As an early Christmas treat, Shudder is spoiling its subscribers with one of the most interesting genre films of the year, A Wounded Fawn. The movie, by producer-turned-director Travis Stevens, is a battle of the sexes unlike any experienced before. Although unconnected narratively, A Wounded Fawn thematically concludes Stevens’ gender-focussed trilogy, which began with The Girl on the Third Floor, a study of masculinity and all its toxicity. Then came Jakob’s Wife, which explored the female experience. A Wounded Fawn takes both sexes and throws them in the mix together within a film of two distinctly different acts.
Inspired by surrealist art and Greek mythology, A Wounded Fawn follows the story of Meredith Tanning (Sarah Lind, The Humanity Bureau), a local museum curator who is dipping her toe back into the dating pool, only to be targeted by a charming serial killer (Josh Ruben, Scare Me). When a fateful romantic getaway between the two becomes a tense game of cat and mouse, both must confront the madness within him.
THN first caught A Wounded Fawn at FrightFest, and were instantly smitten. Another marvel from Travis Stevens, A Wounded Fawn is a tantalising collision of gender roles, genre subversion, and the elegant world of high-art. Mirroring its art backdrop, A Wounded Fawn is gorgeous to look at. The visuals sizzle and the decision to shoot on film rather than digital makes it even more special. Most importantly, the double act of Sarah Lind and Josh Ruben is spectacular. Both get plenty of time to demonstrate their acting talents and their commitment to their parts is what ultimately sells the film.
Ahead of Shudder releasing A Wounded Fawn on 1st December, THN spoke with the film’s three key ingredients: Travis Stevens, Sarah Lind, and Josh Ruben. Our chat covers the importance of art and colour in telling this story, committing to character, and the immense joy of ‘snake day’.
A Wounded Fawn screens exclusively on Shudder from 1st December 2022.
