Isolation is not meant for all.

Rating: 3/10 (6 August 2004)

This movie tries to live off the reputation of its writer/director M. Night Shymalan and is a big dose of disappointment following months and months of hype. Covington is a small town in late 1800s rural Pennsylvania. It is an Amish-like community chaste and pure of thought governed by the fear of mythical creatures that inhabit the woods that surrounds it. The daughter(Judy Greer)of the town's leader(William Hurt)proclaims her love for a young man(Joaquin Phoenix)who has the inner strength to stand up against community policy. Phoenix has no interest in Greer, but actually loves her blind sister(Bryce Dallas Howard). Phoenix wants permission to go through the woods and go into the outer cities to bring back modern medicines. Before his departure he is stabbed by the village idiot(Adrien Brody). Howard in spite of her lack of sight has the fortitude to enter the woods with intent to reach the cities and bring back needed medicines to save her young lover's life.
Plenty of drama; but where is the thrills and horror implied by what seems like six months of hype. The movie drags along and you wait and wait for something to happen. If you momentarily doze off you risk missing a subtle hint of what this story is really all about. Not only is Phoenix wasted, but so is Sigourney Weaver who plays his mother. I dare say that Brody steals the show. Howard(daughter of Ron Howard)is very impressive. Also in the cast are:Celia Weston, Brendan Gleeson, Frank Collison and Fran Kranz.