‘A Stranger In The Woods’ Review: Bill Oberst Jr. Delivers One Of His Finest Performances To Date
A new independent horror film that should definitely be on your radar is A Stranger in the Woods, which hails from director József Gallai (known for The Whispering Man, Spirits in the Dark, and The Poltergeist Diaries). Gallai wrote the screenplay for A Stranger in the Woods alongside Beáta Boldog, and horror fans are in for an incredible roller coaster of emotions when they watch it.
Laura Ellen Wilson stars as Edith, a British film student who travels to an isolated American woodland house to make a documentary about Victor, a man who has willingly cut himself off from society. The pair immediately take a strong liking to one another, and everything seems to be off to a great start. And yet, it also feels like something isn’t quite right about the whole situation.
With her kindly demeanor and her unyielding desire to succeed at all costs, Edith immediately comes across as a likable character, with Wilson’s strong performance strengthening the connection we feel towards the character. It’s gradually revealed that Edith has suffered unspeakable tragedies in her life, and Wilson plausibly depicts Edith as a tragic figure who refuses to let her past traumas define her.
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The softly spoken and mild-mannered Victor initially seems like an eccentric but harmless man who wants to escape society. But it’s gradually revealed that he may also hide a sinister side. Bill Oberst Jr. delivers one of the best performances of his career as Victor. He effortlessly makes viewers feel slightly uncomfortable, even when the character tries to come across as friendly. Oberst utilizes the slightest gestures and inflections to convey Victor’s menacing nature to viewers without needing to be too explicit. That subtlety makes this one of the most unsettling performances you will likely see for a while.
When Victor’s true nature is eventually revealed, the actor flawlessly manages the transition from a seemingly harmless old hermit into something else entirely with enough grace and dignity to help reinforce Oberst’s position as one of the finest horror actors of our generation.
The deliberately slow pace allows us to gradually get to know Edith and Victor in a believable way. The undeniable chemistry between the two performers also means that the growing bond between these characters feels completely sincere. The isolated setting also dramatically helps the story feel disconnected from the rest of the world—nothing matters aside from Edith and Victor.
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While the cast is minimal, legendary horror actress Lynn Lowry does have a small but memorable role as Edith’s grandmother, who quickly realizes that her granddaughter is in an unsafe situation. Director Gaillai also briefly appears as a mysterious character named Peter, who offers vital clues about what might really be going on.
However, A Stranger In The Woods does falter as it progresses. In particular, there was a long and meandering section featuring police bodycam footage, which feels like it belongs in an entirely different film. Not only did it seem like somebody switched the channel to an episode of Cops, but the actors providing the voices of the police officers seemed disinterested in their roles, making their dialogue bland. The film’s third act also seemed a little rushed, with the conclusion coming across as slightly forced. However, these flaws are a small price to pay for a film featuring one of the strongest performances of Oberst’s career.
If you are willing to overlook the flawed third act, you will no doubt be captivated by the performances of Wilson and Oberst featured in A Stranger in the Woods. The film no doubt works best as a character study that showcases the bond between two broken individuals within the confines of an isolated setting. The deliberately slow and uneventful nature in the film may not be to everyone’s taste, but this was still an emotionally harrowing and incredibly effective story about an unlikely friendship between two mismatched individuals. By the time the end credits start to roll, you will wish to spend more time with Edith and Victor.
Bill Oberst Jr. Delivers One Of His Finest Performances To Date
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A Stranger In The Woods
Summary
Although it loses its momentum a little towards the end, A Stranger in the Woods was still a deeply moving and poignant character study about unusual way in which a friendship can be formed in the most unlikely of circumstances.
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