarked on their greatest descent into hell. I wanted to shake them, but I knew they couldn’t hear me, since I was sitting behind my screen and they were deliberately doing the opposite of what I would have advised them to do, simply to make another film that tried to distract me for a moment.

All this stuff about forests, cabins, houses on the left, right or at the end of the street, abandoned manors or castles, it doesn’t work anymore… and maybe it never really did! It takes more than a scary atmosphere to make a good film. And to create an excellent film, you need at least a solid story, an incredible script and flawless direction. Not just likeable actors who speak perfect English.

You’re not fooled: ‘The Village in the Woods’ is indeed a failed film, despite the good reviews. They had to sell it! We know very well that with each attempt to escape, the ‘heroes’ will have to face a new obstacle or unexpected event. Putting naked women or sex scenes in the film wasn’t going to save this dud either. The dialogue isn’t particularly interesting, whereas with good dialogue, you can create unforgettable feature films. There are certainly some very good actors in the supporting roles, but you wouldn’t know it. The black humour is lost and only makes those who laugh easily smile.

Another totally pointless film from the United Kingdom. And to think that I used to swear by them, in a distant past.

The last thirty seconds are not without interest (although it’s too late to try to regain any momentum of respect) and the music in the end credits is magnificent. It’s these small details that prevent me from giving it the lowest possible rating.

Raine McCormack seems to have many talents: director, screenwriter, producer… He makes films, composes music, writes poetry and has also taken up photography. The problem is that if he does everything in the same way he made this film… it quickly becomes much less exciting! When you make art, you have to at least respect it.