In the Deep Woods

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.

This is an interesting serial killer movie with an excellent cast - Anthony Perkins, Rosanna Arquette, and one of my favorites, Will Patton.

It's nicely directed with an even pace. It keeps you guessing until the end as to who the serial killer really is, then it comes together. The acting from both the main cast and the supporting cast is very good. There are no serious plot holes, it all makes sense in the end. The psychological profile of the serial killer is realistic.

I see some harsh reviews, but there is really nothing wrong with this movie. I recommend it for anyone who likes crime mystery films. It deserves a better rating.

Back to back, from one decent TV thriller ('Through the Eyes of a Killer') to somewhat another. Yeah somewhat. I'm kind of lukewarm on it. 'In the Deep Woods' had the ingredients for a tight, relentless and interesting thriller, but director Charles Correll's sinuously pedestrian handling and Robert Nathan and Robert Rosenblum's material (adapted from Nicholas Conde's novel) piles on the red herrings and all too convenient developments. By being a knotty plot, it keeps you off balance and never strikes me as predictable. It's just hard to believe some incidents, as some things that occur just had me thinking "Oh, why?". Everything seems to move at a snail's pace, but you stay with it because you want to know how it'll pan out. There's a few effective suspenseful sequences and a very dreary tone streaming through it, but there's just too many generic and replicate patterns. Its well shot, edited and leanly scored. This would be Anthony Perkins last role, and it's a blank performance (just think of his failing condition), but his stable presence eventually wins out. The perky Patricia Arquette is suitably fine in the heroine role. As for Will Patton, he looks lost at sea with his character.

Lots of twists and turns, Anthony Perkins was great, the love interest was the most unappealing love interest, and the brother and sister are Folgers Coffee level of closeness, but it was a nice way to kill a rainy afternoon.

I was lucky to have been Anthony Perkins body double on this film.

With the opportunity to meet Rosanna Arquette and Bill Patton. Though I ended up working 15 years in TV and film this was the first movie I have ever had the opportunity to work on. Security brought Mr. Perkins original jacket from "psycho" out for me to wear throughout the movie. I was honored with the opportunity. During filming Mr. Perkins would have me sit off screen next to the camera and he would perform all of his dialogue to me without the assistance of the actors. This I found amazing for no one else have this ability. Mr. Perkins was very supportive in assisting me to further my career with voice lessons etc. The the egotistical producer allowed me to do all of the murders throughout the movie including my acting coach in the grocery parking lot. I ended up becoming friends with Todd Amateau who was in charge of wardrobe on the show. He later became a production manager for Stu Segall productions where I continued my 15 years of TV and film career until I was run over by a pickup truck outside of the studio just after 9/11. The though I died for a brief period of time when I flew to the air I went down the "tunnel of light" so many speak of and was given the opportunity to meet my son and wife before I had been married and before he had been born. I was revived and able to continue my career and retired shortly thereafter up on the mountain that I saw in my tunnel of light vision up on the ranch that our family now owns. Life is a gift, make the best of it.