Don't Go in the Woods (1981)

A maniacal murderer kills tourists in the woods.

Director:

James Bryan

Writer:

Garth Eliassen (original story and screenplay)

Stars:

Nick Cleland, Mary Gail Artz, James P. Hayden

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nick Cleland	...	Peter (as Jack McClelland)
Mary Gail Artz	...	Ingrid
James P. Hayden	...	Craig
Angie Brown	...	Joanne
Ken Carter	...	Sheriff
David Barth	...	Deputy Benson
Larry Roupe	...	Store Owner
Amy Martell	...	Artist's Child
Tom Drury	...	Maniac
Laura Trefts	...	Dr. Maggie
Alma Ramos	...	Running Girl - Victim #1
Carolyn Braza	...	Cherry - Victim #2
Frank Millen	...	Dick - Victim #3 (as Frank Clitus Muller)
McCormick Dalten	...	Bird Watcher - Victim #4
Cecilia Fannon	...	Lady Artist - Victim #5 (as Cecelia Fannon)

Storyline

Four young campers, Craig, Peter, Ingrid and Joanie, back-pack through the mountains for a relaxing weekend in the wilderness. They are out camping in broad daylight, while someone else is killing tourists in the woods. Craig warns the others not to go into the woods alone. The hillsides are crawling with fat women huffing up hillsides, nerdy bird-watchers, and young couples. Most of whom meet gruesome ends at the hands of a deranged and growling back-woodsman with a sharp spike - who announces his presence by shaking the nearest branch and whooping. The 'happy' campers don't see a man and his wife being chucked off a cliff whilst they splash about in the river below. They enter a forest which becomes denser and darker as they progress. Peter and Ingrid fear that they are lost. Something large suddenly comes lunging forward with a gleaming machete. Craig slips dead to the ground as the machete cuts him up. Peter and the others flee screaming into the forest. The rest of the day and ...

---

Plot Keywords:

slasher flick | slasher | machete | camper | woods | 

---

Taglines:

For some, a simple warning is never enough.

---

Genres:

Horror

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 September 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

Don't Go in the Woods... Alone!

Filming Locations:

Park City, Utah, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

JBF

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The roles of the many nameless victims of the maniac were played by various crew members or friends of the filmmakers. These murder scenes were shot on weekends prior to principal photography.

---

Quotes

Craig: [tying Joanne in a sleeping bag] Now I've got you, bitch! Let's hear you say uncle! Say uncle! Say it, bag of bitch! Say it! Say it, bag of bitch! Say it! Say uncle!

---

Alternate Versions

Although fully uncut in terms of violence, the 2007 UK Film 2000 DVD is completely missing both the synthesized soundtrack and other source music. The infamous theme song (played over the closing credits) is the only music featured in the print.

---

Connections

Featured in Don't Go in the Woods: Cast & Crew (2006)

---

Soundtracks

(Theme Song)
Written by H. Kingsley Thurber
Sung by H. Kingsley Thurber

User Reviews

Abysmal

I rented DON'T GO IN THE WOODS 20 years ago and I still remember how abysmal it was. No redeeming qualities whatsoever. It's stunningly amateurish. Even though it's only 82 minutes long, DGITW feels like 3 hours. Every inch of the movie is terrible. Some parts are good in a 'it's so bad it's good' way but the film is too awful to endure and nullifies any fun to be had from watching it.

Whoever was involved with this film, my hat's off to you because you made one of the worst films ever!!!!