A Tree Fell in the Woods 

(dir. Nora Kirkpatrick)

By: Adam Freed

If two couples spiral out of control in the woods, will anyone hear their screams?  The premise of Nora Kirkpatrick’s A Tree Fell in the Woods surrounds two couples, who escape the urban rat race for a New Year’s getaway at a snowy mountain cabin.  Melanie and Mitch played by Ashley Park (Emily in Paris) and Josh Gad (Frozen) respectively, uphold a confounding relationship dynamic as Mitch presents as the far more mature of the two, holding down a high pressure finance job, whereas Melanie seems to allow her non-revenue passion for cooking to guide her aspirations.  The two make the trek upstate to reunite with Mitch’s best friend Debs, a good soul portrayed by Alexandra Daddario (The White Lotus) and her nature photographer husband Josh, played with a hint of narcissism by Daveed Diggs (Hamilton).  As long time friends Mitch and Debs catch up while on an early morning winter hike through the mountains, they are nearly crushed by a falling evergreen, shortly thereafter they witness their spousal counterparts engaging in an adulterous sexual relationship with one another.  This one-two punch of dopamine-inducing experiences send Mitch and Debs into survival mode, as they attempt to do what they feel is right to preserve their individual marriages and their sanity.

The premise of A Tree Fell in the Woods is sound, trap adversaries together in a snowbound cabin while witnessing the weight of information imbalance.  The two pronged secret of infidelity only lasts so long however, marking an end of what proves to be the most interesting dynamic within Kirkpatrick’s dramatic film.  The dialogue laden winter dramedy would be drastically improved if it were written for the stage, as its gorgeous setting is so underutilized that every moment stuck inside the unassuming cabin feels like a cinematographer's nightmare.  Yes, it is the point of the film to force the awkward foursome into close quarters, but there is so little time spent with all four together that perhaps allowing for exploration of the natural space would make the dramatic tension, and its underwhelming resolution feel informed by experience rather than impulse.  

Due credit must be given to the strength of the ensemble cast of A Tree Fell in the Woods.  Although the film lands underwhelmingly, the foursome of Daddario, Diggs, Gad and Park are fully committed to the story, a fact that preserves its ultimate watchability.  In particular, the realistically flawed dynamic between Gad’s Mitch and Park’s Melanie is rich with the contemplative imbalance of a marriage forged in convenience rather than genuine passion or attraction.  To Nora Kirkpatrick’s credit, her film does not attempt to vilify any of the parties involved, rather to present certain relationships as simply having run their course, and adverse situations, such as infidelity, are unveiled as a symptom, rather than the genesis of marital hardship.  Although A Tree Fell in the Woods isn’t a memorable film, it certainly works well as fodder for contemplation regarding personal relationships.

Target Score 4/10 - Long on drama and short on impact, Nora Kirkpatrick’s A Tree Fell in the Woods underserves its inviting premise.  The result is a film that fails to utilize a handful of impassioned performances from a gifted ensemble of actors, leaving it feeling flat. 

A Tree Fell in the Woods is included in Movie Archer's coverage of the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival.