'Secrets in the Woods': Sadistic torture cabinet and an unexpected twist keep you hooked to Lifetime thriller
Spoilers for 'Secret in the Woods'
For a long time, we have been spooked out by tales of unfortunate few who are faced with the worst of situations when stuck in the middle of nowhere. Following in the footsteps of ‘Gerald’s Game’ and the classic ‘Evil Dead’, Lifetime’s latest thriller movie 'Secret in the Woods' premises on the spine-chilling happenings of the woods as it navigates the fate of those who get trapped on its dark side.
The movie begins with Sandra (Brittany Underwood) bracing herself for a long weekend getaway with her boyfriend of a few months, Brant (Taylor Frey). She lives with her sister Becky, who is clearly more outgoing than her sibling, who is a tad bit hesitant to get intimate with her new boyfriend, let alone go all the way. Sandra tells Becky that their mini-trip was specifically planned to make the long-awaited moment happen.
Brant decides to take Sandra to his childhood home, located in the depths of the woods. He warns her well in advance that she won’t be able to make calls or reach out to anyone as the remote location doesn’t receive any reception to communicate with the outside world. Although reluctant and highly skeptical, Sandra trusts Brant with her safety and life and agrees to stay at his childhood home, which can only be accessed by foot from the main parts of the town. With every encounter, Sandra stumbles upon some interesting yet startling facts about her boyfriend.
Sandra’s worst fears soon come true when she tries exploring the wilderness surrounding the cabinet Brant grew up in. Although she tries to ignore, her instincts tell her that she’s being watched by someone. But, when confronted, Brant simply brushes it off as her paranoia.
When the night kicks in, Sandra prepares herself for her special moment with Brant, when he goes missing all of sudden. When Sandra goes looking for him, she gets chased by someone and before she could realize who it was, she runs into a tree and collapses on the ground from the impact. She wakes up to find herself lying in Brant’s house, with not just him, but also his father Langley (Jim Klock) standing beside him.
One wouldn’t have imagined in their wildest dreams what awaited Sandra in ‘Secrets in the Woods’ until Langely reveals it himself. Without slightest remorse, Brant tells Sandra that he’s helping his father find a suitable partner, someone who would replace his dead mother who was murdered by his father on refusing to live by his terms. Both father and son believe that women exist to serve them and when broken enough, they’ll come around, thus letting the duo have it their way.
Sandra finds herself helpless as she’s locked in the cabinet with her legs chained. All she can or is supposed to do is cook meals for Langley and Brant with what they provide from their hunting adventures, clean up once they are done, and make sure they are sexually pleased. And those who don’t comply with their demands, end up dead. Will Sandra end up becoming one of their victims or will she able to find an escape?
Set in the midst of the woods, the majority of the movie focuses on the creepy cabinet, which has blood-curling stories of many victims to share. ‘Secrets in the Woods’ deserves credit for acing its execution and making the most out of limited resources. The movie has a handful of characters, but each of them has added an equal amount of value to the overall story arc.
The plot is highly unpredictable and refreshing at every scene. There is no prolonged suspense drama or unnecessary usage of forbidding characters, which make ‘Secrets in the Woods’ bearable. The movie thrives on thought than action and manages to strike the right chords with the audience. Despite being a bit unrealistic, the movie succeeds in making you want to reconsider your plans about spending time in a secluded space for the sake of fun.
‘Secrets in the Woods’ premieres on August 30 on Lifetime.