Don't Go in the Woods (2010 film)
A slasher musical set in the woods of New York.
Don't Go in the Woods is a 2010 American horror musical written and directed by Vincent D'Onofrio. It was first shown in 2010 at single locations in the United States, released on video on demand in December 2011, and given a general theatrical release in January 2012. The film was produced by 5 Minutes Productions in upper New York state and distributed by Tribeca Film.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Vincent D'Onofrio
- Story
- Sam Bisbee; Joe Vinciguerra
- Music
- Sam Bisbee
- Cinematography
- Mike Latino
- Editing
- Jennifer Lee
- Studio
- 5 Minutes Productions
- Distributor
- Tribeca Films
- Released
- 16 April 2010, Sarasota Film Festival
Facts from the source article.
Plot
A band consisting of leader Nick, Anton, Johnny, Carlo, and the blind Robbie goes camping in the woods to write new songs. They ignore a sign reading "Don't Go in the Woods" and set up camp. While collecting firewood, Nick and Carlo find a hunting cabin full of weapons including a sledgehammer, but they ignore it and break the group's cellphones to aid creativity. The band's manager Carson is killed while trying to find the campsite. That night, Nick tells a legend of stranded warriors who turned to cannibalism, leaving only one survivor. The band is joined by female friends including Nick's ex-girlfriend Ashley, Johnny's girlfriend Callie, Melinda, her foreign friend Sophie, Felicity, and best friends Charlotte and Georgia. Nick is upset by the distraction. Charlotte leaves after Carlo's flirting, and she and Georgia head to the cars; a sledgehammer smashes through the windscreen, killing Georgia and then Charlotte. The next morning, Nick tries to make the girls leave. Anton finds the van's battery dead. Nick and Ashley briefly reconcile, but Nick goes off to write alone. That night, Nick breaks the girls' cellphones. Felicity searches for Anton and is killed with a sledgehammer. Johnny and Callie leave to make out and are beaten to death.
Production
Vincent D'Onofrio's first feature film as a director was shot on his own property in Woodstock, New York, using just two cameras. He came up with the idea while waiting for the rights to clear on another project, a delay he found frustrating. Filming began only two months after the initial concept, wrapped in twelve days, and cost $100,000. D'Onofrio has said that the best directors he worked with stayed true to their original vision, and he tried to do the same by treating the script as a blueprint. He and his team deliberately wrote a B-movie structure and then turned it into a musical, achieving exactly what they set out to do. He calls the result an "absurd slasher musical." The cast was largely non-professional; some of the actresses were local coffee shop workers, while three of the male performers were in a band called the Dirty Dirty and had already made music together. D'Onofrio found it challenging to maintain horror tension during the musical numbers, because singing naturally relieves on-screen suspense. Despite the shared title, the film has no connection to the 1981 movie of the same name.
Reception
Critics largely panned the film. On Rotten Tomatoes, only one of eight reviews is positive, giving it a 13% score. Kristen McCracken of Huffington Post Entertainment called it a fun, campy B-movie with good music and plenty of scares. Dustin Putman praised its spirit and craftsmanship, calling it both conventional and unique. Michelle Orange of Movieline.com felt it was unfinished, like a harmony needing a better bridge. Nick Pinkerton of the Village Voice was harshest, dismissing the cast as poor actors and accusing the film of settling for novelty while offending fans of the genres it watered down.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the music for Don't Go in the Woods (2010 film)?
The music for Don't Go in the Woods was composed by Sam Bisbee.
How long is Don't Go in the Woods (2010 film)?
Don't Go in the Woods has a running time of 83 minutes.
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