Druid Peak (2014)
9/10
'Druid Peak'
29 May 2015
Warning: Spoilers
"Druid Peak" beautifully captures the struggle of a teenage boy and his way back to life through a connection with nature. Owen's continuous poor decisions in life and high school finally catch up with him and he must now live with the guilt of a best friend's death. At her wit's end, Owen's mother ships him off to live with his estranged father in Yellowstone National Park. Owen and his father connect in a very subtle way, but it is Owen's intrinsic ability to connect with nature that eventually allows him to grow.

The cinematography alone makes this film worth watching, but the heart of the story is so meaningful and rich that the backdrop just augments the film. Relationships are difficult to portray, especially of a teen and a parent, but "Druid Peak" skillfully and delicately shows us all the elements necessary to do so.

With this film, less is definitely more as we learn more from the reactions from the characters and the carefully selected dialogue that is used. This film pulls you in, finding a way to give you empathy for both Owen and his father. The emotional power of both these characters is intensely wonderful; especially as we see such realistic changes in each of them.

The characters are complex, yet real. The writing is succinct and the actors' ability to convey the story, not only with words, but with their actions and expressions is absolutely stunning. Spencer Treat Clark who plays Owen embodies his character perfectly. It's obvious that the director and actors synced harmoniously to give us this remarkable film.

"Druid Peak" is simply beautiful on all levels: it's a compelling and realistic story which is enhanced by stellar cinematography. On the surface, it's a story about a troubled teen, but there are so many layers that it becomes much more than that. It is a story about life.
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