Overview
A man struggles to find redemption while haunted by his past, navigating a world that refuses to forgive.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- disturbing
- intimate
- austere
- serious drama night
- independent film viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film compelling, creepy, complex, and well-crafted, with Kevin Bacon's performance receiving especially strong praise.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Walter is a convicted sex offender seeking ordinary employment and intimacy while confronting the persistence of his predatory impulses.
Walter leaves prison after twelve years and faces parole supervision, family rejection, workplace suspicion, and public scrutiny.
The apartment, lumberyard, school, and neighborhood park become tense spaces as Walter fears discovery and watches his own behavior.
Walter receives solace from Vicki and moments of human connection, while the film keeps his crimes and danger morally present.
Films like The Woodsman, and why
Shame
shared psychological intensity, morally difficult protagonist, and intimate social realism
Taxi Driver
shared unsettling character study, alienation, and restrained urban drama
The Shawshank Redemption
shared focus on reintegration after imprisonment, social judgment, and redemptive human connection
Movie Details
- Director
- Nicole Kassell
- Release Date
- 2004-12-24
- Runtime
- 87 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (545)
Cast
- Kevin Bacon
- David Alan Grier
- Kyra Sedgwick
- Eve
- Benjamin Bratt
- Carlos Leon
- Michael Shannon
- Nicole Gibson
- Kevin Rice
- Yasiin Bey
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Woodsman about?
- A guarded ex-convict attempts to rebuild an ordinary life while confronting the dangerous impulses and social stigma that follow him everywhere.
- What is The Woodsman like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Woodsman as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Woodsman violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Woodsman as mild.
- What did critics think of The Woodsman?
- Critics broadly found the film compelling, creepy, complex, and well-crafted, with Kevin Bacon's performance receiving especially strong praise.
- Which films are like The Woodsman?
- Films with a similar feel include Shame, Taxi Driver, and The Shawshank Redemption.
- How long is The Woodsman?
- The Woodsman runs 87 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Woodsman?
- In United States, The Woodsman streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
