The Woodsman (2004)

Director:

Nicole Kassell

Writers:

Steven Fechter (play)
Nicole Kassell (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

28 January 2005 (Greece)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

What's the worst thing you ever did?

Plot:

A pedophile returns to his hometown after 12 years in prison and attempts to start a new life.

Plot Keywords:

Sex | Prison | Psychological Drama | Secretary | Woman

Awards:

5 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Kevin Bacon	...	Walter
David Alan Grier	...	Bob
Eve	...	Mary-Kay
Kyra Sedgwick	...	Vicki
Benjamin Bratt	...	Carlos
Carlos Leon	...	Pedro
Michael Shannon	...	Rosen
Kevin Rice	...	Candy
Mos Def	...	Sgt. Lucas
Hannah Pilkes	...	Robin
Jessica Nagle	...	Annette
Liam Daniels	...	Boy at Playground
Joey Hazinsky	...	Cherub
Clara Hopkins Daniels	...	Little Girl on Bus (as Clara Infinity Daniels)
Ashley C. Coombs	...	Girl on Bus

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, disturbing behavior and language.

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour | Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Brazil:16 | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Ireland:16 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Netherlands:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | Ireland:18 (video rating) | Mexico:B15

Filming Locations:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Dash Films

Trivia:

As part of the research, director Nicole Kassell conducted interviews with sex offenders and the therapists working with them.

Goofs:

Continuity: The length of Vicki's cigarette changes from almost smoked, to part-smoked to just lit when Walter first tells her about his past.

Quotes:

Vickie: So, are you gonna tell me your dark secret?
Walter: Why do you wanna know?
Vickie: Don't you think I should know before we have sex?
Walter: [looks at her]
Vickie: I don't like to waste time.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Benchwarmers (2006)

Soundtrack:

Papa Don't Take No Mess Pt. 1

Ignore the low rating

I saw this movie at the Vancouver Film Festival. Not only was it one of the best movies I saw at the fest, but one of the best of the year. I truly believed it to be Bacon's career performance.

The script is solid, full of great dialogue and thick symbolism. The characters all fully developed and never one-sided. Each has their dark side. A commendable effort to Emmy winner, Mos Def, who makes us hate him when he's a good cop, and love him when he's a bad one.

The reason the rating is so low is because it's hard to accept a character that is a child molester. Probably because everyone knows someone or is someone who has been sexually abused. This is a film about redemption and forgiveness--something we can all definitely agree with. It is also a story about humanity--something we all have in common.