‘Uncommon beauty is commonly overlooked...’
To say it’s such a taboo subject, there are surprisingly loads of films that tackle child abuse. This is partly because it can be a convenient plot device when attempting to dissect what makes someone grow up to be a monster themselves, partly because it remains a powerful and troubling area, and partly because it hands an actor the opportunity to play against type and portray a more morally complex character than usual. The Woodsman, Nicole Kassell’s adaptation of Steven Fechter’s minimalist play, treads fairly familiar ground but is rendered worthwhile by a quietly masterful performance from Kevin Bacon…
Walter (Bacon) is attempting to return to normal live following 12 years in prison for child molestation. He divides his time between emotionally draining appointments with his therapist Rosen (Michael Shannon), awkward drinking sessions with his brother-in-law Carlos (Benjamin Bratt), fraught interrogations from crusading cop Sgt. Lucas (Mos Def) and intense but rewarding intimacy with his co-worker Vicki (Kyra Sedgwick). Throughout all of these interactions, Walter remains stoic and defeated, only occasionally allowing his true self to come through.
The Woodsman is a quiet film. Kassell, directing from her own screenplay, allows the silences to tell the story just as much as the dialogue, with Bacon excelling in these quieter moments. The supporting cast are also impressive with Mos Def – whose acting career I was totally unaware of before today – proving particularly menacing and effective throughout.
While other films have approached this subject more effectively (most notably Mystic River and Boy A), The Woodsman works because it avoids sensationalism and instead allows the characters to breath. An underseen but quietly effective film.