Categories: English Movie ReviewsMovie Reviews

A Stranger in the Woods Review: Whispers in the Dark!

József Gallai’s A Stranger in the Woods delves into a haunting world where nightmare-fueled horror, isolation, and secrecy are intricately woven together. Co-written by Gallai and Beáta Boldog, the film centers on Edith, a driven and ambitious film student eager to create a documentary that defies convention. Her chosen subject, Victor—portrayed with unsettling nuance by Bill Oberst Jr.—is a mysterious elderly man who has spent years living in isolation, hidden deep within a remote forest.

Compelled by curiosity, Edith steps into Victor’s shadowed existence, her camera capturing more than she anticipated. As the questions mount, she becomes entwined in a labyrinth of secrets that threaten to blur the boundaries between observer and participant, exposing truths that perhaps were best left undiscovered.

Beginning with the positives, what impressed me the most about A Stranger in the Woods was its setting. Gallai crafts an environment that is as much a character as the people who inhabit it—a lonely cabin deep in the woods, shrouded in mystery and untouched by time. Victor’s isolated existence, away from the modern world, is hauntingly captured through the film’s cinematography, amplifying the sense of unease in every frame. There’s something profoundly unsettling about an old man living alone, his strange behavior hinting at unspoken horrors.

Even more chilling is the ritualistic opening of his front door in the pitch-black of night. The absence of power during nighttime only heightens the tension, plunging both Edith and the audience like me into pure darkness where shadows stretch and every creak feels like a whisper from the unknown.

What makes this even more unnerving is the film’s choice to center its horror around an elderly figure. For me, more than ghosts or apparitions, it’s old people in these kinds of settings that truly send chills down my spine. M. Night Shyamalan’s The Visit immediately comes to mind—a film that left me terrified with its portrayal of a strange elderly couple hidden away from society. Gallai taps into that same primal fear, using Victor’s age and there’s something about the fragility and unpredictability of age that makes it the perfect vessel for horror, and A Stranger in the Woods wields that to chilling effect.

Furthermore, Gallai ensures that A Stranger in the Woods remains engaging for the most part, weaving a sense of mystique and intrigue through its dialogue and the characterization of Victor. Shot largely through Edith’s perspective with a handheld camera, the film effectively builds tension, drawing into its eerie, isolated world.

The performances are another highlight, with Laura Ellen Wilson delivering a grounded portrayal of Edith and Bill Oberst Jr. perfectly embodying Victor’s unsettling aura. Oberst’s ability to channel that old, weird, and undeniably creepy vibe is genuinely impressive, making every scene with him feel charged with unease. Adding to its strengths is the film’s tight runtime of 1 hour and 23 minutes—just enough to tell its story without overstaying its welcome. In fact, I wouldn’t have minded if it ran a little longer.

That said, when it comes to the horror elements, this film left me wanting more. While the eerie atmosphere and unsettling moments are certainly effective, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the film had the potential to deliver even greater chills and thrills. The creepy setup is there—the isolated cabin, Victor’s bizarre habits—but it never fully leans into that unsettling foundation. I found myself wishing it pushed further into its dark corners, exploring the tension and fear that it so carefully built. The ending, especially, hints at untapped potential and deeper layers that could have been explored, leaving me craving just a bit more from its horror side.

Overall, A Stranger in the Woods succeeds in crafting a chilling atmosphere, anchored by strong performances and a hauntingly isolated setting. Gallai’s direction and Bill Oberst Jr.’s unsettling portrayal of Victor keep the tension simmering, even if the horror elements sometimes fall short of their full potential. Despite that, its eerie storytelling and shadowy secrets make it a compelling watch for fans of slow-burn horror.