(L – R) Peggy (Carter), Darlin (Molhusen), Belle (Bettis), Chris (Bridges), and Brian (Ran)
by Karl Madsen, Horror Editor
I usually start a review with a clever; at least I think they’re clever, introduction. Once in a while a movie comes along that defies clever, defies having the dark edge lightened, and for one reason or another defy definition. One of these movies is The Woman.
Chris Cleek (Sean Bridgers – Deadwood) is a successful small town lawyer with a wonderful family and an idyllic country home. His wife Belle (Angela Bettis – Scar), daughter Peggy (Lauren Ashley Carter – The Prodigies), son Brian (Zach Ran- film debut), and youngest daughter Darlin’ (Shyla Molhusen – film debut) are all very supportive of Brian and his interests. The family dynamic becomes clearer when dad brings home the sole remaining member of a cannibalistic clan that was dwelling in the forest that borders their property. The Woman (Pollyanna McIntosh – The Offspring) is the catalyst that brings the dynamics of the Cleek family into the spotlight for our viewing pleasure.
The Woman (McIntosh)
During a hunting trip, Chris spies The Woman, the lone survivor of a feral clan of cannibals, and devises a plan where he captures The Woman and civilizes her. Chris’s version of civilizing her involves boiling water, power washers, chains, and handcuffs. The tough love approach and speaking of love, there’s a dose of that involved as well. While this taming process is proceeding the rest of the family starts breaking apart. Chris’s true nature surfaces like the whale in an insurance commercial, and it seems he is just an old fashioned guy, where the man of the house is the king of his castle, and women are there to serve the man. And he’s leading son Brian down that same path of abusiveness. The film erupts when one of Peggy’s teachers Miss Raton (Carlee Baker – Attack of the Slime People) suspects that Peggy is pregnant, and visits the Cleek family, after a violent episode between Belle and Chris. From this point on, the events that occur affect every member of the Cleek clan. Secrets are revealed, blood is spilled, and lives are changed forever.
The Woman is one of those movies with a moral statement that I usually don’t understand, and this time is no different. This film is obviously exploring the dynamics of the male dominate family structure, and the topic of abuse against women. I don’t get where The Woman fits in, except as a catalyst maybe. What I do know is that this film disturbed the crap out of me. At the start you believe that this may be a well meaning experiment that is destined to fail in some way, but as the story progresses you realize that we know the face and the name of the evil. It’s the anticipation of what will happen in the next scene coupled with the nature of the theme, and you have a disturbing movie.
The guest accomidations.
Special Features:
The Making of “The Woman”
Deleted Scenes
Short Film “Mi Burro”
Music Track “Distracted” by Sean Spillane
Karl’s Scores:
Acting – A
Setting – A-
Special Effects – N/A
Creep Factor – A
Tension – A
What the Heck Moments – Oh My
Overall – A
The Woman has quite a few flaws, some with continuity and some with simple believability. That being said, this film is disturbing, thought provoking, and has enough twists and surprises to make you forget about the flaws. The end is delectably twisted, so pay special attention there. Also, the gore is minimal, and the nudity disquieting. The added bonus here is the soundtrack, most of which are songs by Sean Spillane. The soundtrack is mixed genre of atmosphere enhancing tunes that are catchy and appropriately eerie at the same time. If you want to know who the real savages are, watch this movie.
ComicsOnline gives The Woman 4 ½ cannibals out of 5 savages.
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