Wake Wood

 (2011) ***1/2

A veterinarian and his pharmacist wife move to the quaint little town of Wake Wood after the untimely death of their only child Alice.  Once they are settled in they begin to notice some odd behavior from the locals and after some investigating become made aware of a town tradition that can bring back a dead loved one for three days only so they can spend a little time properly saying goodbye. The one catch is that the person must have been dead for less than one year. The distraught couple desperate for a little more time with their daughter lies about the length of her death and gets the town to perform the ritual. Alice returns and everything seems fine at first but soon it becomes apparent that something is not quite right. They were warned, breaking of the rules comes with consequences.

I really liked this flick; it was creepy and compelling.  It’s a story that has been addressed many times before yet they managed to do it in a way that seemed fresh and original. The townspeople are sincere not sinister, they understand grief and respect the pain the couple is going through. Even after they figure out that the couple lied, they aren’t angry, just want to help them make things right. The entire film was shot in Ireland; the scenic town and bleak tones add real depth and substance to the story. Well worth the time.