The Woods
The Falburn Academy–Does it really exist? Read on and we’ll find out together!
Set in 1965, at a secluded, woods-bound all-girls school named the Falburn Academy, we meet Heather Fasulo (Agnes Bruckner) and her parents Sam and Alice (Bruce Campbell and Emma Campbell respectively — no relation) as they travel to drop off their troubled daughter at her new school away from home. What none of the Fasulo’s know is that the Falburn Academy has a mysterious and horrific past, one drenched in black-magic…and blood. And Heather is soon going to find out that the past will always come back to haunt.
This movie has all the qualities of a modern fairytale. We’ve got the secluded, sentinel-esque schoolhouse nestled way back in a remote part of the woods of New England. It’s staffed by all manner of prim and proper ladies with stern expressions and idiosyncratic mannerisms such as facial ticks and Gioconda Smiles. There’s a rumour talked about in hushed tones amongst the students that the Academy was usurped by witches over one hundred years ago — and may still be under their control. And last but not least, let’s not forget the woods. They whisper, and if you’re “special” you might just hear what they have to say.
Lucky McKee, the writer and director of the indie horror classic May (2002) really knew what he was doing when he directed The Woods. He uses great colours, all earth tones, to unify the look of the film. The colours mimic those found outside the Academy’s walls, the colours of autumn, of death, decay and dormancy. The shadows are inky and mysterious, almost black, and often forms fall away into nothingness reciprocating the feeling of a Rembrandt painting. He shores up the look with well thought out and executed cinematography making the audience feel just as trapped as the characters in the film. It always impresses me when a director goes so far as to not only make a visually cohesive film but to draw us in and cause us to experience the horror as well.
Being so story driven, the film relies little on special effects. That’s what gives this movie such power. There’s no necessity for hokey gore and blood effects. Jason Vorhees need not apply. The few CG effects used are very well produced and only enhance the horror of the film. It’s the type of film you wish you had actually experienced in real life just to say, “Yeah, I was there. I fought the good fight. Oh, this scar? That’s where a tree branch tried to strangle me. Yep…no joking; a tree branch.”
Heather Fasulo (Agnes Bruckner) is the perfect character to put in the lead role of the film. She’s exactly the protagonist that you want to root for. She’s headstrong, inquisitive and questioning and she doesn’t take grief from anyone. Even when adversity rears its ugly head, Heather steps up to the plate and isn’t afraid to bury the hatchet (ha ha). Miss Traverse the headmistress (Patricia Clarkson), Ms. Mackinaw (Marcia Bennett) and the other staff members at the Falburn Academy are suitably creepy with underhanded motives that are never quite revealed until the end of the film. No one can be trusted. It keeps you guessing as to what is really going on. The mystery surrounding the Academy is one of the highlights of this film. Revealing the mythos behind this secluded institution of learning is half the journey — and it’s classic. You’re really going to like it.
Sam Fasulo (Bruce Campbell) is one of the only male characters in the entire film. When we’re first introduced to him he seems a little whipped; that he’s uncaring toward his daughter and under the control of his prudish wife Alice. But in the end, he shakes off those shackles of marital subjugation to stand up tall and proud like his daughter to take on the evil that has engulfed the Academy.
All said The Woods was a well written story with a cohesive mythology, a moody atmosphere supported by a musical score that is at times ethereal, even ghostly, and great acting by all involved. The 1965 setting is perfect, complete with original songs from the time like You Don’t Own Me by Lesley Gore and all the vehicles which would have been present. Thank God for car restoration afficionados. No cellphones exist either, no one to call, and the behaviours and language of the period are impeccably captured. There’s a really impressive venomous rant that Ms. Mackinaw (Marcia Bennett) spews forth about lady-like propriety and tardiness which is really quite shocking. I’d probably be stunned silent if someone pointed that much invective at me. Coaxed along by a cogent director and a great production team The Woods is a winner all around. Grab a copy today!
One final note about the ‘Falburn Academy’. The Woods was shot right here in jolly old Canada, mostly in Montreal and around McGill University. The university was founded in 1821, 46 years before Canada was even confederated and there is a distinct possiblity that the interiors and exteriors were filmed there because of it’s old-timey architecture. That being said, there was also a second unit that did work for The Woods in England. Is England the source of the solid and daunting exterior of the Falburn Academy or is that building connected to McGill University? That is something you shall have to figure out 
For now, that is all. Goodnight.
November 15th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I really liked this film. Its creepy ambience gave it a nice fairytale quality, and it was interesting to watch the exploration of women subjugating women, which is very subtle and very psychological. Great review!