Don't Go in the Woods (1980)

This staggeringly inept b-horror film must've caused a little stir since its been out, currently #93 on the list of bottom 100 movies of all-time and coming up a little higher every so often at the Internet Movie Database. I won't disagree from the various opinions on that website that it's an awful film indeed, but there's a special charm to it and enough laughs that kept a guilty smile on my face watching it.

The story centers around two young couples who head on a camping trip together out in the wilderness. What seems like fun at first is hampered by Peter (Jack McClelland), who is incredibly uncomfortable out in the woods and it only gets worse for him when he witnesses a murder from a back-woods psychopath, who likes to knock off anyone who makes the mistake of entering his territory. While Peter tries to get his friends to believe him about the the killer, a lazy sheriff and his deputy decide to head out to the woods and find out about the random disappearances in the small town, which are believed to be linked in the woods.

The story is pretty slim, which writer Garth Eliassen and director James Bryan seem to be aware of as they pack the film with nature footage and a high body count whenever they don't know what to do with the couples. The nature shots are tiresome, but the random killing scenes are a rather amusing way to splash plentiful fake blood and guts on the screen. It helps they do this often since the leads are bland and have nothing to do aside from walking through woods and occasionally whining (which grows old fast).

All the campers in this film are so obnoxious enough that the killer (credited as "Maniac") will gain your sympathy. Bryan was smart enough to hide his identity in the first half of the movie, because once you see him, its impossible not to laugh. With the appearance of a caveman, he runs around the woods laughing manically and even drools in excitement after setting a beartrap on a fisherman. We don't see him very often in the film, but he's an absolute riot for the screentime that he has.
I liked the use of the corny synthesizer score and cartoony sound effects throughout the movie, which reminded me a bit of an Italian giallo film. Also, if you rent this film, at least try to stick around for the end credits, which has a hilarious theme song for the film with lyrics so funny that I thought I'd list them at the end of the review.

I did find myself eyeing the fast forward button throughout the first part of the film, but it manages to get more fun once the killer keeps popping around. Although a bong hit or some alcohol might just be the best way to find any enjoyment from this film, if you have an appreciation for cheesy films, you might just get a kick out of it.

Rating: ** 1/2 out of *****

Review by Adam Eshack - (c) 1/27/02