Watch Within the Woods
- NR
- 1978
- 30 min
-
6.3 (2,716)
Within the Woods is a 1978 horror short film directed and written by Sam Raimi. The movie is considered a precursor to the popular Evil Dead franchise that Raimi would later create, and it stars Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, and Mary Valenti. The film was made with a budget of only $1,600 and was shot in a single weekend in various locations around Michigan.
The movie begins with a group of friends - Bruce, Ellen, Mary, and their respective partners - heading out to a cabin in the woods for a fun weekend getaway. Once they reach the cabin, they immediately begin to have a good time, drinking beer, smoking, and laughing. However, the mood quickly changes when Ellen starts to feel uneasy and has a vision of her own death.
As night falls, the group is attacked by an unseen force, which takes out each member one by one. The remaining survivors must band together and fight back against the malevolent entity that seems to be hunting them down. Along the way, they encounter a spooky graveyard, a crypt, and various other horror movie tropes, including disembodied voices, jump scares, and gory scenes of violence.
Within the Woods is a classic example of a low-budget horror movie made by a group of amateurs who were passionate about the genre. Despite its relatively simple plot and low production values, the movie has managed to capture the imagination of horror fans around the world, thanks in large part to the charisma and acting talent of its lead actor Bruce Campbell.
The film's cinematography is also striking, with Raimi making great use of natural lighting, shadows, and eerie sound effects to create an atmosphere of dread and foreboding. The movie's pacing is also well-suited to its short running time, with the action building steadily to a satisfying climax.
While Within the Woods may not be the scariest or most polished horror movie ever made, it remains a beloved classic among fans of the genre. It showcases the early talent of Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell, and it paved the way for some of the most iconic horror movies ever made. If you're a fan of the Evil Dead movies or just appreciate a good, old-fashioned horror flick, then Within the Woods is definitely worth a watch.