The Bench, a 1970s horror homage, marks the feature-length debut of writer-director Sean Wilkie. This Scotland-based genre film, which began its journey in 2007, is finally seeing the light of day. The question that lingers is whether this long-awaited title is a worthy addition to the genre or if there’s a reason it remained dormant for so long.
Alex (Jennifer Byrne) just inherited her family’s cabin in the woods. Along the way there, her car breaks down, but luck is in her favor as some campers happen to be driving along and stop to help her. Aidan (Matt McClure), Tommy (Chris Summerville), Lauren (Ilaria Nardini), Steve (Sean Wilkie), and Lisa (Ruth Dillon) help Alex get her car to a mechanic. Unfortunately, the vehicle will be down for a while. So, the newfound friends take Alex to the cabin, and in exchange, she lets them stay there.
Aidan and Alex hit it off instantly, while Tommy’s trying to court Lisa via comic book nerdery. Lauren and Steve proclaim to be the love of each other’s lives but bicker as if they were ancient enemies. As the day turns to night, ominous things begin happening. Other campers are being killed by an unseen man who may or may not have ties to the woods broadly and this cabin specifically. Are Alex and her friends safe, or is this slasher on the hunt for them? If so, why?

“…campers are being killed by an unseen man who may or may not have ties to the woods broadly and this cabin specifically.”
While not reinventing its well-worn story, The Bench respects the audience’s intelligence. The plot, revolving around an old legend of a killer in the woods, is fairly predictable. The characters, though not entirely original, are decently fleshed out. The movie doesn’t rely heavily on the gratuitous elements of its influences, sparing the audience from excessive violence and nudity.
However, Wilkie’s dedication to creating a sense of dread is palpable. The director effectively utilizes the real-world forest, incorporating natural noises to unsettle the characters and the audience. The uneven terrain, which takes out a character at one point, adds to the danger of the landscape. When a psychotic killer is thrown into this mix, the danger factor skyrockets. The kills, when they occur, are brutal and brought to life by some excellent effects, further enhancing the sense of dread.
The Bench is a love letter to a grimier time in horror filmmaking. While the plot is predictable and the characters are only so-so, the flick works thanks to several factors. The cast is solid, and the direction really amps up the dread of being in the woods at night. Plus, the sound design sets up the eerie sound design all by its lonesome. For fans of the 1970s cabin in the woods pictures, this will be a good watch.
For more information about The Bench, visit the Magic Monkey Films site.