As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, you can imagine my trepidation and skepticism going into it. I found the film immensely powerful. It asks questions we don't want asked. It doesn't give us the answer - other than making it very clear that he has done disgusting vile things, and that he will likely fight that the rest of his life. As for the rest, it tells us to think. And I don't think we can change the rates of child sexual abuse unless we THINK about the hard stuff, as this films urges us.
Firstly, Bacon's performance was brilliant. He's not a monster, though he has done monstrous things; at times even I, with my history, felt sympathetic towards him. Here's the thing - hardly any child sexual abuser is a "monster." They are humans, not bogeyman. They are your neighbors, your relatives, your coworkers, your friends - very few of them are sociopaths or psychopaths. Many genuinely feel shame over their actions or try to change. They are just as capable of loyal familial love as anyone else, just as capable as being compassionate friends, and yes - capable of being someone else's lover, and able to treat that person well. This film reminds us of that.
Hardly any film has examined the concept of "forgiveness" like The Woodsman does. And it gives us all the freedom in the world to make up own minds, which is actually quite hard for filmmakers to do. There is no right or wrong answer. Only victims get to decide if abusers are forgiven for their crimes. One cannot accept an apology for a crime that did not affect them personally. But societal forgiveness, by way of allowing them back into society, allowing them to live freely, the chance to prove they won't do it again - we all play our own role in that, regardless of how we each feel and act.
The sad truth is that historically child abusers struggle to really change. What made them capable of such a heinous act is still inside them. As exemplified by the park bench scene.
I have a family member who was a pedophile and molested dozens of girls (not me, I was abused by others). He could never change. He was the sort of man that every person should know is a pedophile, every parent should know his tricks and charms and methods and crimes. Maybe some abusers can change. I am of the opinion that we not give them the benefit of the doubt. It's simply not safe to ever let them be around children, and every single person in their neighborhood should know who they are and what they've done. Safety of innocent children MUST come before the comfort and convenience of a sexual predator.
Might we also consider they could change? Might we also consider that they deserve love, as long as it doesn't endanger children? Some of them are haunted by their crimes - such as Bacon's character. But their hauntings mean nothing when compared to the soul-death they inflicted on the most innocent and most helpless humans. Could we say that a lifetime sentence of never being truly "left alone" to live their life is just and right, as their victims will also never get to leave their past behind and will always be scarred because of it? Might this righteously balance the scales?
The Woodsman, if you let it, will challenge you to ask these questions and more. I was on high alert for any positive viewpoint of this charavter from the filmmakers. And other people might feel differently, but as a child sex abuse survivor I say that the movie is asking us to consider the most disgusting and vile parts of society, to see what we can learn - about ourselves, and others - and that this is highly important.
Child sexual abuse can't be changed if we never talk about it, openly. Brutally, honestly address it. This film is a step in the right direction. It is a powerful movie and I recommend it to anyone. Survivors might find it triggering, so they should be wary. But it's a great film and is a very important topic that is well-addressed.
