The Woodsman *** (2004, Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, Mos Def) – Classic Movie Review 1689

Co-writer/director Nicole Kassell’s 2004 film is a disturbing, well-meaning, if not entirely convincing portrayal of the troubled life of a paedophile (Kevin Bacon) trying to stay straight after coming out of jail where he’s spent the past dozen years. The film is well crafted and exceptionally acted.

Bacon gives a brave performance as Walter in a highly uncomfortable story about guilt, reform, temptation and forgiveness. Walter is a convicted child molester, who leaves prison after serving his sentence of 12 years and returns to his home town where he tries to start a new life.

Bacon’s real-life wife Kyra Sedgwick is very capable as Vicki, a woman he meets and tries to reach out to, but Mos Def is very unconvincing as the cop who harasses Bacon, though admittedly this role isn’t written at all well. Benjamin Bratt, Eve, Michael Shannon and David Alan Grier also star.

Steven Fechter bases the screenplay (co-written with director Kassell) on his own stage play, and the film can’t quite escape its single set stage roots. It’s an honourable, liberal-minded work about the possibilities of rehabilitation and redemption. But it is difficult and depressing experience to watch, and you have to seriously brace yourself to take on such a downer. It’s there to make you think, and it does.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1689

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