There's a Man in the Woods

A teacher laments the day when one of the children in his care claims to have seen a man in the woods by the school yard, a claim which sends the other children fleeing back to the blacktop and abandoning their carefree fun in nature and instead becoming tense and being shaped by the wild stories that young Sid spins in order, it seems, to spoil their fun.

There is a lot to really enjoy about this short film and it is additionally good that the viewer enjoys it all the way to a satisfying conclusion. The plot sees a claim spiral out of control and, as the narrator tells the story we understand more about where we are (narratively) and also how we got there. The story in itself is good in a fairytale or fable way, but the manner of the narration makes it much more engaging. Written in the form of a rhyme, the choice and linkage of words is pleasing and engaging to the ear, with a nice flow and creativity to it. Added to this is that the delivery of the dialogue is very good by Michael Ho, but also that it picks up the pace in time with the story, so as things escalate in the story, so the narration becomes faster and slightly frantic before it end with a simple and satisfyingly dark final line.

The animation works well too. Deceptively colorful and friendly, it keeps this general look throughout but yet subverts itself well to differentiate between the parts of the story being told and the story we are in, although with a transition in the middle somewhere rather than a switch. It felt a perfect fit to the narration, although for me it is definitely Streilein's writing and the Ho's delivery that makes it.

A powerful story about the damage wild rumors can cause-how they create unwarranted fear and destroy the lives or careers of those who don't respond "correctly," even when it's clear the rumors are baseless.

The story is told from the perspective of a schoolteacher, narrated in a retrospective manner. It recounts who started the rumor about a man in the woods and what followed afterward.

I found the story quite relatable, especially in today's world where rumors spread faster and farther than ever thanks to social media. While the film tells an old-school type of story, it's easy to imagine it unfolding in a more modern setting.

The twist was somewhat predictable, but overall, this was a well-made and thoughtful animated short.

A great, nerve-wracking short that stays with you long after you watched it. A disturbing masterpiece of grounded, real life horror.

As teacher, I almost feel this story as personal. The pressure, the dictatorship of parents, the fall are so familiar today. And the film gives more than a realistic story but an impecable crafted work. From the voice of actor to the words of poetry, from the children to the atmosphere and to predictable - implacable end. A film about reality of a myth and about rumors as makers of reality.

I love the style of animation. Good story with a clever rhyming scheme. Builds tension well.