Within the Woods

“Within the Woods” is one of the short features a teenaged Sam Raimi shot in the late 1970s. This production has assumed a sort of historical interest, particularly for fans of the director, in that it’s something of a prototype for what would later become the sleeper hit “The Evil Dead” (1981). Watching the short film, one can pick out a large number of plot aspects (more or less developed) and technical solutions that will be reprised and expanded upon in the future trilogy of the same name.

Despite a budget of practically zero, and Raimi’s still raw direction, he manages to create a rather oppressive atmosphere and convey a reasonable sense of anxiety and unease.

The special effects, although reflecting the above-mentioned restrictions, contain an embryonic dose of bloody creativity. The cast features the legendary Bruce Campbell as well as Scott Spiegel (future director of the slasher “Intruder”) and Ellen Sandweiss (Ash’s sister in “The Evil Dead“).