“A weekend in the woods. A lifetime of seeing clearly.”VIBE CHECK:Coming-of-Age / Introspective Drama / Naturalistic / Quietly Devastating THE PLOT:Seventeen-year-old Sam (Lily Collias) joins her father, Chris (James Le Gros), and his oldest friend, Matt (Danny McCarthy), on a three-day backpacking trip in the Catskill Mountains. As the men bicker, boast, and wallow in their own mid-life anxieties, Sam navigates the trail with a quiet, observant grace—acting as the designated peacemaker, cook, and emotional anchor for the two "grown-ups". However, a single, uncomfortable moment near the campfire shatters the peace, forcing Sam to confront the reality of the men in her life and her own shifting place in their world. THE QUEER & RADICAL ANGLE: The Unspoken Identity: While not the central plot point, Sam’s identity as a young queer woman is woven "between the lines" of the script. It is established through brief, tender moments, such as her texting her girlfriend back home when she finally gets cell service. Radical Observation: The film is radical in its "staunchly feminine viewpoint," choosing to focus on Sam’s internal reactions to the casual, pervasive misogyny of her male companions. It honors the "emotional labor" queer youth often perform to maintain the status quo for the benefit of the adults around them. Deconstructing the "Good One": The title itself is a radical irony—referring to how Sam is often praised for being "one of the good ones" because she is self-sufficient and doesn't "ruin the fun" by challenging the men's fragile egos. WHY IT KILLS:Lily Collias delivers a breakout, "career-making" performance that is almost entirely internal; her expressive face tells a thousand stories without saying a word. Director India Donaldson avoids "trauma-drama" tropes, opting instead for a patient, observational style that makes the eventual emotional payoff feel like a "gut punch". It is a gorgeous, atmospheric film that perfectly captures the "shimmering" transition from childhood to adult autonomy.
OBSERVATION SCORE: 9.2 / 10 🌲🎒
👑 GOOD ONE (2024)
