Is it possible to root for a pedophile? That’s the uncomfortable question Director Nicole Kassell asks us to ponder in his new film “The Woodsman,” based on the play of the same name.

The plot centers on Walter (Kevin Bacon), a man just released from prison after serving 15 years for child molestation. Trying to ease back into a “normal” life, Walter keeps to himself and works hard at a local lumberyard. He is reminded daily of his past since his apartment is directly across the street from an elementary schoolyard playground. When tough-talking co-worker Vickie (played by Bacon’s real-life wife Kyra Sedgwick) takes a liking to the new guy, they enter into a relationship not knowing that both of them have some skeletons in the closet. As Walter tries to work towards being “normal,” he is tempted by his old demons and ultimately has to make a choice, one that is uncomfortable to watch.

This is a very, very uncomfortable film and subject matter. Bacon does a convincing job of portraying the introverted pedophile, and this role should be a pivotal mark in his under-appreciated career. The fact that you want to hate and pity Walter at the same time is what gives the character a three-dimensional feel. But is it hate? Pity? Disgust? Hope? Do pedophiles have a “disease,” and if so, are they “curable?” If they are cured, can they ever really be looked at as “normal” members of society based on their personal history? These are just some of the feelings and questions that the story evokes, or more specifically Bacon, and is the underlying heartbeat of the movie. The pace of the film is slow, but incredibly meaningful, as this is an intensely character-driven film and gives you time to “feel.”

The film is devoid of any action, comedy or lighthearted goodness. Instead, it stays the course focusing on its very dark subject matter which at its conclusion, doesn’t pay off for the sense of anticipation that was built up over the previous ninety minutes. The pivotal ending turns up the squirm factor to 11, but isn’t worth the wait. If you don’t feel at all disgusted, you need to see a psychiatrist. Great acting from Kevin Bacon and a good story make “The Woodsman” a film you’ll want to add to your must-see list, but not necessarily in a dark theater, and definitely not on a first date.