Wake Wood (2009) Review – A Gritty and Visceral Irish Folk-Horror Tale

Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are taking a look at Irish and British collaboration Wake Wood (2009).

Wake Wood (2009)

Wake Wood, takes us to County Donegal in Northern Ireland, and follows married couple Patrick (Aidan Gillen) and Louise (Eva Birthistle), as they try to cope with the recent death of their daughter Alice. After witnessing a man being killed in a farm accident, Patrick and Louise learn of a pagan ritual used in the town to bring people back to life. There are only a few simple rules. They cannot leave the boundaries and they can only stay for a weekend. Could this be an opportunity for Louise and Patrick to see Alice again? Or is it secretly a curse disguised as a gift.

“Wake Wood, for all intents and purposes, is a retelling of the same story as Pet Sematary. A slightly different, more Irish, wrapper on a classic cautionary tale.”

It’s hard to read all of the above without automatically thinking of Pet Sematary. The tale of the Monkey’s Paw has been around for a long time and has been adapted in many formats. Stephen King’s cautionary tale of getting what you wish for, gone wrong is extremely well known. A child is killed, a father buries the child in Pet Sematary, the child comes back to life changed and chaos ensues. Wake Wood, for all intents and purposes, is a retelling of that very same story.

Sure, some of the things here and there are different but the principle is the same. The filmmakers attempted to mix things up a little by changing the location and including a pagan style ritual. There’s also a community awareness of the process and the suggestion that, should the rules be followed, the process is safe. With that being said, this is the same basic story with a slightly different, more Irish, wrapper.

A familiar but interesting plot

I am a big fan of the “be careful what you wish for” plot line. I think it can lead to some really interesting events and allows for a character to be presented as one thing and then entirely changed. Although it has been done before, Wake Wood does a nice job with this story. I thought the ritual added an enjoyable folk-horror vibe and the idea that this has been going on in Wake Wood for years brought a community element that makes sense. Everyone gets a turn, so to speak, so the villager’s willingness to participate made sense. Playing along is very much in their interests.

The power at play here is bound to the area of the town. The resurrected person can’t leave or they will die again. That was a really good way of explaining how nobody has escaped with a resurrected loved one. The three day rule also worked really well as there was no expectation that this was permanent. It also offers an opportunity for closure at the end of the movie.

“The ritual itself is pretty gruesome and the rebirth is suitably nasty. The sight of a child emerging covered in blood and guts is a daring, slightly haunting, visual.”

Everyone involved follows the rules so that they can see their loved ones again, albeit temporarily. What didn’t make as much sense was how many people have died in Wake Wood recently. That place is apparently really dangerous. The movie is paced pretty well, too. The backstory is out of the way quick and we are onto the ritual with half an hour. Escalation is rapid and I think the ritual itself looks fantastic.

Fantastic practical effects and a few complaints

It’s worth pointing out, as well, that the practical effects are fantastic. The ritual itself is pretty gruesome and the rebirth of the resurrected person is suitably nasty. The sight of a child emerging from a cow’s carcass covered in blood and guts is a daring, slightly haunting visual. It will likely stay with you after watching. It’s worth mentioning that these scenes were, thankfully, tactfully shot. Always important when filming this type of scene involving a young person.

Wake Wood, as a movie, can be something of a mixed bag. It is placed in an idyllic setting but, despite this, the camera work is pretty substandard. Ireland is an absolutely stunning country that reminds me a lot of where I live in Wales. If you can’t create gorgeous shots with the incredible Irish scenery you are probably doing something wrong. I couldn’t help but notice that some of the shots seemed to feature the cinematographer desperately attempting to do something creative. It’s just a drab and unimaginative picture in general and very dull in parts.

“Wake Wood, while not a perfect movie, is an enjoyable horror that deserves a watch. It’s an interesting combination of The Wicker Man and Pet Sematary.”

There are, as is common with many horror movies, a few plot holes here and there. One, in particular, at the end of the movie is very glaring. The family get three days together yet they seem to waste quite a lot of it. For some of that time they are not even with their daughter. It just doesn’t make much sense. The biggest problem however, is just how derivative the film is. It has no ideas of its own and just takes elements of much better movies and mashes them together. It’s not terrible but it’s not at all innovative and a million miles from original.

Our Scoring Philosophy: A Fair Fight

Horror is a genre that thrives thanks to indie film makers and low budget creators. At Knockout Horror, we firmly believe that every movie that we review deserves a fair fight. That's why we grade on a curve. Our star ratings are all about context, judging a film on what it achieves with the resources it has.

A 4-star rating for a scrappy indie horror made for $10,000 is a testament to its ingenuity and raw power. A 4-star rating for a $100 million blockbuster means it delivered on its epic promises. We don't compare them side-by-side; we celebrate success in every weight class, from the back-alley brawler to the heavyweight champion. Please keep this in mind when considering star ratings.

Support the Site Knockout Horror is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Basically, if you click a link to rent or buy a movie, we may earn a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps keep the lights on and the nightmares coming. Don't worry, we will never recommend a movie purely to generate clicks. If it's bad, we will tell you.

Disclaimer: Images, posters, and video stills used in this review are the property of their respective copyright holders. They are included here for the purposes of commentary, criticism, and review under fair use. Knockout Horror makes no claim of ownership and encourages readers to support the official release of all films discussed.