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Don't Go in the Woods Review

Don't Go in the Woods

Being a slasher buff is a very exciting thing. There are plenty of well-known films featured in the sub-genre, but if you do enough digging, you will find some pretty obscure, pretty great flicks that most others may never learn about. One film that I’m happy to add to my slasher collection is James Bryan’s 1981 indie project, Don’t Go in the Woods.

Don’t Go in the Woods focuses on a group of four campers who are trying to enjoy a nice little getaway with mother nature. While the four friends are continuing their trip, there is a wild man killing and maiming everyone he comes across…

The plot I’ve laid out seems like a pretty standard one as far as slasher fare goes, but there is certainly a uniqueness to Don’t Go in the Woods. While the main focus is certainly the four campers — Ingrid, Joanie, Craig, and Peter — there are a whole slew of other strangers sprinkled throughout the woods who serve as the main victims of our wild woodsman. There are seemingly random scenes consisting of basically no plot or development at all, just straight up death scenes, which increases the body count of the film rather drastically. I am definitely not one to complain about a higher body count, but it just felt kind of strange to have so many throw away characters who were there to just simply meet their demise.

The actors of Don’t Go are your typical low-budget 80’s performers. While they are not very good, however, they are still enjoyable to watch, running and screaming for their lives from the fur covered madman.

I love the low-fi gore effects and bright red, ketchup colored blood strewn about the film. The practical effects would be considered horrible by today’s standards, no doubt, but this style is truly what makes these old slasher flicks so much fun. If you can’t kick back with some friends and enjoy yourself with this type of film, you may need to rethink some things in your life.

Aside from the typical pops and crackles, Vinegar Syndrome has done a pretty great job of restoring this long-lost independent horror. I would prefer to have the audio touched up a bit more because it seemed rather difficult to hear some of the dialog between characters, but other than that, I really don’t have any complaints about this release. The brand new Blu-ray/DVD combo set includes some pretty great bonus features, providing true fans with the best Don’t Go in the Woods experience possible.

If you like some of the more low-budget and odd slashers of yesteryear like The Mutilator, you will most likely have a great time with this one. Be sure to pick up a copy from Vinegar Syndrome today!

I give this film 3.5 booby traps out of 5.

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