Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.
Okay... I’m glad I asked.
Yesterday, I ran an enthusiastic letter I got about a French slasher film called DEEP IN THE WOODS. I asked you, the readers, if you’d heard of the film. I got a few more positive responses, including a letter telling me that the film has been booked into the SCREAMFEST Horror Film Festival taking place Oct 24th and 25th at “the haunted Vogue Theatre at 6675 Hollywood Blvd.”
That was the exception, though, not the rule. For the most part, what I heard was disdain on your part, and I thought I’d run a sampling of your reactions. Try this one:
I had a chance to see this film as well as Ginger Snaps months ago and out of the two Snaps was FAR better.
I scanned the credits backward and forward looking for confirmation that this is an Argento film but no such luck its just an obvious knockoff or ode. Which isnt bad had Woods taken the viewer somewhere. It also has traces of David Lynchs weirdness too. But again it goes nowhere.
A good cast might have helped a little but instead were stuck with a group of people who dont know what to do with the material theyve been given. I can deal with inane plotless films as long as there is a point somewhere. But Deep in the Woods isnt anything to get excited about unless you don’t know how many times this formula has been played out in the past few decades. From The Cabinet of Dr Caligari to Repulsion to Suspira right down to Eraserhead or Heart of Midnight...its been done and done better!!
Oh well thought i'd add my input. I do have one suggestion...Criminal Lovers. Released by Strand a year or so ago its not great but the overall message is comical and horrifying.
Well later.
TraumaHouseBurns
D. Alexander wrote to tell me that DEEP IN THE WOODS is already listed as available from Netflix, the online rental service. That slightly contradicts another letter I got:
Hey,
Names Rory. Saw the review for Deep In The Woods and thought the title sounded familiar. Sure enough, I found it at Fangoria.com's upcoming horror movie list. Here's their description as well as tentative release date for direct-to-video in America.
OCTOBER 23
DEEP IN THE WOODS (Phaedra): A French contribution to the youth-horror trend, 27-year-old director Lionel Delplanque's feature debut tracks a troupe of young actors who are called to a remote chateau to perform their unique take on "Little Red Riding Hood" and receive a murderous welcome. Following a brief LA release, it hits video from Artisan on this date.
Okay, so we’ll definitely get a look at it here in the States, one way or another. But is it worth it? You all didn’t seem to think so. Take Salamar’s letter, for example:
Hi!
Since no one heard of this film in the US i’ll just write a little review. Promenons Nous Dans Les Bois (Deep In The Wood) is probably the only French slasher film ever; it wasn’t such a hit in France so it’s maybe for this reason that it wasn’t distributed in the US.
Well i honestly can’t say that this movie is good, the plot is cliché and somewhat ridiculous, all the slasher classic situations are found here, the characters are stupid and the killer motif is barely understandable, the french wanted to do a new Scream but they failed in my opinion. What is good in the film is that it does contain some nudity, which i think is essential and missed these days in the slasher genre.
First time director Lionel Delplanque is a very talented guy, he gives the film an awesome look, the colors and lightings reminded me of Dario Argento’s films, and the widescreen compositions are the best i’ve ever seen since John Carpenter’s Halloween, every shot and every camera angle is impressive and inspired and the awesome images are accompanied by a great score, the film is visually perfect but it’s a shame that the plot is so bad that it ruined the entire product.
I recommend this for horror fans like me, they’ll appreciate Delplanque’s perfect handling of the visuals but will regret the very bad script.
Bye!
Salamar.
So it looks good but has no script? Is that what you’re saying? Euro-AICN’s long-absent Grozilla popped up to offer his take:
Hi there
Sorry for having been AWOL so long. Truth is I didn't have many things to say or good films to review. On the other side, I can’t tell you how useful Edgard was with translating my awful English. I'm leaving from Paris now to cover a New Image festival in Montréal from October 12th to October 20th. There's a very promising documentary section over there. I guess I'll be back with some stories in my luggage. I got a long interview of Oliveir Dahan (director of Le Petit Poucet, amazing version of Tom Thumb) but I ain't got enough time to translate it now. Be sure I'll send it when I'll be back and at ease. I guess on the end of the month.
Anyway, I just wrote this mail to warn you about Deep In The Woods. This flick sucks a lot. Right, this Delplanque knows to shoot some scenes, but Deep In The Woods is one of the worst French films seen in a while. Just the usual teenage screamer, but with less script than ever. And where it does have a script, it's really dumb. This film's worth seeing for some of its stupid scenes such as the identity of the killer, or the apparition of a cop. It was launched here on the heels of the Scream-mania and got a little success. But you won't believe the sad faces of the kids at the end of the show. If you need to see a french angst-film, better look at Child's Play (Un jeu d'enfant), made a year later, strangely enough by the same producers. At least that one's got frightening mood and is just for the fun of it.
I met Deep's director after the release of the film. I told him he must surely have known Goblin's work based on the way he uses the music in his film. He answered “Goblin? Hmm... no, I don't know this Argento's films. Have you seen them?" Well, that sums up what this guy is about.
Anyway I can't leave without some short news from France. Good ones: Miyazaki's Spirited Away will be released here on January the 12th. Quite the same date Buena Vista released Mononoke Hime two years ago. Tsui Hark's Time & Tide (exceeeeeeellent) will be on our screens
on December 12th! Bad one: From Hell (just saw it - good, but not as powerful as the comic-book) was scheduled here on November 28th. It's now rescheduled for February.
Thanks, Grozilla, and your English is just fine. Nice to hear from you.
Finally, we have Dom, the first reader I actually heard from. Within moments of me putting the article up yesterday, this e-mail arrived:
Hi, there,
Just checked out the review for Deep In The Woods ("Promenons-nous dans les bois"). It's a movie that came out last year in France (the DVD is already out). I have to tell you that you are going to be VERY disappointed by this film. The teaser and theatrical trailer were awesome and made me want to see it right away. I eventually saw it on the first week of release. The movie is really a major letdown!
The cinematography and camera work is outstanding,
superb, magnificent. I thought it looked better than
the recent slasher movies that the American studios
have produced, like Scream and I Know What You Did Last
Summer. The murder scenes are also very good, ultra-violent and inventive. But this movie is the perfect example of style over substance. The script is
really horrible. I wonder what the hell they were thinking. The director (Lionel Delplanque, who is also the screenwriter) should have known better and improved the script before making his film. So, really don't expect anything from this movie. A lot of people in France thought the same: great cinematography but horrible plot.
Common refrain, indeed. Many of the small one or two line letters that showed up said “It looked good, but was stupid!” and “You would not believe this script!” Still, if you’re fan of the widescreen nightmares of Argento or Carpenter, it sounds like this film pays lush visual homage to their work. And any film that makes someone ask the director if they’re a fan of Goblin sounds like I’ll have to peek at it eventually.
Which reminds me... where did I put that SUSPIRIA DVD?
"Moriarty" out.
