Review of Wake Wood (2011) by Scott J — 30 Mar 2011

Solid effort from the newly revitalised Hammer Studios, that was bizarrely delayed release for months and then finally trotted out to just a few cinemas before hastily dumped to DVD (whilst Hammer's Let Me In and Hilary Swank horror The Resident got wide releases). Never mind, it's ripe for discovery now and well worth seeking out. A sort of cross between the likes of The Wicker Man and Don't Look Now (shades of the former's paganism/ritualistic small village setting and the latter's visual aesthetic), Wake Wood has a fascinating mythology - a place where the dead can be returned - but only for a few days. A new couple to the village, grieving for the loss of their daughter, inevitably discover about the secrets of the Wake Wood and of course take up on the opportunity to bring her back... and of course, things don't go as they had hoped.

Perhaps a little similar also to Pet Semetary, there is much to recommend this film; a sparse, sensible running time, some brilliant acting from the leads (and a scene-stealing turn from Timothy Spall), and above all an engrossing and effective story. What's interesting, and telling, is that the sometimes quite brutal gore effects are probably the least remarkable aspect of the film. Deserves to garner a loyal following.