Leave No Trace **** (2018, Ben Foster, Thomasin McKenzie, Jeff Kober, Dale Dickey) – Movie Review

Co-writer/ director Debra Granik’s haunting 2018 outsider survivalist drama Leave No Trace is totally compelling and absolutely first rate.

Ben Foster and Thomasin McKenzie star as troubled dad Will and his surprisingly grown-up 13-year-old daughter Tom, who have lived their idea of an idyllic life for years in the urban forests of Portland, Oregon. Well, to be honest, it is Will’s idea of an idyllic life but Tom goes along with it wholeheartedly.

However, after Tom makes a small mistake, they are arrested and put into social services, who free them into charitable new surroundings of a donated home and belongings. But they break free and set off back to their wild homeland, where, when trouble comes, surprisingly they find more kindness and, eventually, well what?

The story is gripping and moving, the film is beautifully handled by Granik, and the acting is perfect, with Foster remarkable in a difficult role, (so nice to see him in a sympathetic part away from all the crazy villains he has been playing) and McKenzie tremendous as the coming of age child. They really put heart and soul into a heart-felt, soulful movie. Foster usually plays dislikeable characters, but he really swings you round onto the battle-trauma-afflicted Will’s offbeat side.

This brilliant, special film is directed by Debra Granik from a script adapted by Granik and Anne Rosellini from a novel by Peter Rock. Granik keeps it tense and surprising, and it plays like a thriller, a low-key thriller, but a thriller, none the less.

Ben Foster and Thomasin McKenzie in Leave No Trace (2018).

The film’s last third is shot at Squaw Mountain Ranch, a nudist resort outside Estacada, Oregon, the site of a former logging camp. This provides room for a strong support turn by the indispensable Dale Dickey.

Granik’s last film is eight years ago with Winter’s Bone (2010), for which she was Oscar nominated for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (shared with Anne Rosellini).

Leave No Trace has three nominations at the London Critics Circle Film Awards 2019, including Film of the Year, Actor of the Year and Director of the Year.

It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on 20 January 2018 and in the UK at Sundance London on 3 June 2018.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Movie Review

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