The Woodsman (M18)

Rating:	★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Drama

After twelve years in prison, Walter (Kevin Bacon) moves into a small apartment across the street from an elementary school, and tries to fit into society. Gets a job at a lumberyard, and mostly keeps to himself. He finds unexpected comfort & companionship from fellow worker Vicki (Kyra Sedgwick, aka Mrs Bacon), a tough-talking woman who promises not to judge him for his history. But Walter cannot escape his past. A convicted pedophiliac sex offender, Walter is shunned by his sister, lives in fear of being discovered at work, and is hounded by a suspicious police detective, Sgt Lucas (Mos Def). After befriending a young girl in a neighborhood park, Walter must also grapple with the terrible prospect of his own reawakened demon.

Touching on an extremely sensitive subject of pedophilia. Though this movie merely scratches on the surface of this social & moral predicament, it still managed to bring to our attention that it's a real & serious problem that many avoid bringing it into the light & discuss it.

Much as I like this sort of movie that opens up cans of worms, I'm a bit disappointed by it's slow pace, repetitiveness & shortage of characters background development. Despite the flaws, there's one scene that I like very much. It is the scene showing how Walter faces up to the burning demonic desire, fought it, and rises from the ashes armed with a shining axe as the victorious "Woodsman".

Kevin Bacon is the soul of this movie. He alone carries the viewers through the entire film. An Oscar worthy performance...but I guess the movie pulled him down.

Director: Nicole Kassell
Writer(s): Steven Fechter, Nicole Kassell
Cast: Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, Mos Def, Eve, David Alan Grier, Hannah Pilkes, Benjamin Bratt

1 star for Kevin Bacon & 1 for the subject.