Don't Go in the Woods

**_Possibly the worst Friday the 13th knockoff of the 80s_** Hikers in northern Utah find themselves the prey of a psycho outcast living in the wilderness. "Don’t Go in the Woods” (1981) is a low-budget slasher in the tradition of “Friday the 13th” (1980). It’s similar to the future "The Final Terror" (1983) and "Berserker” (1987), but those are masterpieces by comparison; so is “Blood Hook” (1986). Everything is here for a competent slasher, but the creators forgot to include a story with fleshed out characters. As such, the proceedings come across as random gory killings in the wilds (with glaringly fake blood) attached to a dull “story.” It doesn’t help that the “mad” antagonist is too cartoonish to provoke fear. Some other issues off the top of my head: There’s a rotund Sheriff who could hardly walk a city block on paved sidewalk, let along hike rough trails in the Rockies. Meanwhile the two main female characters are plain Janes so the creators throw in one attractive brunette in the opening snippet, plus a curious cameo of an alluring redhead skater. Then there’s the oddball humor, like the guy in a wheelchair who gets decapitated. Unless you need to see every 80’s slasher or if you’re interested in quality forest cinematography and thrills à la "Open Season" (1974), give it a pass. The film runs 1 hour, 22 minutes, and was shot in Utah, southeast or east of Salt Lake City in Provo (falls), Heber City, Brighton and Park City. GRADE: D+/C-