Review of Wake Wood (2011) by Carl M — 17 Jun 2013

Patrick and Louise move to the small village of Wake Wood after losing their daughter in a horrific accident. It is here that they stumble upon a magic ritual that is being performed by the locals which allows the recently deceased to return home to their families for three days, so long as they abide by a strict set of rules. In their desperation, Patrick and Louise attempt to break the rules in order to get their daughter back, but the consequences are far more horrible than they could ever have imagined. The mood is set for mystery and suspense in WAKE WOOD, a stunning Irish Horror film that calls back to more traditional tales of terror. Patrick and Louise are played by Aidan Gillen and Eva Birthistle, who express their grief in two widely different ways. Patrick becomes lost in his work as a veterinary doctor, while Louise becomes increasingly more despondent. Their looming feelings of guilt and loss are put on display in a pair of expressive performances. It becomes easier to accept their decision to follow through with the dire ritual as a result. Ella Connolly later gives her own bone-chilling debut as well as young Alice. Although neither the source of the magic nor the extent of its power are ever fully explained, we take these things for granted after becoming fully immersed in the story. The dreary setting and overwhelming sense of dread that encompass the film are accentuated even further by Chris Maris' atmospheric cinematography and Michael Convertino's unsettling score. Director David Keating has done a marvelous job in revitalizing the grand Gothic traditions of the newly reformed Hammer Film Productions.

-Carl Manes.

I Like Horror Movies.