Wake Wood (2011)

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

The description is a poor description. I passed on this movie several times based on the "tease" description on Amazon.Don't pass on it. Aiden Gillean is wonderful. The story line is one that is more original that most horror movies these days. It's delightfully tense, and squidgey in all the right places.I highly recommend it.

(57%) A better than most family based horror from the new hands of Hammer horror. The great Tim Spall in a fairly decent in terms of screen time support role elevates the film by some margin, and even though the main line up isn't quite up to his standard I still found this to be a stronger film than I was first expecting. What this also has over many films of this type is quite a high level of blood and gore, plus it's entertaining, not that badly made considering the all too clear lowish budget. Overall the gore is there, it's watchable, it's not over-long, there's plenty fun to be had, and of course there's Mr Spall making this a better film than first assumed.

Well there is always the case that I always have high expectations whenever I hear of a British/Irish horror film because I often think of a "Woman in black" or "Don't Look now". Often I have been disappointed LOL. So here comes another in the line of slow burn British horrors. Well this is not as slow burn as I thought, to be honest. Things are moving faster than I would have liked most of the time. It has influences from many movies - obviously Don't Look now, Pet sematary, Deathdream and the obvious Monkey's Paw story. But it does not have the power of these movies at all. In fact towards the end, some scenes were quite reminiscent of Deathdream, for example. But while Deathdream moved me to tears, I am not sure of this movie had any impact on me at all. For such a sad story, the impact is quite less. The performances are good but maybe there are problems with the pacing and the script. The things that happen are so clichéd and everything's been done before in much better ways. Even as a horror movie, it doesn't work perfectly. Not even a couple of jump scares which could provide some cheap thrills. At no point is this adorable little girl ever threatening. Last one is a shallow complaint. But the Arthur character was a little distracting because I remember as that character in the movie Enchanted. I just couldn't take him seriously. But that's not a serious complaint. As a standalone film(not considering the horror elements), it is actually not so bad. But it is just that I was reminded of better films because there is not much originality in the story or style.

I was happy when I heard that Hammer studios was back in business. So far they delivered 2 flicks, The Resident (2011) and this one. Wake Wood leans more towards the Hammer style then The Resident although both do have their own thing. Wake Wood has more red stuff. But that doesn't make a flick. My only point of negativity is the use of CGI. There is one scene that I didn't like, when they make a close-up of the child's neck and we see her wounds disappear. It was done 100% CGI and I hated it. I guess one shot is also CGI, when blood sputters out of a neck. But luckily the film has a good atmosphere. It takes place in Ireland and let that be the country of Paganism and Witchcraft. And that is what it's all about. Bringing back the death by old rituals. As I stated it do contain a lot of blood but it never becomes too gory. It was David Keating his first attempt to make a real horror. And he succeeded. Some shots were typical seventies style , even hammer style and the way it was edited was also a return to the seventies. The acting was okay. Only Eva Birthistle we knew from the horror The Children (2008). She even has a small nudity in Wake Wood.If I must choose which one, Wake Wood or The Resident, leans most to the old Hammer I would say wake Wood. Gore 2/5 Nudity 0,5/5 Effects 3/5 Story 3/5 Comedy 0/5