The Woodsman

Every once in a while, we are confronted with a film’s premise that truly puts us to the test. In The Woodsman director Nicole Kassell dares us to sympathise with a reformed child molester (played with a haunting conviction by frequent on-screen psycho Kevin Bacon) as he struggles to find his place in society after a 12 year spell in prison. Needless to say, there are more comfortable ways of spending 87 minutes, but both Bacon and Kassell manage to walk a fine line between subtle and controversial without ever ill-treating the delicate subject. In terms of sheer audacity, this is bold filmmaking that needs to be seen to be believed.

3/5