Playing the opening night of Fantastic Fest, A WOUNDED FAWN stars Sarah Lind (JAKOB’S WIFE, WOLF COP) as Meredith, a museum curator who recently left a terrible relationship. As a way to get back in the game called love, she plans a romantic getaway to the deep dark woods with her mysterious new guy played by Josh Ruben (SCARE ME). Writer and director Travis Stevens (JAKOB’S WIFE, GIRL ON THE THIRD FLOOR) places a serial- killer story in a haunted cabin with plenty of terrifying godlike monsters to keep us company.

The story starts not with our heroine, but our leading male character. Art and aesthetic become a theme very early on, but the film does not stress how to appreciate beauty. Instead, we see how what’s on the surface can actually hide something cold and sinister. The unsuspecting Meredith learns this lesson the hard way when she mistakenly trusts a charming man, only to find herself in serious danger. If trapped in the woods with a serial killer was not enough, the clearly unhinged Bruce (Ruben) brough some friends along. A disturbing owl demon follows him and tells him when and who to murder. Always bathed in a deadly red light, Bruce’s baddie bestie definitely adds to the aesthetic of the film. When the gore happens (and it will happen!), it comes with blood so bright it would make a Hammer film proud. The practical effects greatly add to the attractiveness of A WOUNDED FAWN. Head trauma, a toasty scene with a naked booty, and a really unsettling moment with a skull create some really astounding images sure to gross-out the audience.

In the end, the film looks at a Hellenistic story of revenge that focuses less on plot and far more on surreal imagery and strong performances from both leads. Stevens incorporates Greek mythology, madness, and occult horror for one long dark scary night in the woods.

• Author
• Recent Posts

Amylou Ahava

Amylou Ahava is a PhD student and resident punk rocker. She has studied, taught, and annoyed landlords on three continents and hopes to add a fourth in the future. The childhood dream of being a horror host stemmed into a lifetime love of everything scary and now has led to a focus on disability studies in American horror literature and film. She has been teaching since 2009 and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. She is a pet parent of 7 and hobbies include horror movies, waffles, and books.

Latest posts by Amylou Ahava (see all)

Tags: Fantastic Fest 2022, Horror, Josh Ruben, Katie Kuang, Ksusha Genenfeld, Malin Barr, Sarah Lind, Serial Killers, Travis Stevens