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Danger, not safety, comes with the act of conforming in The Woods. In Lucky McKee’s sophomore film, a troubled teenager is sent away because of her disruptive behavior. Asking questions, going against norms and not abiding by the rules, however, are ultimately what saves her from an early death.

This 2006 film is indeed set in 1965 New England, but the story’s central message is timeless. When first meeting the rebellious Heather Fasulo (Agnes Bruckner), the teen is en route to a remote boarding school for young women. Her parents are visibly split on the matter; the prim Mrs. Fasulo (Emma Campbell) thinks Falburn Academy will straighten out her daughter after a small incident of arson, whereas the reluctant Mr. Fasulo (Bruce Campbell) bites his tongue.

When first walking down the halls of Falburn Academy, only the audience seems to notice the overgrowth of vines everywhere. This old structure sits...

Horror director Lucky McKee unfortunately remains one of those unknown, peripheral genre names, mostly thanks to a number of compromised or abandoned projects following his formidable 2002 debut, May. Over the past several years, he’s made headlines for 2011’s The Woman (another underrated gem from his filmography), and most recently the co-directed effort All Cheerleaders Die in 2013, an expansion of his 2001 short film, which is more or less the comically inclined romp you’d assume it to be. Prizing complex female characterizations, usually featuring muse Angela Bettis, McKee’s twisted visions, though few and far between, are enjoyable and entertaining, usually enhanced by a bit of subtext. About a decade ago, McKee’s sophomore feature, The Woods, would finally land on DVD in the Us following a limited festival circuit run, treated to a torturous release platform despite featuring several notable cast members. A period piece set amongst an all-girls...