In the Deep Woods

I don't watch 90s movies often, i'm more of an 80s and 70s kind of gal myself, but this was a nice change of pace. Rosanne Arquette is gorgeous and so perfectly 90s, and Anthony Perkins is amazing as always. Not bad for a TV movie but extremely formulaic in the way that Tobe Hooper's Toolbox Murders was. And enjoyable in the same way that one was too. There are a lot of plot holes however, and it's very melodramatic. The stupid argument with the boyfriend just made me livid with how unrealistic and petty it was. A good thing was the outfits. But is that really to their credit? They just dressed like they were from 1992. They were. It's only enjoyable in retrospect. Another thing was the soundtrack- at times. It wasn't great all the way through but at times it surpassed the general mediocrity. For a TV movie though, surprisingly not bad. Overall fun to watch.

Rosanna Arquette stars as a children's book author who confronts stalker Anthony Perkins, who believes Arquette holds the key to solving a series of brutal murders in a woodsy town. Overstuffed adaptation of Nicholas Condé's book has a cycle of recurring suspects, requiring Arquette to accuse a different man of murder every few minutes. Perkins, in his final film, has lost his famous guilty twitch; solemn here, and dull, he fades into the background (it's easy to forget Perkins is even in the picture). The piecing-together of the mystery is fun, though it doesn't bear close scrutiny; there's also one of those last-act "killer transformations" that have become a genre cliché (that and the proverbial POV shots as the killer stalks his prey). Which brings up another problem: why do the victims--strong, independent businesswomen--suddenly turn into helpless, whimpering victims when faced with a killer? What point are writers Robert Nathan and Robert Rosenblum trying to make...that women are simply not safe without a man in their lives? Ridiculous. ** from ****

I watched this solely to see Anthony Perkins in his last role. Luckily, Perkins was able to play a character with some psychological depth. Besides Perkins, the other actors are good too (I especially liked the performances of Rosanna Arquette and D. W. Moffett). This film was certainly better than I expected, with a neat mystery and some eerie moments. One scene I particularly enjoyed was a scene of panic where Arquette runs outside into the pouring rain at night. That scene reminded me of Akira Kurosawa's predilection for using extreme weather as a way to heighten the emotions. Perhaps this film isn't a classic, but it is good.

Rosanna Arquette finds herself in the thick of a serial killer investigation, when one of her friends turns up a victim. This not always believable murder investigation turns up one suspect after another, all of which are rather tenuous in the motive and logic department. "In the Deep Woods" seems like it was written to try for some record in the number of "red herrings" that could be stuffed into the rather shallow story. Rosanna Arquette and Anthony Perkins do what they can with some very slight material, and everyone else is quite forgettable., More than a few plot holes develop along the way to what seems like a forced conclusion. - MERK

I saw "In The Deep Woods" yesterday on the Lifetime Movie Network. I expected an entertaining, but formulaic movie (i.e. the typical woman in jeopardy type of thing that Lifetime often shows), but this film, which depicts the story of a serial killer who preys upon successful young women and leaves their bodies in the deep woods, is well acted, well crafted, and keeps you guessing until the very end. It is a dark movie, very atmospheric and almost noir-ish, and reminded me somewhat of the 80's classic, the Jagged Edge.

Rosanna Arquette turns in a solid performance and it made me wish we had the opportunity to see her act more often in challenging roles. Anthony Perkins, probably in one of his last film roles, is also very effective as a mystery man on a mission who is investigating the deaths of the victims for his own reasons.

In summary, it's chilling and involving and much better than most films of this genre. A good film for a snowy Sunday or even better, for one of those nights when you just can't get to sleep.