Russo joins Coogan in the Dark Woods

American actor James Russo has joined the cast of 'Dark Woods", the psychological thriller starring Trim actress Tracy Coogan. He will play Sheriff Demming in the mystery thriller written by John Muscanero, based on true events. The story follows a couple who moves to a secluded cabin in the woods to cope with a terminal illness of the wife. As the wife"s condition drags her deeper into dementia and darkness, the husband"s friendship with a local teenage girl takes a dangerous and obsessive turn. The film is said to be similar to Roman Polanski"s 'Repulsion" or the works of David Lynch and Michael Haneke, with the feeling of the 1969 French classic 'The Swimming Pool (La Piscine)" which starred Romy Schneider and Alain Delon. Russo appeared opposite Johnny Depp in Roman Polanski"s 'The Ninth Gate". A Manhattan-born character player who attended New York University, he wrote and starred in a prize-winning short film called 'The Candy Store" while attending college. His first big film break was as a convenience store robber in 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High." Possessed with a stare that can bring shivers down one"s back, he has been quite the accessible villain over the years, memorably portraying a number of gritty psychopaths and gangsters, among other undesirables. One only needs to be reminded of his sadistic sexual animal role in 'Extremities" on stage (in which he won a 1983 Theatre World Award) and in the film in which he terrorised Farrah Fawcett, to recall how chillingly effective he is. Other film roles include Kevin Costner"s 'The Postman" and 'Open Range", plus 'Beverly Hills Cop", 'We"re No Angels", 'Donnie Brasco", 'No Way Home", and a number of other crimers. On stage, he has 'Welcome to Andromeda", 'Deathwatch", 'Marat/Sade" and the aforementioned 'Extremities" to his credit. Russo appeared opposite Johnny Depp in Roman Polanski"s 'The Ninth Gate", and portrayed mobster Victor Mura in TV"s short-lived 'Falcone" the following year. More recently, he offered a penetrating cameo as Frank Sinatra in 'Stealing Sinatra." In 'Dark Woods", the full cast is: Susan Branch - Tracy Coogan; Henry Branch - John Muscarnero; Alicia Larch - Mary Kate Wiles; Sherrif Demming - James Russo; Rand Larch - Mark Shady; Mrs. Turner - Yvonne Huff; Dr Lewis - Rob Simpson. The director is Michael Escobedo, director of photography, Andrew J Whittaker, and producers Mark Shady, Peter Nee and Tracy Coogan.