Read @ Joe’s

Title: Stranger in the Woods (2024) Director: Adam Newacheck Writer: Holly Kenney Studio: Red Hound Entertainment IMDb Plot: Stranger In The Woods is about a woman who goes on a weekend getaway trip to the woods with her friends in hopes to recover from a traumatic event. But when her dog vanishes, their sanity unravels, leading to a chilling fight for survival. Joe Says: Stranger In The Woods chugs down like a Long Island iced tea; it should have been a single-malt whiskey.

Dripping with resentment, lost love, recovery, and a survivor’s instinct, Stranger In The Woods makes entertaining use of good old cliches. There are clever quips, loving friends, creepy woods, and a cute dog, too. Yet Stranger In The Woods also falls into that rookie mistake of throwing everything into the blender, instead of focusing on that one, main ingredient.

Olivia (Holly Kenney) and her small group of friends do the Airbnb thing out in the California mountains. They have grand plans of celebrating life, giving Koda the Huskie’s Frontline prescription a workout, and drinking enough tequila to keep both Sammy Hagar and George Clooney’s profits in the black. Olivia, you see, is a survivor of a suicide attempt. This is her chance to breathe fresh air in a stress-free environment. The only wrinkle in those well-iron swim trunks is the gun-toting, taxidermy-minded, high-on-life (and other herbal recipes) Clayton… who lives right next door.

Convenience abounds. Fashion sense is forgotten. Then Koda goes missing.

  

Stranger In The Woods starts out as an adult drama. Olivia tries to recover from, and even forget, her trauma while the antics of the friends are congenial and light. All that was missing was a mid-nineties soundtrack to give Stranger In The Woods a Millennial The Big Chill vibe. Instead, director Adam Newacheck, in his feature-length directorial outing, abandons any dancing in the kitchen and skews for the thrill. Someone is injured. Someone is killed. Someone is in love. And a plot twist so obvious occurs that you would be upset if it did not happen.

The script is written by Holly Kenney (who also plays Olivia). She successfully brings together a fun diverse group that acts so casually together that their diversity is never brought up. Yet what are supposedly heavy plot reveals also come across too casually. There is no proper tease or build up. And certainly no surprise. The thriller aspect of the story comes in so late it is almost treated as an afterthought.

  

Newacheck does make the movie look nice. From the Instagram-worthy scenery shots to the Crate & Barrel furnished cabin, Stranger In The Woods looks professionally crisp. And welcoming. If anything, the weekend looks like an invitingly fun time. Or a convincing Toyota commercial. Minus, you know, that murder. And missing pooch.

Sometimes blended cocktails are sweet treats. Other times, the concoction masks the true taste and is too fruity to be considered serious. Stranger In The Woods chugs down like a Long Island iced tea; it should have been a single-malt whiskey. Sipped.