A Wounded Fawn (2022) spoiler free review
For the people who saw the Hulu original Fresh (2022), starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Sebastian Stan, seeing the similarities between these two films would be easy. It’s not until the Act Two that the differences star to surface. Both films starts with a woman going to a cabin in the woods with a man that they just met. Both men are serial killer but with different methods and reasons, but still the similarities are more than evident.
A serial killer brings an unsuspecting new victim on a weekend getaway to add another body to his ever-growing count. She’s buying into his faux charms, and he’s eagerly lusting for blood. What could possibly go wrong?
Film synopsis
The cast includes Sarah Lind as Meredith Tanning, Josh Ruben as Bruce Ernst, Malin Barr as Kate Horna, and Katie Kuang as Leonora. Directed by Travis Stevens ( Girl on the Third Floor, Jakob’s Wife, We Are Still Here) and co written by Stevens and Nathan Faudree the film was released at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 10, 2022 and Fantastic Fest in September 22, 2022. It was officially released on Shudder in December 1, 2022.
Bruce Ernst is a serial killer that becomes a victim of his own game. The whole First Act is predictable since its very similar to the First Act of Fresh (2022) with the difference that Fresh takes the audience off ward while A Wounded Fawn let’s you know since the trailer what is going to happen. The whole second half of the film turns Bruce from the hunter to the hunted and stops making sense as the minutes go by.
The score creates a creepy atmosphere that works with the plot and what is happening in the scenes making it an immersive experience. Adding the costume designs of the demon and the Furies, that rely on practical effects, the film becomes an enjoyable visual experience. The plot can be predictable but is compensated with the disturbing images and creepy score. A Wounded Fawn doesn’t fulfill the high expectations but serves the purpose of entertainment, now available on Shudder.