IN THE DEEP WOODS

US, 1992, 95 minutes, Colour.
Rosanna Arquette, Anthony Perkins, Will Patton, D.W. Moffett, Christopher Rydell, Kimberley Beck.
Directed by Charles Correll.

In the Deep Woods is a standard telemovie, a murder mystery with the focus on a serial killer. Rosanna Arquette plays a woman whose friend has been killed – and all the bodies are buried in the deep woods. She becomes suspicious of most people and that includes a policeman played by Will Patton, a detective who make himself known to her and offers to solve the case, played by Anthony Perkins in his final film role, even her boyfriend played by D.W. Moffett and her brother played by Christopher Rydell.

The murder mystery keeps suspense until the end – giving each of the characters an opportunity to show that they could be the credible killers.

The film is standard material – but done expertly by a good cast. An entertaining murder mystery.

1.Audiences enjoying murder mysteries? The puzzle, the clues, the nature of the investigation, the following the steps, the revelation of the killer, understanding the motivation? How well did this apply to In the Deep Woods?

2.The location of the woods, the burial of the bodies? Workplaces, the precincts, the musical score?

3.The title, the focus, the echoes of sinister fairy tales and victims? The use of the title?

4.The focus on the victims, knowing who the killer was, the deaths, the burial in the woods, the screams? The information given about the victims?

5.Miller, Anthony Perkins and his screen presence? Following, watching? How sinister did he seem? The meeting with Joanna? Her fears? The arrest? The encounter with Tommy, resistance? The gift, the return? The revelation? Miller at the end?

6.Joanna, her work, her friends, Tommy and his wife? The encounter with Miller, the market? Her suspicions? Time off? With her family and Tommy? The terror, the phone call? The encounter with Eric, the resistance? Frank? Her relationship with him, growing suspicions? The resolution and leaving? The truth, her going and confessing? The shooting?

7.Eric, his work, personality, as a suspect? And the issues of how Tommy was a possible suspect?

8.Frank, smooth style, his relationship with Joanna? Success in building, moving in, the voice and suspicions?

9.The police, the investigation, Eric and his assisting Miller?

10.Tommy, nice, work, family, the meetings? The accident, suspicions? With Joanna and his motivations? His claim that he could not help doing what he did?

11.A satisfying look at credible characters, crime, suspicions, investigation, revelation? Satisfying entertainment?