The Backwoods - Reviewed by axlish
Reviewed By: axlish
Release Date: April 15th, 2008
Directed by: Koldo Serra
Released: Lionsgate
4 out of 5 Skulls
Gary Oldman (Sid and Nancy, Bram Stoker’s Dracula) plays the role of Paul, a middle aged British bachelor escorting his girlfriend and another couple out into the Spanish backwoods where he has recently purchased an old house that used to be owned by his family. Along the way, they stop at a tavern that Paul describes as the last sign of civilization before they reach the house. The two men go inside and have a drink while the two women stay back in the car and wait. A hush overcomes the pub as the two men enter. The local patrons begin to insult the foreigners in Spanish but are quickly hushed as Paul cleverly retorts in their native tongue. 
They both order a glass of wine and as they begin to drink they make the acquaintance of an old local who inquires about their reasoning for being in the area. Paul tells of his old family house that he has reacquired and immediately the old man recollects the old tenants. The man tells them of a tree in the road on the way to the house, and that they should take an alternate route. It seems suspicious but Paul takes his advice anyway. As they leave the bar a table of locals stares the group down. 
They arrive at the cabin and no one is particularly enthused except for Paul who can only see what the place will become, not what it currently is. Lucy, Paul’s girlfriend, lightly teases Paul about this and he goes off immediately, needing to go upstairs to cool off. That night, a rift between the other couple, Norman and Isabel, is revealed. Apparently it is the result of a miscarriage that occurred some time before the beginning of this story.
The next morning Paul and Norman go hunting. Paul belittles Norman at every turn because of his city-boy ways. Towards the end of a pretty uneventful day of hunting in the Spanish backwoods, they discover an abandoned house and decide to take a look around. Inside they discover a locked door with whimpering noises coming from inside. Paul pries open the door and discovers a small female child who is living in the room, being fed out of bowls like an animal. She also has deformed hands that consist of two large fingers and one thumb. Paul decides to rescue her despite strong reservations from Norman.
They decide to drive the girl into town that night and let the authorities handle the situation. Paul forgets about the advice that the old man at the pub gave him and they end up cracking the axle of their truck on the tree that they were warned about. They hike back to the house and decide to wait until morning to decide their next move. As morning comes they receive a knock at the door. It is the same group of men that stared them down at the pub the day before and they are all armed with shotguns. They claim to have lost a little girl and are wondering if Paul’s group has seen her. In a clever move of deception, Paul decides to join the hunt with the men, quickly advising Norman to take the girl into town as soon as they are gone.
Shortly into Paul and the group’s hunt, they begin to split off into groups. Norman cowardly decides to stay at the house with the women instead of attempting to get the girl into town like Paul suggested. The tension mounts as one half of the group decides to head back to Paul’s house to stir up trouble. Will Norman be able to conjure up enough nerve to protect the woman and get the little girl to safety? Will Paul be able to give the locals the slip and make it back to his friends?
The Backwoods is a finely crafted film from the story on down to the acting and artistic direction. It is beautifully and atmospherically shot on location in the Spanish backwoods in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. The acting is particularly good, led by the performance of Gary Oldman who is always amazing, and supported a great deal by Paddy Considine who plays Norman. The 5.1 soundtrack is very subtle, but gives off nice pop in the last fifteen minutes which take place in a thunderstorm.
The Backwoods explores many of the same themes of the film Deliverance. It isn’t a remake or an update, but more like a companion piece. I thoroughly enjoyed this film from beginning to end and I am very likely to revisit it in the future. I am surprised that this wasn’t given a theatrical release in the United States. If you are a fan of Deliverance or Gary Oldman then I highly suggest that you check this one out at once.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED