She Came From The Woods Review – Funny, self-aware horror comedy is the real thing

Summer camp horror has a specific atmosphere. It should be sunny and breezy until all hell breaks loose, preferably drenched in as much blood as cheese. Campiness should reign supreme. That category of movies that started with the slasher Sleepaway Camp spawned one of the greatest franchises ever, Friday The Thirteenth, will never get old. Peacock gave us the inclusive thriller Them/They starring Kevin Bacon last year, and now She Came From The Woods mixes a bunch of horror tropes in a blender with some lake water and camp songs and serves it up with a hilarious, goofy straw to drink. to slurp.

Set in 1987, on the last night of the camp, a group of camp counselors accidentally unleashed an evil entity seeking revenge. It’s rare that a horror movie surprises me. It’s even rarer that a horror comedy actually makes me laugh. Perhaps it’s the self-assured quality of Erik and Carson Blomquist’s script that makes the comedic bits shine. Developed from a short film of the same name, this feature will make you laugh. It’s always easier to laugh with someone than at someone. This film pays homage to the great as they found new ground to sow. It’s a blast from the past that’s fun from start to finish.

After the campers leave on the bus, the attendants gather for one last drink and a ghost story. As she playfully conjures up the ghost of an evil nurse who allegedly worked there decades ago, things take a dark turn. They are shocked to discover that the ritual works, and the death count begins to pile up. Meanwhile, the kids on the bus start behaving strangely and then disappear, leaving the responsible brother Shawn (Tyler Elliott Burke) in a panic. What happens next is pure gold. As everyone scrambles to stay alive, blood begins to flow and children growl.

She Came From The Woods is a delight from the first moments and does not let go of the accelerator. Fast-paced and witty, it’s the kind of film tailored for casual viewing. It never requires more than a laugh from you, though, and there’s something to be said for a smart film that doesn’t require mental gymnastics to enjoy. In an era where lofty horror is all the rage, She Came From The Woods lets the good times roll and understands its job.

All the usual suspects are presented. There’s the overcompensating bully, the responsible older brother and the underperforming youngster, a good girl and her gay brother, and a beleaguered mother and grandfather trying to keep it all together while keeping a great secret. The play for all things cast leans towards the silliness of the story, balancing the campiness of the plot with the genuine jitters of witches, dark woods, creepy kids, and murderous nurses with boiling bunnies on the brain.

Each character plays off the other without overwhelming anyone. It’s a testament to Bloomquist’s direction that he keeps things together on the cutting edge without letting them teeter into complete absurdity. Instead of giving us the same horny teen plot beats, an unexpected swerve gives one character depth while making another rooted in the past but built for a more modern sensibility.

Bad Boy Dylan (Adam Weppler) is a star who plays on the stereotype. He’s loud, obnoxious and mean, but hilarious in that way only 80’s movies can get away with it. Another highlight is William Sadler’s Gilbert McCalister, who has owned and run the camp since childhood. The patriarch of the family has secrets that he has long lived with and that he will have to reckon with for the night. He’s a reliable on-screen presence who uses his gravitas to lend credence to the bizarre story. Finally, Dan Leahy (Ben) is likeable and snarky without overdoing it. She Comes From The Woods has a surprisingly good cast that is having a good time, and it shows.

The ridiculously high number of deaths starts to rise early on and does not stop. Good hands-on effects from John Lauterbach and makeup artist Amanda Pepin use buckets of blood and gooey guts to power the statues, which are drenched in red and knee-high socks. Nurse Agatha is well designed and truly terrifying once she gets going. Even though this is a horror comedy, Sister Agatha is scary enough to instill fear with the giggles.

She Came From The Woods doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s just fun silliness that’s more than the sum of its crazy parts. Be sure to stay for the amazing closing credits featuring a fantastic original song from the 80s. It will hit theaters exclusively on February 10, 2023. Don’t sleep on this one. Gather a group of friends and have a great time.