The Woman

The Woman
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Lucky McKee
Produced by	Robert Tonino Andrew van den Houten
Written by	Jack Ketchum Lucky McKee
Based on	The Woman  by Jack Ketchum Lucky McKee
Starring	Pollyanna McIntosh Angela Bettis Sean Bridgers Lauren Ashley Carter Carlee Baker Alexa Marcigliano Zach Rand Shyla Molhusen
Music by	Sean Spillane
Cinematography	Alex Vendler Production Design Krista Gall
Editing by	Zach Passero
Studio	Modernciné
Distributed by	The Collective Bloody Disgusting Salient Media
Release dates	January 23, 2011 (2011-01-23) (US)
Running time	101 minutes[1]
Country	United States
Language	English

The Woman is a 2011 American horror film directed by Lucky McKee, adapted by McKee and Jack Ketchum from Ketchum's novel of the same name. This movie is a sequel to the film Offspring. The film stars Pollyanna McIntosh, Angela Bettis, Sean Bridgers, Lauren Ashley Carter, Carlee Baker, Alexa Marcigliano, and introducing Zach Rand and Shyla Molhusen.

Synopsis

The movie opens with the feral Woman (Pollyanna McIntosh) circling what appears as her child. A wolf, apparently tamed by the feral Woman, circles the infant as well but does it no harm. Although it is not referenced in the film, the Woman is the last remaining member of a cannibalistic tribe that has roamed the north-east coast for decades (as seen in the 2009 film Offspring).

Chris Cleek (Sean Bridgers) is a country lawyer at a local barbecue with his family. The oldest daughter Peggy (Lauren Ashley Carter) sits off to the side, upset. Their only son Brian Cleek (Zach Rand) watches as a couple boys violate and push a small girl into a corner, making no effort to save her. While out hunting, Chris happens upon the Woman, who is bathing. He returns with a net in an effort to capture her. He knocks her out and returns home with her, restrains her in a cellar, and directs his family to participate in "civilizing" her.

Over the following days, it is revealed that the family is dysfunctional. Brian enjoys causing pain, Peggy is withdrawn and afraid of her father and Chris gives the appearance of a smart, charming man. Chris' first attempt to approach the woman results in her biting off and swallowing the end of his ring finger. Peggy and his wife Belle (Angela Bettis) protest and the youngest daughter Darlin (Shyla Molhusen) attempts to befriend the imprisoned woman. Chris' will prevails and he orchestrates a violent series of civilizing measures.

Chris baths the Woman with boiling hot water and later decides to bathe her with a high pressure power washer. Belle watches in horror but Peggy rushes to the Woman's aid and turns off the washer. Peggy is forced into the house while Belle and Chris move the woman back into the cellar. Later, Chris rapes the Woman while Brian secretly observes. It is implied that Chris may have raped his daughter too. The next day, Brian also violates the woman and is caught by Peggy. Belle, unable to stand it anymore, announces her intention to leave Chris and take their two daughters but not their "rapist" son. Chris knocks Belle unconscious just before Peggy's teacher Ms. Raton (Carlee Baker) rings the doorbell. Ms. Raton tells Chris that she believes Peggy is pregnant. He becomes angry and hits her. He and Brian tie her hands and drag her to the barn where he keeps German Shepherds. Peggy protests, but Chris subjects her to a vicious verbal assault.

In the barn, Chris and Brian lock Ms. Raton in the dog's cage. It is revealed that the cage also contains an eyeless girl named "Socket" (Alexa Marcigliano) who behaves like the two dogs. Socket and the dogs kill and eat Ms. Raton. Peggy releases the imprisoned woman from the cellar. The Woman attacks Belle, gnawing off most of her face. She then attacks Brian, severing his torso, and then rips Chris's heart out and eats it. A terrified Peggy attempts to escape with her little sister. The Woman does not attack the girls. Instead, they all walk away from the house together, along with Socket acting as a dog, apparently forming a new family.

Cast

• Pollyanna McIntosh as The Woman
• Sean Bridgers as Chris Cleek
• Angela Bettis as Belle Cleek
• Lauren Ashley Carter as Peggy Cleek
• Carlee Baker as Ms. Raton
• Alexa Marcigliano as Socket
• Zach Rand as Brian Cleek
• Shyla Molhusen as Darlin' Cleek

Awards and nominations

• Octopus d’Or at the Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival, for the best international feature film
• Audience Award for the best international feature film at the Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival^[2]
• The Siren; International Award at the Lund Fantastic Film Festival^[3]
• Fifth Best Horror Movie of the Year by Rotten Tomatoes^[4]

References

External links

• Official website
• The Woman at the Internet Movie Database
• The Woman at allmovie
• The Woman at Rotten Tomatoes