Bark might be a slow burn, but it still entertains throughout the entire journey and delivers an ending that is more than satisfying.
There is nothing quite like a thriller that slowly but surely builds up to something that makes the whole journey worthwhile. That is exactly what Bark does. With the focus on just one or two characters for the majority of the film, it had the potential to crash and burn. Luckily it does nothing of the sort.
This is not only because of the suspense that slowly elevates the longer it goes on and the more pieces to the puzzle we learn, but because of the incredible performances of the lead actors, and their chemistry. Without them working well together, the entire film fails.
Note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Bark would not exist without the labor of the writers and actors in both unions.
Bark opens with a man tied to a tree, in the middle of the woods, and no idea how he got there or why he is being left to die. Eventually someone happens upon him, a man who clearly knows his way around nature. However, instead of rushing to his aid, he refuses to help.
Over the course of the next hour or so, the two men have several different conversations, each of which leads closer and closer to the answers Nolan, the man tied to the tree, is looking for. He seems like a nice enough guy at first, which is why it seems like such a mystery as to who would tie him to the tree, and why they want him to suffer so much.
Considering that there are only two characters and one setting, for the most part anyways, Bark is a fairly simple story. The filmmakers were smart in using the budget the way they did, as it never once feels like a low budget movie.
The cinematography also helps make this movie as special as it is. Viewers feel trapped right alongside Nolan as we rarely see anything past where he can see. Mixed with the sound design, we are transported to the woods, which sets us on edge. Every so often there are shots that allow us to see what else is going on in the woods, but not often. This is just enough to give us a taste of feeling like the audience, but we still can’t help but feel trapped and bound as Nolan does.
Then we get to the ending, which for fear of spoilers we will not talk about much, but it should be known that it will leave you with your heart in your throat. It goes in a completely unexpected direction that will leave viewers feeling a different way about what they just watched. It is oddly satisfying, but still unsettling.
Bark was one of our most anticipated films of Fantastic Fest 2023 and seeing it solidified that as a correct choice. While it is a slow burn that takes its time to build the story and character development, it all comes together in the end. This is very much thanks to the smart writing and the chemistry between the two lead actors.
Rating: 4 out of 5
NEXT: Saltburn Review: A Perfectly Dark & Twisted Thriller
About Bark
Nolan Bentley seems like a nice enough guy caught in a terrible situation after he wakes up one morning tied to a tree, hands behind his back, with neither water nor food at his disposal. After suffering starvation and hunger for a few days, a passing outdoorsman pitches a tent right next to him and strikes up a conversation. As their discussion progresses, it becomes clear to Nolan that the man has no intention of saving him. What’s unclear, though, are his reasons for choosing not to intervene.