Backwoods is typically one of those films that I would normally turn down. If it was not for the boys over at Deadpit.com, I probably would of. However Backwoods, has actually received some praise on the web, despite it’s flaws.
Let’s face it folks, the days of the independent filmmaker shooting on the original 29.9 frame a second digital video is most likely over with the emergence of the 24p camera everyone is using now. This film is shot on that now dying format of digital video. That flat look, that has the very clear picture and great colors. It’s that flat look that always throws me off, especially when horror films are shot on them. It takes away from the overall scare factor of the picture. However despite this film being shot on digital, there is one thing that separates this film from all the rest; the story!
So yes the film has a basic story line. One we all have seen before. A group of kids who get lost in the woods where a killer dwells, and yup; he kills them off one by one. However Backwoods has some good elements despite it’s basic story and even involves social issues such as teen pregnancy, alcoholism and abortion. One however can obviously point out the similarities the film has to such great horror films as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Friday the 13th, as the killer in the film is basically a cross bread mix between Jason and Leatherface.
I can respect the fact that this film was made on a very small budget. There are a few things in this film that are obviously basic flaws that many independent filmmakers make. This film does have a few of them, such as jump cuts and some scenes where the colors don’t match up from shot to shot and a few audio gliches. However this only happens once or twice in the film and will not effect the overall experience of the film. Robert Elkins who not only directed this film but did just about everything else; did a pretty god job putting this film together none the less. And I give him a lot of credit for giving us not only a decent film to watch but also presenting a social issue within his film. A thing that I find most independent horror film makers fail to address.
In terms of the overall feel for the film besides it’s look, I felt that the movie did start off a bit slow but slowly got better as it moved along. The acting in this film is what most would expect it to be for a indie flick. It is at some times decent, but when your using new talent in your picture it’s hard to get the best performances out of them, and that’s the case with this movie. I really felt there were only two people in the film whom seemed like they truly know the craft the acting. One of them was the sheriff, the other was the killer Caleb whom really didn’t have much acting to do in the first place. Our lead heroine Played by Carie Keller was decent in some scenes but in other what I saw was an actress who had trouble keeping herself back from laughing during the scenes that involved her face to face with the killer. She does however provide the film with a much needed great looking heroine and I praise Robert Elkins for casting her in the role.
The special effects are pretty good, but basic. The only issue I had with the effects in the film was the quick cuts used between shots to help the effect look more realistic of which I felt took away from the film. There was also a shot of a camera that appeared to have blood on it, however the blood looked more like lipstick. Other than that the effect in this film are not half bad.
Overall, the one thing that made Backwoods a good film to watch is that the script was well written. I’m a big fan of horror films that incorporate social issues within the film and give the audience something to think about. Backwoods is what I like to call a “Smart” horror film. It’s actually a film that I can see the likes of Tempe Entertainment or Camp Motion Pictures picking up. Backwoods is an overall very well put together independent horror film. It does have it flaws, but it’s a lot better than most of the independent horror films out there.
– Horror Bob
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- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
