Beautifully made and poignant

Rating: 9/10 (15 March 2020)

There is a strong pact between the residents of a small isolated village and the creatures that roam in the surrounding woodland. The villagers do not go into the woods and in return the creatures do not enter the village. Lucius Hunt (Joaquin Phoenix) a quiet caring man, wishes to seek the elders approval to venture to the borders to seek medical supplies. As this knowledge becomes more widespread, strange occurrences begin to happen around the village leading the elders to fear for the safety of their home and the pact. With a star-studded cast from William Hurt to Sigourney Weaver to Judy Greer, everyone brings their all to the table and elevates it to a powerhouse piece! The heart and soul of the film though is absolutely Bryce Dallas Howard in her first starring role; it's her best performance to date and she is so captivating as Ivy Walker. Her character is the entrance point for the audience emotionally and as she goes on her journey into the woods in the final act, it's a psychologically tense experience. Howard loved the role and indeed the film as she stated in the lovely DVD bonus feature 'Bryce's Diary'. Adrien Brody is also brilliant as Noah; a great portrayal of someone with learning difficulties struggling with a rivalry and his feelings for Ivy. Every character is fully rounded and developed and this is what makes the impending horror in the film all the more effective