Is The Woodsman a character film, or a plot film?

Answer 1

Character driven in that most of the film centers around Kevin Bacon's character and what he is all about and thinking.

Answer 2

It's both, arguably, if you know the arguments. The plot, while character-driven, is certainly about whether or not this guy is going to make it in the outside world without committing more acts against children. The cop made the Little Red Riding Hood comment -- that in real life, the eaten child is not whole when cut out of the wolf.

Kevin Bacon's character shares his thoughts with the audience every step of the way, from the justification and denial, through the plotting, the tracking, the observation of another pedaphile, until the devastating moment of clarity in the park.

While the film is very much an in-depth character study of a pedaphile fresh out of prison, that character makes a journey and is subsequently transformed by it. He, and the world he touches, now have different destinies. How strong a plot is that?

Answer 3

I'd go with character as well.. because you see how he turns on himself in a way.. by going after the other guy. Had it been a plot film it would have had more.. real plot. Most of what is there is him dealing with himself, and other people's opinions of him.

Answer 4

I would call it a character film since the focus remains on him~his growth, how he backslides, his good and bad moments, etc. We don't follow him through the usual sort of story (a plot film); it's more like studying him, wouldn't you say? For example, it doesn't follow the woman in his life or the man he sees with the boy, plus his experiences; it's his life we see.