Such a frustrating disappointment

So much average

Powerful

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

The Timber is directed by Anthony O'Brien and O'Brien co-writes the screenplay with Steve Allrich and Colin Ossiander. It stars James Ransome, Josh Peck and William Gaunt. Music is by Tim Borquez and cinematography by Phil Parmet.Two brothers set off on a mission through the snowy wilderness...The Timber is one of those films that's baffling yet intriguing. One only has to look at some amateur review sites to see that it's reviled and adored in equal measure. Depending on what side of the fence you sit, it's either a misunderstood (and under appreciated) art house Western venture, or a badly edited and incomprehensible mess.The two brothers played by Ransome and Peck are on a mission to capture their estranged father (Gaunt) who has gone psycho after his Yukon gold well has run dry. This point of reference is not instantly apparent and is quite frankly vague and almost lost in the surreal mix. Upon their journey they encounter problems and weird characters, all this while they also contend with the ghosts of their pasts (for all we know they might actually be ghosts anyway!). The narrative is choppy, punctured by irritatingly long periods of pointless silence, and there seems to be gaps where something else should be formed, thus giving the impression that it was filmed on the fly with mucho improv.Of course it could well be the intention of the makers was to deliberately make a nightmare/dreamy Apocalypse Now style Oater, and that many of us just don't get it? Or it really is a case of ideas above their station? What isn't in doubt is that it's magnificently photographed, a snowy Western filmed on location in the Carpathian Mountains is a thing to cherish, whilst it is undoubtedly a fascinating production, but conversely it's almost impossible to recommend with confidence. Roll the dice and take your chance... 4/10

Though it does not always offer a coherent narrative, I guess it works as what it is--a Western. The stars offer good performances within the narrow range the story allows. The story has some unexpected thrills and has an unhinged quality. It's beautifully filmed. Having spent some time in the Yukon when I was young, I was surprised to find out it was filmed in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania. In the end, there is nothing too remarkable, and the plot has too many loose ends that I suspect are the result of working with some capable actors in bit parts, wanting to do more with them. I feel like it could have been improved with some thought and care and that it would have been worthwhile.

In many ways I found this similar Christopher Smith's "Black Death". A good setting but a confusing finished film (and not in a positive Kafkaesque sense!). This may have been driven by a limited budget, but poor editing is also a likely factor.Realism was lacking with little/no explanation for the behaviour of key characters. Everyone seems hostile to the two brothers, but without due reason. The enemies were just "baddies" (all straight up mad or bad with no depth of character) making the whole film unbelievable.The edit (not aided by the dream sequences) made it feel like a set of 10 minute clips stuck together.I like a good western... but this is one to skip over.

This film took me by surprise. I expected a standard shoot-em-up with no deeper plots or motives as seems to be the norm these days. However The Timber is an exciting, dramatic, and thoughtful adventure movie. By the end you care deeply about these two brothers and their survival. Added to this are two female supporting characters who were very well written, and actually get into the action as well, unlike the majority of films where the women are portrayed as weak, helpless things who can do nothing but wait at home until the danger has passed. How refreshing this was! This is a thinking man's (woman's) adventure movie. Other viewers can move along to the plentiful shallow action films.