Beyond the Woods

What I couldn't reconcile with this film was why it had a low rating score and yet had several wins in the awards circuit. So I decided to make up my own mind about it. Firstly this is an ensemble cast of 3 main actors who for the most part do a sterling job with a scant dialogue script. They create an air of tension and frustration around a murder and missing person. Steven Roberts plays Andrew Bennett a solitary widower living in an isolated snowbound area close to a forest. Roberts finds a convincing balance between giving off a caring persona and a cruel individual. Jeff Evans-Todd plays Jack Rogers the brother-in-law of Bennett. Prior to his sister's funeral, Jack visits Bennett to support him through his grief. However, finding evidence that not all seems as it is, he has no option than to confront Bennett. The camera work captures the austere landscape and the severe climate which adds to the hopelessness of Jack's situation. This isn't a gun toting, ultra violent action movie but a slow burn that builds the narrative and tension gradually. It's probably more a 5 to 6 rating but I rated it 7 as the low score ratings here are unjustified.

A character in the movie was not the only person tortured- it was torturous watching this movie. Too bad it had potential.

How this was described as a 'thriller' is beyond my comprehension: a thriller (in my mind anyway) being a film that provides either tension or a cunning twist in the plot. This film has neither - in fact, it was about as thrilling as a snail on valium and moved at roughly the same pace. The dialogue was almost non-existent, the scenery, for the most part, was bleak, and it felt low-budget on every level. Then there was the ending... in my view, if you are going to bore someone silly for the best part of 2 hours, you should, at the very least, have the decency to provide a definitive ending. But nay, nay - we didn't even get that. Very disappointed.

Really slow at the start and doesn't accelerate too much. I was tempted to turn off almost instantly but wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt. This then lead to me feeling that I had to finish just because I had started, not because I was particularly entertained or engrossed.

Felt very low budget and some of the scenes were unbelievably long in one shot and dragged out with very little dialogue.

The emotion felt a little forced, the acting was not entirely believable and Andrew was trying too hard, it just came across as boring.

The music was too loud over the dialogue.

A couple of positives though, I did start to feel empathy for Jack and his scenes especially with his sister were the highlights.

However, I would definitely not endure again.

There is not much to be said for this movie other than it should not have been made as it is so slow and boring and rather a depressing and futile experience and who needs that these days when there is enough misery around; it makes watching paint dry a fun experience.

Not much to review about this film as it does not deserve much more than a few lines - If you are thinking the bad reviews might be shills or exaggerating like I did, then don't; it is a moronic film! So pay attention to the low star reviews on this one or you will waste and hour and a half of your time which would be better spent washing and waxing your car!