Thirty-One Days O’Horror: Wake Wood (2009)

“Back to the trees and into the woods.”

2009’s Hammer release of Wake Wood is excellent. The film asks the question: What would you do if you could have a loved one back for three days?” That’s exactly what Patrick and Louise Daley (Aiden Gillen and Eva Birthistle) have to decide in this film. After the violent death of their daughter, Alice (Ella Connolly), the pair move to the small town of Wakewood. While there, they learn about a mysterious ritual that a local man named Arthur (Timothy Spall) can perform that will allow a recently deceased loved one to return to life for three days permitted that they meet one major requirement: the person must be dead for less than one year.

Despite knowing that their daughter has been dead for just a few weeks over one year, they lie to Arthur and he goes through with the ceremony. Alice returns and appears to be just fine at first, but as her time in the land of the living begins to wane, she becomes violent and murderous. Patrick battles with the idea that he must put his own daughter down and Louise does her best to find the good in dear Alice. You’ll have to watch the film in order to find out what happens.

This film was a pleasant surprise to me. It features a great blend of suspense, terror, and just enough gore to please the hack hounds that prefer their horror with a lot of blood. There are a number of gruesome moments in this film, primarily executed by sweet little Alice. Also, knowing that Alice can pop up at any minute and kill pretty much anyone that she pleases at any given time added to the suspenseful tone of the film.

The film’s cast was excellent. Spall, Birthistle, and Gillen were all very convincing in their roles. Spall was always just a bit too sinister every time he was on the screen. It was as if he always meant well but knew that what he was doing would ultimately lead to death and destruction. Amelia Crowley, Brian Gleeson, Ruth McCabe, Aoife Meagher, and others provided excellent support as members of the small community. Connolly did a solid job as the sadistic little Alice as well.

I definitely recommend Wake Wood. It’s got a little Pet Sematary vibe mixed in with some Don’t Look Now that makes for a perfect little flick. If you enjoy your horror with a little bit of suspense, you’ll love this film.

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