The Woman

Bloody Disgusting | Release Date: October 14, 2011

6.1	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Ratings

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LordPigNuggetMar 6, 2012

The Woman is not a perfect movie. Certain camera angles are jarring and infective, and the third act, while impressive in its ambitions, nevertheless feels a tad rushed. However, this film (which is more a drama and deconstruction of theThe Woman is not a perfect movie. Certain camera angles are jarring and infective, and the third act, while impressive in its ambitions, nevertheless feels a tad rushed. However, this film (which is more a drama and deconstruction of the nuclear family unit than a horror movie), is outstanding in its portrayal of the life of its central family, the Cleeks. The titular woman is both simultaneously nothing and everything. She is merely the stage upon which the family slowly reveals their own natures upon. This method of story telling is far more effective than the oft used simple back story reveal. A viewer knows almost nothing of these characters outside of what is specifically seen on camera, and yet, by the time the credits roll, every person involved has their own unique traits and relationship. This is further achieved by the strong acting performances turned in by all cast members, who portray these characters as living and breathing. This film is a landmark in "horror" cinema. Just don't expect too many scares.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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slipperySep 23, 2012

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. First of all, I'm a huge fan of horror films. I've seen a very wide spectrum of films. I'm not a fan of splatter flicks. I'm not a fan of films that only manage to shock, disgust and repulse. A five year old can manage the same thing with a handful of excrement. I'm not a fan of jump-out-and-BOO films that merely surprise.
****
I like films that surprise me in a different way. This film surprised me.
****
First, this film has the best soundtrack of any horror film. The music was fresh and stylish. That may seem cheap, but atmosphere is really important, and the music created a very different atmosphere than most horror films achieve. And music was only one aspect of the great timing and direction of the film.
*****
But MOST of all: this is a surprisingly intelligent film. The characters are disturbing and twisted, but freshly so. These aren't the usual cookie-cutter bad-guys and crazies of most films. They're monsters masquerading as normal people. As the film progresses, the director slowly pulls back the curtain on horror upon horror: but not merely shock and disgust. There were several surprises that left my jaw hanging open in a very genuine "WTF!" moment. The thing is, I normally do NOT like movies about torture or humiliation. I find it grotesque, misanthropic, and particularly against women I find it misogynistic ... I can't watch the TV show Criminal Minds because I find it sick and misogynistic (at least after season one). Though people have leveled that criticism against this movie, I disagree. The director didn't show a lot of things he could have. I felt he was very sensitive the actors. Likewise, this isn't a movie that treats its mistreatment as something titillating. It doesn't merely revel in the empowerment of evil or the hopeless helplessness of the weak. It's well-done horror. Amazingly, it's not the savage cannibal woman who's the biggest horror but the seemingly good neighborly family that "takes her in" to "civilize her" that provides the real horror. The characters: the wife, the daughter, "the woman" and even "the son" all, to me, represent different aspects of abused women and their reactions to abuse. There's a psychology to the film that works: whether it's "the woman's" incessant resistance, the daughter's rabbit-like self-protective hiding and withdrawal, the wife's appeasement and complicity, or the son's Stockholm-Syndrome-like emulation and very realistically portrayed and understood sadism. And finally, the director shows it's "the woman" who becomes the hero, breaking the passivity of the others.

*****
On the actors and casting: well done. Lauren Ashley Carter as daughter Peggy: casting directors, PLEASE hire this woman. Her performance was more than just artful makeup. Her portrayal of a young woman who like an old rag has been brutally twisted completely dry of its last drop of humanity and hope ... it was like fingernails dragging across my heart. She genuinely made me FEEL for her character without beating me over the head with pleas for sympathy.
*****
This is not an art film. It's a horror film. But it's not an average horror film. This film is not for everybody. It's certainly not for the mild tea-cup suspense crowd. It's filled to the brim with monsters that terrify and disgust. But for hard-horror fans tired of the same old plot and the same old characters: this film is refreshing.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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dacritiqueOct 19, 2011

This is the biggest pile of garbage i have ever seen. Its easy to see that the online critics are getting merchandise and free viewings of this film because if they had to pay for it, it would get nothing but bad reviews. just like how theThis is the biggest pile of garbage i have ever seen. Its easy to see that the online critics are getting merchandise and free viewings of this film because if they had to pay for it, it would get nothing but bad reviews. just like how the reviewers at ign reviewing a game and saying its stellar when its nothing more than a turn in a **** bucket. I knew what i was in for as soon as it started, here's this woman who's a savage cant speak English probably raised by wolves so to say but yet she is armed with a **** bowie knife. nuff said. Unless this **** learned how to smelt iron out of the dirt and learned to forge the **** thing, where the **** did she get it? It doesn't add up probably she bought it at walmart....oh yeah that's right she a **** savage. What a load of bull**** I am glad I never paid money to see this boring piece of **** Thank god for piracy. that is all.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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Jelly-KonesJul 10, 2014

I'm not usually one to write film reviews, but felt compelled to write one about the Woman when I saw that it had somehow got 58 on Metacritic! This film is utter garbage and just about managed to knock Abrahm lincon vs zombies off my worstI'm not usually one to write film reviews, but felt compelled to write one about the Woman when I saw that it had somehow got 58 on Metacritic! This film is utter garbage and just about managed to knock Abrahm lincon vs zombies off my worst film top-spot!

The synopsis reads well, and may lead you to believe it could be a good film, but is if in fact a poorly written, poorly shot, poorly executed film. The plot is stupid, and don't get me started on the "ending".

Avoid!… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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AlienSpaceBatsJul 1, 2013

Ketchum's novels seem to breed amoral psychopaths. The Woman is an interesting concept, and the subtext of the film is more interesting (and disturbing) than what happens on-camera. So by the mid-point, the film begins to tread familiarKetchum's novels seem to breed amoral psychopaths. The Woman is an interesting concept, and the subtext of the film is more interesting (and disturbing) than what happens on-camera. So by the mid-point, the film begins to tread familiar ground to Ketchum's The Girl Next Door, but The Woman's charged final quarter is worth staying for.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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Voodoo123Oct 20, 2020

Some fascinating concepts at play here, and the excellent cast do a great job within the limited screenplay. The pacing of the film is pretty odd and ultimately it never succeeds in commiting to a particular genre/tone to excel beyondSome fascinating concepts at play here, and the excellent cast do a great job within the limited screenplay. The pacing of the film is pretty odd and ultimately it never succeeds in commiting to a particular genre/tone to excel beyond anything other than the realm of 'B grade'. Worth your time if just for the excellent horror imagery during the last 20 mins or so.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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