The Woods

Virtual Press Kit

Technical Info:

  • Title: The Woods

  • Genre: Horror

  • Production Year: 2023

  • Country of Origin: USA

  • Language: English

  • Runtime: 1:14:24

  • Screen Ratio: 16x9

  • Sound Format: Stereo

Logline

During an interview on a true crime podcast, the lone survivor of a terrifying hike tells the story of how she and her friends met a grizzly fate in the mysterious woods they first became friends in.

Synopsis

The Woods is the story of four best friends who first became friends when their middle school took them on a class hike together. Now, about to graduate college and go their separate ways, the friends want to recreate that original hike. However, things do not go as planned, and soon the mysterious nature of the woods themselves drives the friends apart, in grizzly ways. The events of this hike, and the unfortunate fate of the friends, is recounted years later on a true crime podcast by lone survivor, Kate Reed.

Director’s Statement

Key Crew

  • Sarah Lyons-Director, Writer

    Sarah Lyons is a celebrated writer whose works and writing have appeared in The New York Times, Teen Vogue, Vice, Buzzfeed, NewsWeek, Bust, Dazed, Signs Journal, The Last Podcast of the Left, and The Witch Wave Podcast. Her first book, Revolutionary Witchcraft was published in 2019 from Running Press (Hachette Books Group) and her second book, How to Study Magic was published in 2022 also from Running Press. She is also the author of The Coloring Tarot Guidebook (2023). Sarah has appeared as a regular guest on the CW show Mysteries Decoded, and is a trusted expert on witchcraft and the occult, having appeared in, and consulted with, numerous documentary films on the subject. This is her first of many feature films.

  • Monica Arsenault-Producer

    Monica Arsenault is a Brooklyn-based producer and director who makes feminist, coming-of-age content with boundary-pushing themes and colorful aesthetics. Her award-winning web series, Nun Habits, received international distribution on The Roku Channel after a wildly successful film festival run. Nun Habits has since found its permanent home on Stareable TV's YouTube Channel. She has independently produced several narrative shorts, music videos, experimental, and branded content. Monica is currently producing full-time at CRY, a commercial and video production company, and is thrilled to have produced The Woods, her first solo-produced feature film.

  • Maddalena De Beni-Director of Photography

    Maddalena is a NYC-based genre cinematographer inspired by exploitation and outsider cinema. She recently shot a feature, several short films, a couple tv pilots, and some new media with artists such as Beck Underwood and publications like Waif and Vice Magazine. Her work has screened at Katra Film Series, Indie Memphis, Nitehawk Shorts Festival and NoBudge.com. She studied under Tom Richmond (ASC) Sarah Cawley and Valentina Caniglia (AIC) at the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema in Brooklyn, NY.

Lead Cast

  • Taylor Harris-Butler

    Kate

    A New Jersey native, Taylor Harris-Butler is a New York based actor. She graduated with her BFA in Acting from Marymount Manhattan College, and has also trained at Terry Knickerbocker Studio. From the stage to the screen, Taylor's most recent credits include King Lear and All's Well That Ends Well with Hip to Hip Theatre Company, as well as Balance and Glass House, two short films produced by Bethel Films. Taylor also enjoys working behind the camera as a 2nd Assistant Director on Commercials and as a producer on various short films. Get to know her more at taylorharrisbutler.com.

  • Samantha Evans

    Amy

    Samantha Evans (she/her) is a New York based actor, writer, and improviser. She is a teacher at The Barrow Group and has trained at UCB, The Groundlings and Emerson College (BFA Acting). She is the creator and star of the award-winning pilot, Ghost Girl, which premiered at the NYTV Festival. Sam is represented by Stein Entertainment Group and Bonafide & Emerging Artists.

  • Troy Tripicchino

    Sam

    Troy Tripicchio is a New Yorker, born and raised. He's been acting since he could walk, in roles that vary from the sweetheart to the devil himself. His most recent credits include a co-star opposite Sarah Jessica Parker on HBOMax’s And Just Like That and Friends! The Off-Broadway Musical Parody. He is so thankful to Sarah, Monica and The Woods family for making this project the adventure that it was. Love you all. Can’t wait to share it with our fellow horror nerds out there.

    Troy is also well-known on TikTok for his astrology work. You can find him on Instagram, @astrolotroy for his readings and offerings.

  • Jakob Martinez Cooper

    Lucas

    Description goes hJakob Martinez Cooper is a New York City based actor. FILM: When Max Met Loralie (Max). THEATRE: Imaginary Invalid (Cleante), Pan (Nibs). Jakob holds a BA from Emerson College and is a recent alum of The Neighborhood Playhouse. In his free time Jakob is a long suffering NY sports fan. His favorite horror movie is The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Full Cast and Crew

Full Cast

Kate-Taylor Harris-Butler

Amy-Samantha Evans

Sam-Troy Tripicchino

Lucas-Jakob Martinez Cooper

Mike-Sean Cole

Innkeeper-Todd Jones

Full Crew

Editor-Erika Rodgers

Assistant Director-Erika Rodgers 

Drone Operator-Erika Rodgers

Gaffer-HJ Kim

Production Sound Mixer-Anastasia Goldberg

Production and Costume Designer-Holly Stout

Hair and Makeup Artist-Liv Swenson

Camera PA-Devon Tuttle

Script Supervisor-Patrick Carnes

Script Supervisor-Sarah Allen

Office and Set Production Assistant-Elise Direktor

Craft Services and Meal Key- Clarke Bliss

Art Production Assistant-Virginia Colemenares

Art Production Assistant-Paris Benson

Key Production Support and Support on Prep and Wrap Days-Aman Shivani