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      The Woodsman

      R Released Dec 24, 2004 1 hr. 29 min. Drama List
      88% 133 Reviews Tomatometer 77% 10,000+ Ratings Audience Score After 12 years in prison, Walter (Kevin Bacon) returns home. Few people know he's a sex offender and pedophile. Walter finds an apartment where he's regularly visited by his parole officer (Mos Def). He gets a job at a lumber mill and starts seeing a coworker (Kyra Sedgwick). Then his new world begins to unravel. As his past becomes known, he begins a high-risk friendship with a young girl and realizes that a man loitering near a schoolyard is a child molester prowling for his next victim. Read More Read Less Watch on Peacock Stream Now

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      Critics Consensus

      Kevin Bacon's performance as a pedophile who is trying to start fresh has drawn raves from critics, who have praised the Woodsman as compelling, creepy, complex and well-crafted.

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      Audience Reviews

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      Gareth v For such a difficult subject matter to make a movie about, this is done in an extremely thoughful manner. This is also one of Kevin Bacon's finest performances. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/18/23 Full Review Evan M Good performances. Characters have nuance. However, writers could have done better at raising the stakes. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/08/23 Full Review Noel P Impressed that the filmmaker was able to take a character so reprehensible and hated by our society and make him understandable and redeemable. What was even more impressive is that there is never an excuse given for the protagonist to explain away his crimes; as if the director was saying "he did what he did, there's no excuse for it, now let's get on with the story." Great writing, great directing, and Kevin Bacon's best performance. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review veronica m Finally, a movie that takes on the nuanced realities of human frailties instead of demonizing those who do the crime of pedophilia. As a survivor of incest who knows how damaging this perpetration is to the victim, I also know that my dad and my uncles were humans whom I loved. I do NOT and never will excuse or minimize their crimes. But I have never wished them dead, either. And I'm sick of hearing well meaning people talk about pedophiles as if that is all they are. In the case of my father and his family, they are all victims of child sexual assault, too. That's no excuse. But it IS an important fact that might help us heal this horrid family scourge if we can see the human behind the crime as well as highlight the horrific damage to their targets. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Kevin K "The Woodsman" is an unflinching and deeply moving exploration of redemption, delivered with extraordinary nuance and vulnerability by Kevin Bacon. Kevin Bacon's portrayal of Walter, a convicted sex offender, is a revelation of raw talent and courage. He imbues the character with a captivating mix of torment, remorse, and fragile hope, creating a deeply complex and empathetic portrayal. Bacon's nuanced performance allows the audience to glimpse the humanity within Walter, evoking a range of emotions that challenge preconceived notions and foster understanding. His commitment to the role is unwavering, making Walter a truly unforgettable character. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/25/23 Full Review Tony S At first glance I hardly doubt anyone could tell, that it's based on a play without prior knowledge. Which is a hallmark of a successful adaptation. Even if the movie added a lot of things to drag Walter out of his apartment. It's also on first glance, may give an impression, that it somehow throws a pity party and comes up with a bunch of excuses for the pedophilia. Well, it's not. It is mainly a story about self loathing and mental anguish of a really disturbed man, who knows he has done something horrible and can't move on. The movie has it's own share of quirks for it's plot. If you go by the movie's depiction of a pedophile and their thoughts, then it becomes apparent, that it's not enough to just diddle kids. You need dedicate your entire free time to stalking, watching and actively day dreaming about diddling and then feeling guilty, that you do it, like some chronic masturbator. Which is a quite cartoonish depiction of pedophilia to present. And the second quirks is the hands off approach to three times assailant of little girls being allowed to live across the road from school. That just doesn't happen. I somehow think Sgt. Lucas would see to that. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/22 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      The Woodsman

      A scene for the film THE WOODSMAN starring KEVIN BACON. A scene for the film THE WOODSMAN starring KEVIN BACON. A scene for the film THE WOODSMAN starring KEVIN BACON. A scene for the film THE WOODSMAN starring KEVIN BACON. A scene for the film THE WOODSMAN starring KEVIN BACON. The Woodsman (2004) View more photos

      Critics Reviews

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      Sheila Johnston London Evening Standard Often cast in high-energy, borderline manic roles, Bacon creates here a sad, lank-haired, introverted character who doesn't fish for sympathy and, for that very reason, and against all odds, ends up winning it. Jan 10, 2018 Full Review Empire Magazine Rated: 4/5 Apr 1, 2006 Full Review Roger Moore Orlando Sentinel A lean and unapologetic piece about a type of person too often rendered in simplistic 'monster' colors. Rated: 4/5 Apr 8, 2005 Full Review Eve Tushnet Patheos It’s well-made and haunting, and I’m glad it wasn’t longer. Oct 21, 2022 Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com It is not a perfect film, yet it is a powerful film that tackles one of the most difficult subjects a film could tackle. Rated: 3.5/4.0 Sep 27, 2020 Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia I have no doubt that Kevin Bacon delivers a solid performance in 'The Woodsman'. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 7/10 Aug 7, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis After 12 years in prison, Walter (Kevin Bacon) returns home. Few people know he's a sex offender and pedophile. Walter finds an apartment where he's regularly visited by his parole officer (Mos Def). He gets a job at a lumber mill and starts seeing a coworker (Kyra Sedgwick). Then his new world begins to unravel. As his past becomes known, he begins a high-risk friendship with a young girl and realizes that a man loitering near a schoolyard is a child molester prowling for his next victim.
      Director
      Nicole Kassell
      Executive Producer
      Kevin Bacon, Damon Dash, Marvet Britto
      Screenwriter
      Nicole Kassell, Steven Fechter
      Distributor
      Newmarket Film Group
      Production Co
      Lee Daniels Entertainment, Dash Films, The Woodsman LLC
      Rating
      R (Language|Disturbing Behavior|Sexuality)
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Dec 24, 2004, Wide
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Dec 14, 2016
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $1.6M
      Sound Mix
      Stereo, Dolby SRD
      Aspect Ratio
      Flat (1.37:1)
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