Die Tote am See

An above-average and very atmospheric take on a below-par story. It’s almost surprising how watchable it is, even if nothing much happens for most of the time. The actors are believable, but it’s better not to think too much about the logic of the script. I don’t know if revealing the killer so quickly in the last few seconds was such a good idea to reveal, the reveal should have been done gradually or not at all… 80%. (01.02.2008)

A solid team-building psychotic film that benefits mainly from believable characters, although they’re not that likable. Accustomed to certain rules, those watching will surely argue for a long time about who could be the bogeyman. In the end, however, all it takes is an ordinary forest and a random corpse to shake up tense nerves. Villmark will surely convince you of this without much ado. The fact that it then says goodbye to logic and adds in the clichés of overseas genre films is all the sadder. Regardless, it deserves a standing ovation. Where’s the American remake with the busty blondes and the muscular metrosexuals? (22.10.2009)

A decent atmospheric affair from Norway. There’s not much going on, but it will surely grip you. If you hear anything about the film you'll probably be struck by the similarities to The Blair Witch Project - fortunately this low-budget film from the dark woods is about something different and, more importantly, better. (16.08.2005)

Es ist bewundernswert, wie Norweger aus so gewöhnlicher Umgebung, mit der wir alle gelegentlich konfrontiert sind, eine so bedrückende Atmosphäre hervorzaubern können. Bei geeigneter Projektion (zu Hause in den späten Nachtstunden, eine großartige Bild- und Tonqualität vorausgesetzt) stellt sich zwangsläufig ein Gefühl von Beklemmung, Angst und Unsicherheit ein. Und dabei passiert hier nicht viel... nur der anfängliche Fund einer Leiche, hin und wieder schnappt jemand nach Luft. Aber gerade die tiefen Wälder, natürlichen Charaktere und minimalistische Musik sind die wichtigsten Elemente des Films. Eine schlaflose Nacht ist fast garantiert. Persönlich würde ich nicht zögern, Villmark und seinen schwedischen Bruder Det okända als die gruseligsten skandinavischen Horrorfilme überhaupt zu bezeichnen. (23.08.2011)

It's a horror film built entirely on an impenetrable mystery, skilfully keeping the viewer and the characters themselves distressingly unaware of where the source of the increasingly suspicious turmoil lies, only to strike in the final few seconds with the most derivative twist possible. That said, thanks to the established nature of the evil, the believable characters and a working atmosphere, it’s not as empty as the stupid Blair Witch Project. But even here, in the final recap, I search in vain for a single polished horror moment or a twist that could make me give a higher rating. And top of that, it’s all so clichéd... 45% (26.11.2015)

Dark Woods is a Norwegian movie that is an interesting example of the found footage genre from a country that is not exactly famous for its horror movies. The Norwegians have shown it is possible to make such a movie with a very great atmosphere which is helped by the Norwegian forests really being a perfect setting for horror. You do not want to get lost there. (13.11.2019)