When a successful country lawyer captures and attempts to "civilize" the last remaining member of a violent clan that has roamed the Northeast coast for decades, he puts the lives of his family in jeopardy.
By positioning the gruesome action within the domestic setting director Lucky McKee and co-writer Jack Ketchum hold a mirror up to the violence inherent in society. You might not like what you see.
One infamous walkout in Sundance has fed it the oxygen of controversy, but it’s an overhyped and crudely constructed little item — you wouldn’t need to be repulsed to find ample reasons to leave.
A truly biting examination of the misogyny underlying patriarchal civilisation.
The movie skilfully persuades you to believe in this woman, and therefore to be horrified at her fate, but I found that the film's rigour dissolved in the final act.
Effective, but very unpleasant.
Too bad it descends into a crude attack on misogyny, though torture porn fans will not feel hard done by.
McKee’s oblique storytelling and Sean Spillane’s mournful music add unusual textures to an otherwise savage attack on patriarchy.
This Sundance-approved horror is more exploitation sleaze than serious provocation.
It's a muddled, muffled, extremely unpleasant film that fails to illuminate the true story on which it is allegedly based.
Refreshing, thought-provoking and containing more than a few jumps and surprises, The Woman is a must see for all horror fans.
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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