The Girl in the Woods

Terrible acting and dialogue hinder what could have been a creepy and cool monster show. I don't see this having a season 2 but I could be wrong. Watch it with very low expectations and you may enjoy it.

I was expecting it to be very basic and boring, but it was actually engaging. It wasn't really a horror show as much as a teen drama with horror elements. As a teen drama it was above average, the characters were realistic and there problems too. If you are looking for something scary this show is not for you, but if you want an teen drama that doesn't make you brain dead while watching it, it's pretty good.

Carrie (Stefanie Scott) and her people have been tasked with guarding a mysterious door in the Oregon woods. One day, she decides to run away from the door. She is befriended by outcast teens Tasha (Sofia Bryant) and Nolan (Misha Osherovich). She is being tracked by Arthur Deane (Will Yun Lee).

Stefanie Scott is a bit wooden as an actress, but that's fine for the character who is hiding stuff. The start is a bit clunky. There is a better way to play this from a cult idea. This really needs to start with Tasha and Nolan. Nolan is a fascinating side character with potential. There is material here for a good show, but it's not done in the most imaginative way. All in all, the show is uneven, but just compelling enough to keep watching. I like the group dynamics and the nightmare monsters. After one season, it's probably done.

This is a supernatural teen show but with an atypical and rather interesting plot. The main character, Carrie, grew up in an isolated cult deep in the woods that dedicates itself to keeping nightmarish monsters locked away behind a mystical door, all to nobody in the outside world's knowledge. She eventually leaves the cult for reasons unknown and the story goes from there.

The writing is far from stellar. It's obviously not going for any awards, but the show is entertaining enough to keep you watching. Not everyone will like it though, and that's fine. The episodes are short so it's not a time-sink. Watch the first episode and decide from there.

If you're wondering why a few people are calling the show "woke," it's because the main girl is gay, and the female co-star is black, with the male-costar being non-binary. That's enough to have some people hate the show. Skip it if that bothers you.

Most of the reviewers don't know that this series comes from Crypt TV channel on YouTube, which has an array of horror anthologies. I'm glad they made it to the big screen as Crypt TV has some of the most original horror short films out there. Instead of being over critical they should check out the YT channel before saying that this series is over "woke" because it's anything but.

I do wish they had chosen from different short films but this one isn't horrible. I say give it five episodes before you there it under the bus.