“Nina of the Woods” was one of the selected feature films that was screened at the 25th annual H.P Lovecraft Film Festival. This was the movie’s regional premiere although the festival itself was being streamed this particular year. The film follows a small reality TV series production crew filming an episode concerning a Bigfoot like creature. They hire a young actress and a local guide to take them deep into the woods. The cast comes across as genuine and not as your typical horror movie tropes. It is a slower movie but I found it very enjoyable and a nice counter balance to some of the more chaotic films that deal with similar themes.
"Nina of the Woods" is similar to recent films like "In the Tall Grass" and "Blair Witch" in that all three story lines are about the cast of characters becoming lost and dealing with a bizarre twist in time. What sets "Nina of the Woods" apart from the crowd is it's mystical, serene approach. The scenes are beautifully filmed with subtle imagery, the pacing isn't erratic when the characters become lost, and there isn't a need for jump scares to remain entertaining.
Megan Hensley plays Nina, the primary character, who returns to the forest where she lived as a small girl. She is an inspiring actress and after an awkward and insulting audition, she is offered the role of "local girl" to make the episode appear more authentic. She only agrees after her agent urges her to take the role. Through flashbacks, we see that she was taught to respect and hold nature in high esteem, and that every living thing gives back the cycle and to each other. As Nina and the production crew travel deeper into the forest, she comes to remember more of her forgotten past.
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