The Backwoods (2006)

An English couple's holiday in Spain is interrupted when they discover a girl imprisoned in a cabin.

Director:

Koldo Serra

Writers:

Jon Sagalá (screenplay), Koldo Serra (screenplay)

Stars:

Gary Oldman, Virginie Ledoyen, Paddy Considine

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview:
Gary Oldman	...	Paul
Virginie Ledoyen	...	Lucy
Paddy Considine	...	Norman
Aitana Sánchez-Gijón	...	Isabel (as Aitana Sánchez Gijón)
Jon Ariño	...	Lechón
Kandido Uranga	...	Miguel (as Kándido Uranga)
Andrés Gertrúdix	...	Antonio (as Andrés Gertrudix)
Álex Angulo	...	José Andrés
Savitri Ceballos	...	José Andrés' daughter
Patxi Bisquert	...	José Luis
José Andrés Zalguegui	...	Bartender (as José A. Zalduegui)
Ramón Churruca	...	Ignacio
Isabel Jiménez	...	Waitress
Yaiza Esteve	...	Nerea, The Child

Storyline

Ledoyen and Considine play a young married couple at the end of the 1970s, who come to visit a friend (Oldman) who now lives in the Basque region because he has married a woman from there (Sánchez-Gijón). Their tranquil summer turns to horror when they discover a girl with horribly mutilated hands in the forest. They try to help her by taking her away from the home in which she is locked, but the local villagers, who have to protect the girl, start a pursuit in the forest they know much better than the visitors.

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Plot Keywords:

couple | spain | married couple | cabin | rape attempt | 

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Taglines:

There are hunters and prey...that's the only truth in this world.

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Lluís Homar's name appears in opening credits and in the promo posters but is missing in the ending credits.

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Goofs

When Paul is out with the villagers, back at the house Norman, Lucy and Isabel do not hear the practice shots Paul and the others take on a clear day. Yet later in a torrential downpour, having walked miles farther towards the nearest town, the trio hear the distant single shot when Paco kills Paul.

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Quotes

Paul: There are hunters and prey, Norman. It's the only fucking truth in this world.

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Connections

Featured in Nubes y claros - Rodando 'Bosque de sombras' (2007)

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Soundtracks

There is a war
Written and Performed by Leonard Cohen
Taken from the Album 'New Skin for the old Ceremony'
Courtesy of Sony HNG Music, Canada

User Reviews

RURAL Spanish Gothic

A movie dealing with outsiders stuck out in an inhospitable bucolic nightmare. Definitely a paced and concentrated mix of tension and violence.Hostility sticks out all over this film and the performances are superb. This is a well worked trope but it doesn't matter. Highly recommended if you are keen on things like HAUTE TENSION, WOLF CREEK , SHY PEOPLE or DELIVERANCE. Gary Oldman,who has a great track record and versatility not matched does a grand job here.Probably one of his best roles to date. The villains are a sinister bunch of hill-folk,hints are made in reference to inbreeding and unspeakable acts but all is understated.A climate of violence prevails but does not descend into cartoon-like nonsense ala Tarantino(not knocking Mr T.). Rural Spanish Gothic.

Details

Country:

France Spain UK

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

16 February 2007 (Spain)

Also Known As:

The Backwoods

Filming Locations:

Navarra, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

EUR3,600,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$123,913

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmax Entertainment, Monfort Producciones, Castelao Producciones

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1