| Wake Wood | |
|---|---|
Theatrical poster |
|
| Directed by | David Keating |
| Produced by |
|
| Written by |
|
| Starring | |
| Music by | Michael Convertino |
| Cinematography | Chris Maris |
| Editing by | Tim Murrell |
| Distributed by | |
| Country | Ireland United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Wake Wood is a 2011 horror film. A UK and Irish co-production by Hammer Films,[1] Wake Wood is directed by Ireland's David Keating.[2] It stars Timothy Spall, Eva Birthistle, Dan Gordon and Aidan Gillen.[3]
Contents |
Still grieving the death of nine-year-old Alice – their only child – at the jaws of a crazed dog, vet Patrick and pharmacist Louise relocate to the remote town of Wake Wood where they learn of a pagan ritual that will allow them three more days with Alice. The couple find the idea disturbing and exciting in equal measure, but once they agree terms with Arthur, the village’s leader, a far bigger question looms – what will they do when it is time for Alice to go back?[4]
Wake Wood was filmed in County Donegal, Ireland, and in Österlen, Scania, Sweden.[5] It was the first feature from genre production company Hammer Films in thirty years.[6] The film premiered at the 2009 Lund International Fantastic Film Festival in Sweden. It was released theatrically in UK cinemas on 25 March 2011 and it was released three days later on DVD in the UK on 28 March.[7]
Rotten Tomatoes aggregates reviews and gave it an 84% rating.[8]
Peter Bradshaw reviewed the film for The Guardian and gives it 4 stars out of five, suggesting the film is "in the tradition of Don't Look Now, The Wicker Man and the communal nightmares of Ira Levin; it's a low-budget film that entertainingly takes its audience to the brink of pure absurdity. But it also riffs nastily and effectively on ideas of taboo, on our perennial yearning for ceremony and ritual to alleviate the sadness of life, and on Larkin's idea that what's truly scary is not dying but being dead."[9]
The film received a limited domestic release opening at 4 cinemas grossing £1,251 for the weekend of 25 - 27 March 2011.[10]