Don't Go in the Woods [2 Discs] [Blu-ray/DVD]

Director: James Bryan James Bryan

Overview

Four campers venture into the wilderness for a relaxing hike, unaware that a deranged mountain man is slaughtering whoever crosses his path. While they tell ghost stories around the campfire and romp in the rolling streams, a number of unfortunate nature lovers are dispatched by the maniac; an ornithologist, a fisherman, a pair of newlyweds, a photographer and even a handicapped man struggling through the woods in his wheelchair. When the killer finally encounters the quartet of youths, he murders Craig (James P. Hayden), the only one with experience in the outdoors. The rest are forced to scatter, hopelessly lost in the forest. Peter (Nick McClelland) and Ingrid (Mary Gail Artz) manage to make it to the safety of a nearby town, and the authorities form a posse to seek out the mysterious murderer. But Peter is overcome with guilt by leaving Joanie (Angie Brown) behind, and he returns to the deadly forest to rescue her and get revenge for the ordeal they've all suffered through.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/10/2015
UPC:	0855011004727
Original Release:	1981
Rating:	NR
Source:	Vinegar Syndrome
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:22:00
Sales rank:	21,636

Special Features

Commentary w/director; Commentary w/director, Mary Gail Arts (lead actress) & others; Commentary w/the hysteria continues!; Cast & crew featurette (60m); Autograph signing party featurette (30min); TV promo compilation (15m); Theatrical trailer; Production still gallery; Press & art gallery; Script gallery

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Nick McClelland	Peter
James P. Hayden	Craig
Mary Artz	Ingrid
Angie Brown	Joanie
Tom Drury	The Monster
Ken Carter	Actor
Jack McClelland	Actor
H. Kingsley Thurber	Composer

Technical Credits

Garth Eliassen

James Bryan	Director,Producer
Roberto Gomez	Executive Producer
Suzette Gomez	Executive Producer
Garth Eliassen	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

This splatter hack-job was forged during the slasher Gold Rush of the early 80s, and though it's inept enough to inspire guffaws for those who find ineptness amusing, there's nothing to recommend for connoisseurs of horror. Like the films it was emulating, Don't Go In The Woods is top-heavy with anonymous victims, though in some cases these poor unfortunates aren't even introduced before we see them being ripped open with machetes or catching a bear trap in the face. This casual attitude towards coherency lends the first half of the film a boneheaded energy that can't be sustained; after two characters reach the police and a posse is formed, the proceedings become tedious and the outcome is fairly obvious. As played by Tom Drury, the killer comes off like a cross between Gunnar Hansen and the violent family members of The Hills Have Eyes, though the ridiculous belly laugh that punctuates his crimes ruins any hint of menace. The gore is clumsy and a pointless attempt at a twist ending involving a kidnapped child and a hatchet isn't unsettling and doesn't make sense. Still, anyone with the stomach to try Don't Go In The Woods should sit through the entire show just to enjoy the very dumb ditty that accompanies the closing credits. This goofy theme song (along with the awkward grammar of the film's title) is proof that no one involved with this slasher mistake took any of it seriously, and spent as little time as possible to slap it all together.