HIDDEN IN THE WOODS (2012) DVD Review

Hidden in the Woods (2012) d. Patricio Valladares (Chile)

An assault on the senses and the soul, one whose curtain-raiser features a father raping his daughter, then dropping the ensuing infant into a bucket nine months later and feeding it raw meat. Exploitation nightmare logic holds sway over cohesive storytelling, presenting a dark fable where destitute chainsaw-wielding psychopaths outrun and outgun gun-toting police officers, where runaway waifs turn cannibal, where one’s shattered brachioradialis (aka the forearm bone) becomes a lethal weapon, where everyone’s dark side is their only side....

HIDDEN IN THE WOODS (2012) review

Hidden in the Woods (2012) d. Valladares, Patricio (Chile)

An assault on the senses and the soul, one whose curtain-raiser features a father raping his daughter, then dropping the ensuing infant into a bucket nine months later and feeding it raw meat.

Exploitation nightmare logic holds sway over cohesive storytelling, presenting a dark fable where destitute chainsaw-wielding psychopaths outrun and outgun gun-toting police officers, where runaway waifs turn cannibal, where one’s own shattered brachioradialis (aka the forearm bone) becomes a lethal weapon, where everyone’s dark side is their only side.

Director Valladares co-wrote the “based on true events” script with Andrea Cavaletto and while there’s little denying his power of savage visual imagery and social commentary, he constantly sabotages himself, breaking his own brutal spell every time our synapses choke on the narrative action’s implausibility. The results are raw, rough, rude…and ultimately ridiculous; a batshit crazy flick too dark to be considered "fun," too outrageous to be taken seriously.

Note: Apparently, Michael Biehn’s production company has purchased the rights to Woods, planning to produce an English-language remake with Biehn in the lead role of the despicable father with Valladares reprising his director duties. Strange world we’re living in, folks.

Fantasia Day 19 (Monday, August 6)

So, as previously recounted, I was in a bit of a dither as to how I was going to handle my interview with Jennifer Lynch considering I didn’t really care for Chained (which had had its world premiere the night before). Luckily, there was another film featuring the director screening at Fantasia this year, Penny Vozniak’s documentary Despite the Gods, detailing Lynch’s misadventures directing the Bollywood fantasy flick Hisss about India’s legendary snake goddess wreaking havoc.

Via a Vimeo screener, I was privy to a behind-the-scenes glance at Lynch who comes off as an earthy, occasionally coarse but essentially decent director, mother and human being, attempting to navigate the culture class and the mayhem inherent to helming any feature. In observing the “real” person, it became much easier to want to relate to (rather than confront) my subject and I figured if need be I could talk more about her India experiences than her recent endeavor.