No Good Comes From Meeting “A Stranger in the Woods (2024)”
Ah, the serenity of nature and a cabin in the woods. The perfect escape from the bustling pressures of society. Or the perfect place to stage and get away with gruesome murder. Let’s face it, few things are more terrifying than meeting a stranger in the middle of nowhere. There’s a reason why so many horror movies and video games use this classic trope. And what happens when a young person finds themselves in such a situation? József Gallai’s aptly named film A Stranger in the Woods explores just that.
Edith (played by Laura Ellen Wilson) is a young film student who’s assigned to meet the reclusive Victor Browning (played by Bill Obrest Jr.) at a remote cabin. Despite his quirky and awkward mannerisms, Edith perceives Victor as harmless. But during her stay, she stumbles upon several strange occurrences. Ominous creaks and groans emanate from the house at night and a mysterious stranger lurks around the property. As she continues interviewing Victor, he begins to increasingly lament about his past. Feeling progressively uncomfortable, Edith plans on escaping. The only problem is, Victor doesn’t let her.
Although I referenced The Cabin in the Woods in my introduction, A Stranger in the Woods shares more similarities with the indie horror film Creep. Both involve a camera-wielding protagonist filming their experience with an unsettling, reclusive man in the woods. The main difference between the two is the ending. I won’t spoil the ending for either film. All I’ll say is that Creep has a much more mundane conclusion compared to A Stranger in the Woods. But despite this major difference, both films end dreadfully for our main character.
A Stranger in the Woods plays itself as a thriller more than a horror film. Despite copious amounts of blood, the primary scare method is tension. Victor is intended to be unsettling. His stilted mannerisms, creepy smile, and sudden bursts of anger all paint him as a troubled individual. At the same time, Victor’s reclusive nature makes him sympathetic. His obsession with youth and mortality stems from his past regrets. And when he finally opens up to Edith about his past, we understand his reclusiveness. Simultaneously, these moments are sprinkled in with discomforting moments. He orders a raw burger at a restaurant, ominously walks around in his house every night and even eats dead animals. All of which (rightfully) spook Edith.
While we’re on the subject of Victor, Bill Oberst Jr. is wonderfully terrifying as the titular stranger. He has the charm to make Victor a sympathetic soul, allowing him to emotionally manipulate Edith. Conversely, he can make your blood run cold in the blink of an eye. This level of unpredictability gaslights both Edith and the audience. Is Victor merely a harmless recluse or is he a dangerous psychopath? I haven’t seen such a terrifying and nuanced performance since Ethan Hawke as the murderously creepy Grabber in The Black Phone or Kathy Bates as the manipulative and psychopathic Annie Wilkes in Misery! He seriously deserves to be in more movies!
In order to have a strong thriller, the pacing must be absolutely tight. And the pacing is superb in the first two thirds. It perfectly builds up the dread and tension of the mystery surrounding Victor’s true identity. However it seriously falters in the third act, specifically in the last 10-20 minutes. There are scenes that could be trimmed or even cut out all together. And although the final twist makes sense (unlike some movies), it potentially takes you out of the experience. I’m not saying the ending is completely horrible, I just think it would’ve been better to have an open ending as opposed to tying up all plot threads.
Last but not least, the sound design is hit-or-miss. The dialogue has varying volume even in the same scene. For example, when Edith interviews Victor on his past his lines are as loud and clear as day. Conversely, her lines are but a whisper. I assume that the higher volume was used to emphasize important dialogue. However it’s a bit distracting when I can barely hear the other person’s lines. Does this make the film bad? Far from it. But I hope József Gallai will improve his sound design in the future.
With solid pacing, strong acting from Bill Obrest Jr. and an unpredictable plot, A Stranger in the Woods is a must-see for fans of indie horror. Despite some flaws, I really recommend it for those looking for a slower-paced, yet terrifyingly hair-raising story. If you do decide to check it out, it’s free on Tubi. And one final note: make sure you avoid meeting random, sketchy people in the middle of nowhere. Maybe suggest to meet in a coffee shop instead. Who knows? It might just save your life.
Co-Written By: Owen Gonzalez
