Movie-The Woodsman

This movie is a movie that is disturbing in its subject matter, but wonderfully acted by its lead actor, Kevin Bacon, who gives a nuanced and compelling performance, that makes you almost sympathize with a monster. It is the strength of his performance that you do not completely sympathize with him.


He plays Walter, out of jail after a 12 year term for molestation of young girls. He is trying to rejoin society, and not doing it terribly well, taking an apartment across from an elementary school. He dos land a job though, in a lumberyard, which is part of the title of the film.

And he gains a girlfriend of sorts, Kyra Sedgwick (Bacon's real life wife), and does not lose her after telling her his secret. As he struggles not to fall back into his deviancy, he sees at the school another stalker, a pervert who is working on young boys. At the same time he is being harassed by police.

Bacon really works this part. He is haunted and guilty and helpless and sick and twisted all at once, and he has a goodness in him that is wanting to dominate. But he cannot seem to find a way to salvation.

There is a point in the movie where you feel it will go one way or the other for Walter, and I will not reveal which way it goes, because it is precarious. Will he make it in the world, will he find salvation, or will he revert to form?

Again, Bacon acts on a knives edge, and the scene in unforgettable. Sedgewick is a good foil for him and Benjamin Bratt also does a nice job as his brother-in-law trying to accept him and his problem.

The Woodsman (2004) is not a feel good movie, it is not action or romance. But it is thought provoking with great acting, and a fine script. It is mindful of the damage done, and never forgives it, but also looks at the possibility of redemption, however little, however late. It is a movie that is not easily forgotten.