The Woman
United States
2011
108 Min
Color
English
Synopsis
Good-old-fashioned-horror impresario Lucky McKee (McKee’s May screened at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival) returns to Park City with an outrageously sadistic peek under the surface of family values gone terribly wrong.
When stern patriarch Chris Cleek stumbles upon a wild woman while hunting deep in the woods, he does what he believes is the only logical thing—he stalks, captures, and imprisons the savage in his shed with the intent of civilizing her. Naturally, Cleek wants his whole family to participate in the process; refusal is not an option for his frail wife, reluctant daughters, and all-too-eager son. As his training methods turn increasingly torturous, resistance is met with brute force and animalistic urges, building meticulously to an unrelenting, carnage-filled climax.
Writhing through themes of abuse, legacies, and adolescent pain, McKee’s exercise in cruelty gleefully grinds the classic Pygmalion story into a macabre pulp for all to enjoy. –Sundance Film Festival
Director
Lucky McKee
Edward Lucky McKee (born November 1, 1975 in Jenny Lind, California) is an American director, writer, and actor, largely known for the 2002 film May, which has acquired a cult following.
McKee has also directed Sick Girl, the tenth episode of the first season of the popular Showtime TV series Masters of Horror. He directed the movie The Woods, which was released on DVD October 3, 2006. Lucky McKee also co-directed the hard-to-find horror movie All Cheerleaders Die, which is not currently in print.
In all of his films, with the exception of The Woods in which she only appears in voiceover, actress Angela Bettis has appeared as a main character. McKee stars in the film, Roman, for which he also wrote the screenplay. Roman was directed by Angela Bettis and released on DVD March 27, 2007. Another frequent collaborator is longtime friend Jaye Luckett of the rock group Poperratic, who has soundtracked all of his films to date under various names, including Roman.
McKee… read more
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Hunter Duesing
28Apr12
Revolting, ugly, disturbing, etc. Very well directed, implausibly written (but not POORLY written), and deeply unpleasant. I feel completely helpless when watching movies based on Jack Ketchum novels, and "The Woman" is no exception. I can't say I recommend the experience it provides, but it's not a bad film.
HKFanatic
25Apr12
My senses were dulled and my intelligence insulted for 100 straight minutes. Congratulations to (the normally talented) Lucky McKee, if that was indeed the goal. It's almost too easy to catalog the list of things wrong with "The Woman" - the ill-fitting adult alternative soundtrack, Sean Bridgers' George W. Bush-channeling performance, the film's complete disconnect from anything resembling reality. Skip it.
David R.
24Apr12
Never mind the soundtrack, let's talk about the 3rd act. The son going from Daddy's Lil Misogynist to a murder accomplice in about 5 minutes' time, the feral 3rd daughter (!?!?), the coincidence / stupidity of the teacher's meddling, etc. Pollyanna McIntosh aside (she almost saves the ending), this flick's too beholden to cliches, stereotypes, & corn syrup to subvert anything except its own delusions of substance.
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Articles
Our roundup of essays and articles on this film.
Wrapping Sundance. 4. New Frontier, NEXT, Spotlight, Midnight
By David Hudson on February 10, 2011
"For the first time, New Frontier curator Shari Frilot has a venue in which she can put together a coherent show, and she has come through
THE WOMAN Blu-ray Review
By Twitchfilm.com on January 23, 2012
Almost a year to the day after The Woman’s notorious premiere at Sundance in 2011, Bloody Disgusting Selects brings us Lucky McKee’s latest on Blu-ray. I have already reviewed this film once following
See THE WOMAN in Sydney Australia WEDNESDAY (10/08) night with special Q&A!
By Twitchfilm.com on December 17, 2011
Lucky McKee’s challenging and intelligent horror The Woman will be playing Wednesday night at the Chauvel Cinema in Paddington Sydney! Starts 8pm. Special guests Director Lucky McKee (May) and actress
Brand New Trailer For Controversial Horror Film THE WOMAN Is Here!
By Twitchfilm.com on December 17, 2011
Here’s the brand new trailer for Lucky McKee’s THE WOMAN, which many of you would no doubt want to check out. But be warned: THE WOMAN is controversial and challenging; harrowing and horrific; disturbing
Lucky McKee's THE WOMAN Picked Up By Bloody Disgusting Selects, Headed For Theaters
By Twitchfilm.com on December 17, 2011
In very welcome news, Variety is reporting that Lucky McKee’s controversial shocker, The Woman, has been acquired by Bloody Disgusting Selects for theatrical and home video release in the US. The Woman
New Theatrical Trailer For Lucky McKee's THE WOMAN
By Twitchfilm.com on December 17, 2011
It’s been riding a wave of controversy since its debut at Sundance and on October 14th fans will be able to see what the buzz has been about when Lucky McKee’s adaptation of Jack Ketchum’s The Woman hits
Toronto After Dark 2011: THE WOMAN Review
By Twitchfilm.com on October 27, 2011
After watching a movie that takes place in such a strange headspace such as Lucky McKee’s The Woman, it is probably best to let the thing percolate a bit before even attempting to articulate a reaction
Grimm Up North 2011: THE WOMAN review
By Twitchfilm.com on October 24, 2011
What you get out of Lucky McKee’s The Woman, a piece of ultraviolent drama that’s brilliant and infuriating by turns, is probably dependent on how serious you think the director and his writing partner
THE WOMAN Review
By Twitchfilm.com on October 14, 2011
[Lucky McKee’s The Woman opens in limited release in the US today and so we take this opportunity to revisit Mr. Hurtado’s earlier review. A list of theaters can be found at the link below]Lucky McKee’s
Watch Two Clips From Lucky McKee's Controversial THE WOMAN
By Twitchfilm.com on October 13, 2011
Still riding a wave of controversy that started with its premiere at Sundance earlier this year, Lucky McKee’s The Woman has proven to be the most polarizing horror film of the year. And tomorrow fans
TFW 2011: THE WOMAN Review
By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
Lucky McKee’s The Woman starts off with a whimper and ends with a bang, as all good horror films should. McKee’s newest project shows the attention to story and atmosphere that many contemporary horror
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