Tag: Wake Wood

Review: The Woman In Black (2012)

Jamie Neish2 Comments

The Woman In Black is the latest release in Hammer’s modern revival, coming hot on the heels of less-than-stellar fare Wake Wood, Let Me In and The Resident. Loosely adapted from Susan Hill’s novel of the same name by up-and-coming screenwriter Jane Goldman, The Woman In Black attempts to reclaim the spark that’s been missing from modern day horror productions through an eerie atmosphere and slow-burning minimalism.

Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe), a solicitor and father, is sent to a secluded village on the East Coast of England to sort out the affairs of a recently deceased Continue reading “Review: The Woman In Black (2012)” →

Review: Wake Wood (2011)

Jamie Neish2 Comments

Directed by David Keating, Wake Wood is the latest film from the recently revived Hammer Film Productions, and stars Timothy Spall, Aidan Gillen, Eva Birthistle and Dan Gordon.

The film centers on the parents of a girl killed by a savage dog who are granted the opportunity to spend three days with their deceased daughter.

Whilst there are a few distinctly stale looking shots that disclose the paltry budget, there’s enough directorial flair from Keating to overcome any unfortunate imperfections, and make him a filmmaker worth keeping an eye on.

The special effects are mostly retro and wonderfully eerie, and though not the most visually memorable horror production, it does engender a suitably unpleasant sense of foreboding, artfully ushering classic Hammer conventions into the 21st century.

The screenplay, however, doesn’t hold up to much analysis, often falling foul to erroneous cliches, but it’s nonetheless a boisterous and disconcerted piece that thrills from start to finish.

Gillen and Birthistle each deliver suitably grim and tormented performances as the grieving couple, while Spall manages to reign in his borderline over-the-top performance to a level of creepiness that chills more than you’d think possible.

Wake Wood is a sly, compelling and notably spooky British horror that astutely reintroduces classic Hammer conventions into modern cinema.

DVD Releases: March 28, 2011

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Made In Dagenham

Director: Nigel Cole

Starring: Sally Hawkins, Bob Hoskins and Geraldine James

Life As We Know It

Director: Greg Berlanti

Starring: Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel and Christina Hendricks

Tamara Drewe

Director: Stephen Frears

Starring: Gemma Arterton, Luke Evans and Dominic Cooper

Unstoppable

Director: Tony Scott

Starring: Denzel Washington, Chris Pine and Rosario Dawson

Machete

Director: Ethan Maniquis, Robert Rodriguez

Starring: Danny Trejo, Jessica Alba and Robert De Niro

Secretariat

Director: Randall Wallace

Starring: Diane Lane, John Malkovich and Margo Martindale

You Again

Director: Andy Fickman

Starring: Kristen Bell, Odette Annable and Sigourney Weaver

Stone

Director: John Curran

Starring: Edward Norton, Milla Jovovich and Robert De Niro

The Warrior’s Way

Director: Sngmoo Lee

Starring: Dong-gun Jang, Kate Bosworth and Geoffrey Rush

Babies

Director: Thomas Balmès

Starring: Bayar, Hattie and Mari

Wake Wood

Director: David Keating

Starring: Ruth McCabe, Dan Gordon and Eva Birthistle

City Island

Director: Raymond De Felitta

Starring: Andy Garcia, Julianna Margulies and Steven Strait

Love Ranch

Director: Taylor Hackford

Starring: Helen Mirren, Joe Pesci and Bryan Cranston

Dream Home

Director: Ho-Cheung Pang

Starring: Josie Ho, Michelle Ye and Eason Chan

Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives

Director: Apichatpong Weerasethakul

Starring: Thanapat Saisaymar, Sakda Kaewbuadee and Matthieu Ly

Cinema Releases: March 25, 2011

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Faster

Director: George Tillman Jr.

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Billy Bob Thornton and Maggie Grace

Country Strong

Director: Shana Feste

Starring – Garrett Hedlund, Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw

Cave Of Forgotten Dreams

Director: Werner Herzog

Starring: Werner Herzog, Dominique Baffier and Jean Clottes

Wake Wood

Director: David Keating

Starring: Eva Birthistle, Ella Connolly and Amelia Crowley

A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures

Director: Ben Stassen

Starring: Melanie Griffith, Isabelle Fuhrman and Yuri Lowenthal