Dowanhowee, a Native American woman, evades the notorious Dutch Wilder Gang by escaping into the uncharted Black Wood Forest. Once inside, they quickly discover they must help each other, for they have unknowingly awakened an ancient ravenous creature known as The Wendigo.
Producer Roger Corman famously said about horror movies, “Never show your monster in the daylight!” Director Chris Canfield obviously never heard of this. As a result, his directorial feature film debut, “Black Wood,” goes against the tropes that permeate most horror films by allowing his monster and the movie’s shock and gore elements to transpire during the day. One scene occurs at night as our central characters sit around a campfire, listening to Two Feathers (Casey Birdinground), a Native American who recounts the story of an old legend called The Wendigo who haunts a particular uncharted area known as the Black Wood Forest. Nothing happens during this scene, no monster attack, no strange disappearances, just a tale that could have been told during the day, so by the time nightfall came around, our characters would have something to be genuinely terrified of.
Taking place in the late 1800s, the Dutch Wilder Gang learns about a particular area called the Black Wood Forest that is supposedly home to hidden gold, but once they reach their destination, horror stories about a hideous creature called The Wendigo begin to surface, forcing them to consider their encroachment on the sacred land. After having captured Dowanhowee (Tanajsia Slaughter), a Sioux Indian woman, they force her to take them into the wooded area, but one by one, they succumb to an unseen force that tears them limb from limb, leaving nothing but a gruesome trail of blood. Now Dowanhowee and Dutch Wilder (Bates Wilder), the last surviving member of the gang, must join forces to track the creature down and kill it before it slaughters them.
“Black Wood” presents an intriguing premise, a horror story that takes place during the Wild West when stories of outlaws and ancient Native American creatures spread like wildfire across the country and because it took place in a time when there was no way of actually debunking said stories, people lived in constant fear, depending on where they lived. While the story of The Wendigo originated from the folklore of Plains and Great Lakes Natives, “Black Wood” does it no justice with its sloppy execution. Every horror scene materializes in broad daylight, and you never feel scared once. Had these scenes developed at night, they might have had the desired effect they intended. Still, during daylight hours, there are absolutely no moments of trepidation or apprehension because nothing is hidden, and you can see everything clearly.
The acting, for the most part, is fine, with Glenn Morshower and Bates Wilder giving respectable performances, albeit through some cringeworthy dialogue, but Tanajsia Slaughter as Dowanhowee, and Casey Birdinground as Two Feathers, prove that while they may have been hired as authentic Native Americans, sadly, their acting abilities are less-than-stellar. Nothing is worse than watching an actor trying to squeeze tears out unnaturally or giving the impression of being angry when their facial expressions and bodily characteristics state otherwise. This is only the second film for both actors, so there is plenty of room for improvement, especially if they plan on pursuing legitimate acting careers.
The only saving grace of “Black Wood” is the cinematography by Teddy Smith. He captures the solitude and isolation of the expanding West in glorious widescreen. He thankfully never succumbs to the much-dreaded shakycam gimmick so prevalent in many of today’s horror films. His deliberately slow panning and tracking shots make for a welcome diversion in amongst an ocean of problematic acting, questionable character arcs, and, at times, ponderous dialogue. Director Chris Canfield definitely has the ability to make a good feature, but “Black Wood” is not it. As this is only his fourth film as director and his first feature, I eagerly await his next project. In the meantime, if you want to watch a memorable horror western, I’d highly recommend S. Craig Zahler’s “Bone Tomahawk,” starring Kurt Russell; I guarantee you, while it is very bloody in parts, you won’t forget it any time soon.
In Theaters July 22nd and on Digital and On-Demand July 26th
