Movie Review: Kids Go to the Woods... Kids Get Dead (2009)

Directed by Michael Hall

Starring Leah Rudick, Andrew Waffenschmidt and Joseph Campellone

Woohoo! Now here's a movie that actually pays homage to the classic slasher’s of the 80‘s without coming off as cliche and routine. Sure, its got all the basic elements one would expect- horny teenagers(with bonus points for the lesbian couple), worthless cops, a crazed war vet and a gas-mask wearing killer, but this one is put together in the style of an old home-recorded VHS tape- complete with VHS static, fake commercials and even a horror-hostess, Miss. Candy Adams, (who's dressed like a 20 dollar hooker and spends a lot of time sucking on a Blow-pop). And what Kids go in the Woods has that most of its contemporaries don't is one simple thing....its got the “fun-factor”.

While most modern slashers continuously try in vain to scare you with an idea that lost its pop 30 years ago, this movie makes no attempt to frighten, its ideals stay at crotch-level throughout, and its a winning combination of tits, sex, copious bloodletting, hokey effects and some genuinely funny moments.

The plot is simple enough, it's Casey's birthday and to celebrate, her and her friends are headed to a cabin in the woods for a wild weekend of sex, weed and partying. A crazed Killer has other plans for them. It's up to Casey's younger brother Scott, aided by a mysterious novel that seems to spell out their fate, to find their only hope of survival.


Although quite funny at times, I wouldn't really call it a spoof on the genre, but more of a “true-to-form” 80‘s style slasher throwback with a good sense of humor. One of the kill scenes involves a guy taking an obviously plastic ax to the face which I am sure wasn't meant to be funny but still hit the funny bone in a good way. My favorite scene though was the one involving a girl and guy who are having sex in the cabin, they have no condom and the girl makes the guy promise to pull out.....and not shoot on her face. The young lad obliges of course but when the moment of truth comes and he pulls out, the killer grabs him from behind and slashes his throat....spraying a buckets worth of blood on her face. She has no idea its blood and runs off into the bathroom cursing him the whole way, thinking she has a face full of love-juice. This scene on its own is worth the price of the DVD..... pure cinema gold right there kids.

A great job by director Michael Hall, turning a great idea behind a near-zero budget into something totally enjoyable for the viewer.

If you're up for some laughs (and who isn't?), I recommend picking this one up, getting together with a few friends and just having a good time of it. It's a great beer-and-popcorn movie.

7 out of 10 Reviewed by KennyB