The Backwoods

Introduction

In 1978, Norman (Paddy Considine) and Lucy (Virginie Ledoyen) are driving through the Basque region of northern Spain to spend the summer with their friends Paul (Gary Oldman), Isabel (Aitana Sanchez-Gijón) and their dog, Lester. Paul is of Basque descent, his grandparents having emigrated from the region, and he has bought their old house to renovate, but his wife doesn't share his ambition to live there.

Stopping at a local bar on the way they encounter the locals, who don't exactly welcome them with open arms - even talking about them behind their backs until they realise that Paul can speak Spanish. Cooling off at a drinking fountain, Lucy is approached by a man with rotten teeth, who stares at her wet blouse while Lester licks his fingers. Much to Paul's embarrassment, she then appears in the bar doorway, her revealing clothing attracting attention from the clientele.

Tensions between each couple and between the couples, mixed with the insular community come to a head when Paul and Norman, out hunting, come across a seemingly abandoned house with a young deformed girl locked inside. They decide to rescue her, but soon enough Paco (Lluis Homar) and the other locals knock on their door asking if they've seen a missing girl.

Video

A crisp anamorphic 2.35:1 transfer, with good colours and contrast.

Audio

The Dolby Digital 5.1 English soundtrack is very good with clear dialogue and decent atmospherics; the Spanish dialogue is well subtitled. There are decent English HoH subtitles available.

Extra Features

A trailer for Chapter 27 precedes the main menu, but is skippable. Disappointingly, the only feature on the disc is the Theatrical Trailer, but there are more on the website.

Conclusion

Setting the film in 1978 was a good move because it rules out all electronic communication possibilities. Nowadays the characters would get straight on their mobiles to the police and the film would be over very quickly. This lack of communication adds to the sense of isolation. Given the remote location, transport problems and not knowing who they can trust, it's an odd decision to rescue the girl, because then it's a case of 'What now?' and all their lives are at risk.



This film is heavily indebted to the likes of Straw Dogs and Deliverance, with outsiders pitted against locals, marital tensions and an idyllic setting turning into one of horror. This lack of originality counts against The Backwoods, but it is competently made and the five main actors turn in fine performances.

I wouldn't go out of my way to buy this, but it's fairly watchable despite its shortcomings.