‘Girl in Woods’ [Review]

Girl in Woods is Jeremy Benson’s (Live Animals) latest flick and it’s part survival horror, part psychological, but if I was to describe the film in one sentence it would be a “total freakin’ mindf**k!” The film had me scratching my head on so many occasions that I actually questioned my own sanity at times, it gets you and it lingers there while spewing various scenarios in your mind. It’s pretty good, in short.

Girl in Woods follows Grace (Juliet Reeves London) as she, along with her fiancé Jim (Jeremy London) venture deep into the woods for a little retreat. This is also the perfect time for Jim to pop the question to Grace at a romantic hotspot secluded in the woods. Unfortunately things go a little awry after a catastrophic event takes place and Grace is left alone in the middle of nowhere with a bottle of water, a phone with no signal and a rifle. Oh, did I mention that Grace has some mental health problems? Yeah, it’s not clear but it’s probably depression and anxiety and maybe even schizophrenia.

These woods are definitely not the best place for her, and she doesn’t take it too well. She soon spirals into madness as she battles the demons within her own mind after several tragic moments in her early life continue to manifest themselves in her mind. She’s only, lost, scared and possibly delusional. The film is littered with various flashbacks to her mysterious childhood, which only adds to the confusion for the viewer, but then I’m guessing that’s the whole point.

The film is, as I’ve mentioned above, an absolute mindf**k. As we venture deeper into the film it continues to get more confusing, but it also adds to the mystery of the film. Is Grace simply mad? Are these visions actually happening or is there something more at play here? These questions will remain with you until the end of the film and possibly long after. I’m sitting here and I’m still trying to make heads-and-tails of it, but that’s what we want. Who want’s to be spoon-fed every single detail?

Jeremy Benson’s direction is excellent, coupled with Ryan Parker’s fantastic cinematography, we have a beautifully shot film that comes together thanks to Juliet Reeves’ strong performance throughout, although some scenes are a little drawn out and at times rather repetitive, but it holds its own.

All in all it’s an enjoyable, mysterious ride into the mind of our protagonist as well as your own.

If you’re after a psychological thriller that’ll keep you guessing, I recommend you check out Girl in Woods this June 3, 2016 on VOD.