USA, 2004
Score: ***
Director: Nicole Kassell

THE WOODSMAN is the character in the little red riding hood fairy tale that cuts open the wolf’s stomach to have granny emerge unharmed. The act reflects a difficult and terrifying deliverance – and a redemption no less tragic that Walter—a convicted sex offender (Kevin Bacon)—has to undergo to in order to etch back a decent living.

Director Nicole Kassell takes her time to establish Walter’s child molester character – moody, pensive, emotionless and sometimes confused, then has him take a transformation under the guidance of a lady friend, Vickie (Kyra Sedgeick). The film, based on the play by Steven Fechter (who co-wrote the screenplay with Kassell), is part love story and part redemption drama driven by incident rather than characters. Wisely enough, Vassell stresses the emotions and interaction of the characters than the incidents that occur. Bacon delivers a memorable performance as good as his troubled convict in MURDER IN THE FIRST. But Kassell and Fechter’s script is manipulative and slightly flawed in the way it often moves towards its rightful ending. For example the little girl Robin agrees to sit on Walter’s lap for no apparent reason except to have him reject the act in order to prove he is above his illness. 

As a first time director, Kassell plays it safe but the film has a one-dimensional feel. The most daring bit is the casting of a black woman as Walter’s prejudiced co-worker. Bacon probably had quite a bit to do in helping her get her film made. Rapper Mos Def has a small role as a sympathetic but determined detective. Still, despite its flaws, THE WOODSMAN is an acceptable well performed human drama.

Review by Gilbert Seah.