Wake Wood (2011)

Reviving the legend of Hammer films certainly seemed like a great idea. Renowned for their creepiness and monster mayhem, Hammer was one of the most influential horror players in the film industry for approximately four decades (most relevantly, perhaps, in the fifties and sixties). Their 1958 version of "Dracula" with Christopher Lee is still considered by many to be the definitive film version of this oft told tale. Well, Hammer is back in the game! Their first release was the contemplative vampire remake "Let Me In," a terrific film that owes far more to its Swedish predecessor than to the mystique and allure of Hammer. Their follow-up film "The Resident," however, is pure Hammer--unfortunately, it's late period schlock as opposed to something that's going to reinvigorate the legend. Finally, with the creepy "Wake Wood," we've got something that represents the Hammer name and legacy in a recognizable way.

I must, however, be slightly cautious in my recommendation of "Wake Wood" as to announce it as a pulse pounding horror thriller might be setting up false expectations. The film is most effective at establishing an unsettling vibe and mood--it's an atmospheric film that owes far more to realistic and believable performances than to outrageous scares or gore. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of blood--but what really provides the tension in the film are the strong and sometimes fearless performances of leads Aiden Gillen and Eva Birthistle. Birthistle, in particular, is astoundingly heartfelt--aggressive when necessary but always accessible and vulnerable. After the unexpected death of their daughter, the couple struggles to cope. Moving to a new, and noticeably odd, new community--they are growing ever more distant. But the town holds a secret and it might just make them a whole family once again. But be careful what you wish for! Tampering with life and death is not for the faint hearted and the repercussions of their decisions begin to have horrifying consequences.

In truth, there is nothing spectacularly new or original in the film. The creepy town that unites for ritualistic supernatural events has been covered countless times (including, but not limited to, two of my childhood favorites--The Wicker Man and The Dark Secret of Harvest Home). Also, the yearning for a lost child at any cost has been imagined in many ways. As the violence starts to spiral out of control--again, it all feels very familiar. But that doesn't mean that it doesn't work. I liked Timothy Spall as an offbeat town elder--much more slickly menacing than in his usual role choices. The effects are good. I'd certainly warn those who are put off toward violence to animals, it can be grim going in that respect. And I really enjoyed the tease of the ending. But ultimately, the real selling point of the film and what distinguishes it from the many other choices in the genre are those terrific lead performances. More creepy than horrifying, this is one well acted film! So I'm happy to welcome back Hammer films and see what else they have in store. KGHarris, 6/11.

Reviving the legend of Hammer films certainly seemed like a great idea. Renowned for their creepiness and monster mayhem, Hammer was one of the most influential horror players in the film industry for approximately four decades (most relevantly, perhaps, in the fifties and sixties). Their 1958 version of "Dracula" with Christopher Lee is still considered by many to be the definitive film version of this oft told tale. Well, Hammer is back in the game! Their first release was the contemplative vampire remake "Let Me In," a terrific film that owes far more to its Swedish predecessor than to the mystique and allure of Hammer. Their follow-up film "The Resident," however, is pure Hammer--unfortunately, it's late period schlock as opposed to something that's going to reinvigorate the legend. Finally, with the creepy "Wake Wood," we've got something that represents the Hammer name and legacy in a recognizable way.

I must, however, be slightly cautious in my recommendation of "Wake Wood" as to announce it as a pulse pounding horror thriller might be setting up false expectations. The film is most effective at establishing an unsettling vibe and mood--it's an atmospheric film that owes far more to realistic and believable performances than to outrageous scares or gore. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of blood--but what really provides the tension in the film are the strong and sometimes fearless performances of leads Aiden Gillen and Eva Birthistle. Birthistle, in particular, is astoundingly heartfelt--aggressive when necessary but always accessible and vulnerable. After the unexpected death of their daughter, the couple struggles to cope. Moving to a new, and noticeably odd, new community--they are growing ever more distant. But the town holds a secret and it might just make them a whole family once again. But be careful what you wish for! Tampering with life and death is not for the faint hearted and the repercussions of their decisions begin to have horrifying consequences.

In truth, there is nothing spectacularly new or original in the film. The creepy town that unites for ritualistic supernatural events has been covered countless times (including, but not limited to, two of my childhood favorites--The Wicker Man and The Dark Secret of Harvest Home). Also, the yearning for a lost child at any cost has been imagined in many ways. As the violence starts to spiral out of control--again, it all feels very familiar. But that doesn't mean that it doesn't work. I liked Timothy Spall as an offbeat town elder--much more slickly menacing than in his usual role choices. The effects are good. I'd certainly warn those who are put off toward violence to animals, it can be grim going in that respect. And I really enjoyed the tease of the ending. But ultimately, the real selling point of the film and what distinguishes it from the many other choices in the genre are those terrific lead performances. More creepy than horrifying, this is one well acted film! So I'm happy to welcome back Hammer films and see what else they have in store. KGHarris, 6/11.

Buy Wake Wood (2011) Now

After a couple lose their only daughter in a horrible accident, desperation leads them to try occult means to bring her back. Unfortunately, things don't go according to plan, leading to horror, despair, and carnage. WAKE WOOD is a tremendously unsettling, atmospheric creeper w/ a gradually tightening sense of suffocating dread. It's also one of the best supernatural thrillers I've ever seen. If you enjoy stories like THE MONKEY'S PAW, PET SEMETARY, HELLBOUND (BOOK OF THE DEAD), or BOBBY from Dan Curtis' DEAD OF NIGHT (TV) anthology, then WW will make you smile w/ grim delight! Well worth owning...

Read Best Reviews of Wake Wood (2011) Here

For a description of the plot, etc., read other reviews. I just want to give my thoughts on this movie...

This 2011 movie was recommended to me, so I had to see it. It's a very interesting, bizarre, and different Hammer horror movie. This movie marked Hammer's return to making movies. Ironically, it really doesn't have the same feel and atmosphere of the Hammer horror movies that were so popular in the 1950's, '60s, and '70s. Like the old Hammer movies, it's low budget, but this movie is a lot more gruesome and bloody than the goriest and bloodiest Hammer movies from decades ago. It's more in tune with what contemporary audiences want and expect from horror movies in general. In contrast, the new version of "The Woman In Black" (2012), also a Hammer movie, is more in tune with the old Hammer movies. However, I did enjoy "Wake Wood" and its bizarre plot, unique camera angles, and very different and unique musical score by Michael Convertino. I think the music is one of this movie's greatest assets. That and the camera angles and overall cinematography and feel. This is one of those movies where the viewer needs to suspend all disbelief and just accept the plot for what it is, weirdness and all.

Overall, this movie is definitely worth a look. I highly recommend it.

Want Wake Wood (2011) Discount?

WAKE WOOD is a Hammer Films production/presentation with Hammer CEO Simon Oakes one of the driving forces behind getting the film made. It's officially listed as an Irish/Swedish co-production and features location shooting in Donegal with some studio work done in Sweden. Together they make up the fictional town of Wake Wood where it is possible to bring the dead back to life...but only for 3 days. There is a surprising amount of subtext under the traditional storyline that gives WAKE WOOD added depth. A young medical couple (he's a vet, she's a pharmacist) lose their 9 year old daughter in a vicious accident. They relocate to Wake Wood without knowing the town's secret. Once they find out, they go through a special ritual involving the whole village in order to get her back. Everything is fine at first but then things go horribly wrong.

What makes WAKE WOOD so intriguing is how it combines elements of DON'T LOOK NOW with those of the original WICKER MAN while remaining an original film in its own right. At 82 minutes (minus credits), it's lean and mean with no wasted footage and has a wonderfully creepy aura thanks to atmospheric cinematography and a haunting, unsettling music score. All the acting is top notch especially Timothy Spall as the village elder and Ella Connoly as the ressurected daughter. The quality control on all the new Hammer films has been top grade but up until recently they have had trouble finding audiences in America. LET ME IN tanked, THE RESIDENT went straight to DVD as did WAKE WOOD. However Hammer's last effort, a remake of THE WOMAN IN BLACK with Daniel Radcliffe, has acheived worldwide success with a total gross of over $100 million.

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