STRANGER IN THE WOODS -- Trust No One

Review by Joseph Fayed

Do filmmakers often go to remote cabins to look for inspiration and clear their minds to write their next acclaimed project? Well, maybe after watching the cliche-ridden Stranger In The Woods, more of them will avoid rural areas altogether. The Newacheck Brothers missed this memo and must have the most bland friend group imaginable if this is who they think a weekend getaway consists of. 

After nearly dying following a suicide attempt, Olivia's friends try to lighten up the mood by taking her to a cabin in the woods for a few days. Olivia is adamant something awful happened to her, but she and her friends try to ignore it until an unexplained disappearance creates tension amongst the group. A dream vacation quickly becomes a nightmare, and Olivia begins to unravel, unsure who to trust. 

This psychological thriller comes with no exciting twists or turns. Plot twists aren't always needed, but suspense sure is. From the opening scene, which features what appears to be the first ChatGPT-written "suicide" note, tension is quite thick among the characters. Due to obvious circumstances, one would expect very few lighthearted moments, which is confirmed upon the introduction of an estranged half-brother to one of the friends, Clayton, who lives in the cabin next door. The script goes unnecessarily above and beyond to make Clayton a creep who lacks social awareness. So much of this occurs that you feel that Clayton has to be a red herring in the storyline somehow. 

There is one line from Clayton involving his and Olivia's past that, if approached more carefully than painting him to be a creep from the start, would actually give the plot something to focus on. Part of the ensemble is just there to repeat lines. They are disregarded because they are not Olivia or the creep or Olivia's dog — yes, Olivia's dog draws more emotional significance than two humans bring to this. The dog at least gives Olivia something else to worry about besides the lingering aftermath of her near-death experience. Minus the dog, the acting is pretty stale. Olivia is characterized as having this dark cloud over her, and only briefly do we see it heightened. The script makes it seem like Olivia is the woman who has gone from 0 to 10 and is on wit's end when, in reality, she comes across as confused and broken. Had she been starring alongside actors who can actually act like they are her friends, then maybe a dog's performance wouldn't be the frontrunner for awards this film will never receive. 

Stranger In The Woods is a misleading title because nobody in the film is meant to be a complete stranger to the rest of the group. That minor gripe aside, you can rewatch many thrillers in a remote setting that are engaging because they are original or well-acted, unlike this. The only redeeming factor this film will have is its less upsetting entry on doesthedogdie.com. 

Stranger in the Woods is now in theaters and on VOD.
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Rating: 1/5