DVD Corner

Woods Witch DVD Review

“Woods Witch” is a movie in search of a script.  

Directed by Shawn C. Phillips and Lauren Francesca (both best known for “Amityville Karen”), “Woods Witch” is a parody of found footage films like “The Blair Witch Project.” The story revolves around 2 vloggers (couple Jonah and Jocelyn) who decide to make a documentary by embarking on a 48 hour challenge in the Allensville forest where people have disappeared. The woods are also infamous for various legends including an alleged bleeding tree. Jonah and Jocelyn are joined by other vloggers (including the more popular Eugene and Dacia) and wind up bumping into many others along the way including a mysterious nature group. Are the legends true? What will they find out in the forest?

“Woods Witch” is written by YouTuber/physical media champion turned filmmaker Shawn C. Phillips, but much of the film is improvised and it shows in the final product. The horror-comedy is in desperate need of a focused script. There’s very little actual horror, the story goes off on weird tangents, scenes lack context, characters come and go, lines are flubbed, and characters bicker endlessly. From a directing perspective, the movie is decidedly rough around the edges and needs a proper cinematographer. There are numerous instances with out of focus shots and poorly framed imagery. It’s the type of movie that looks rushed and feels made on the fly.

As choppy as the film may be, you can see what Shawn C. Phillips was trying to accomplish here with this parody. Again, a concise script really would have ironed out many of the film’s story issues and could have provided better comedic material. The potential was there. There are some really bizarre comical moments (see the bleeding tree) but they all could have been executed better for maximum impact.

Directors Shawn C. Phillips and Lauren Francesca also happen to be the main stars. The two portray jackass vloggers quite well. The rest of the cast is rounded out by a lot of familiar genre actors such as James Duvall, Sally Kirkland, Lorelei Linklater, Robert Lasardo, Tom Sizemore, Lisa Wilcox and Kelly Lynn Reiter. Of the lot, the two stand-outs here are Lorelei Linklater as the free spirited member of the “nature group” Lucia and Kelly Lynn Reiter who brings much needed humor and personality to the film as vlogger Dacia.

Presentation: 1.85:1. Grade: C

Audio Track: Unspecified. Grade: B-

Extras: SRS Cinema trailers, “Woods Witch” (trailer and funny trailer), 10 minutes of deleted scenes, a 15 minute behind-the-scenes featurette and an insightful commentary by writer/actor/co-director Shawn C. Phillips (definitely the best extra here).

March 1, 2024 - Posted by nicklyons1 | DVD review | Horror Comedy, Lauren Francesca, Lorelei Link later, Shawn C. Phillips, Woods Witch DVD Review, Woods Witch Movie