Tyler Wallach | High Rocks / 2017

a walk in the woods

by Douglas Messerli

 

Tyler Wallach (screenwriter and director) High Rocks / 2017 [11.30 minutes]

 

Andy (Cayce Kolodney) and Josh (Dylan Hartigan), lifelong friends who have evidently been out of touch for some time decide to re-bond through a hiking trip in the wooded Pennsylvania mountains.

    It is clear almost from the beginning that Andy is just a little jealous of his friend who has in the past had girlfriends who got in the way of their deep friendship. He’s glad that Dylan has broken up with his last girlfriend, who he didn’t like—particularly since he couldn’t even find a picture her, she not having joined Facebook.

     But just at the moment that he is beginning to discuss that past, a woman, Kimmy (Alexandra Starr) literally pops up and asks if she can join them on their hike.

    The two Doylestown boys plan is to go down the river and end up at the notorious old abandoned house. The boys are friendly, but it’s slightly apparent that Kimmy has intruded upon their attempt to reconnect.

    They even explain to her that they were born in the same year, and have tried to connect up these long years in the place where as kids they “had some good times together,” but she seems quite dense about the situation.

     Oddly, if it seems that Andy is a bit alienated from Josh’s former girlfriend, it is Josh who most resents Kimmy’s intrusion; and finally, as Andy moves immediately into the old house to explore, Josh takes a moment to explain to her that he sees her behavior as rude. She wanders off the explore the nearby area by herself, as Josh moves into the house where his friend is waiting. And once again there are, at least temporarily, just the two of them.

     But Andy, evidently has bowel problems since he arrived having to evacuate his bladder, and now needs to “poop” again. He moves off so that he won’t been seen by a park ranger. In the meantime, Josh walks off to another part of the old house where he again encounters Kimmy. He apologizes for his comments, which she has basically ignored and easily forgives.

     He explains to her, however, that he basically has determined to meet up with Andy to tell him that since the last time they’ve been together he has come out as gay. And we now begin to shift the focus of what he had previously presumed, that Andy is the odd man out.

     She wonders whether he’s interested in Andy, which he quickly denies, explaining that he has a boyfriend. But since he and Andy have been so close for such along time, he wanted to find a way to tell him the truth.

    He’s worried that since they have known each other “forever,” and have even thought about one another as brothers, that telling Andy something about himself that will completely change what he thinks he knows might upset him or, perhaps, even worse result in a breakup. Kimmy agrees that such a situation with a “best friend” is difficult, but she does argue that being honest is necessary and that it will work out, believing that Andy won’t be difficult about the revelation. How she has come to these conclusions in the short time that she’s tagged along with the two, isn’t explained. But it does put some of Josh’s fears to rest.

     When Andy returns, he even queries whether or not Josh has “told her,” evidently simply referencing their attempt to spend some time alone together.

      They say goodbye, and the boys move on, ready to themselves leave since they’ve not returned to the spot where they entered. Once again, Andy asks whatever became of Betty, Josh’s former girlfriend. He explains that their relationship just faded.

      “I’m seeing a guy,” Josh suddenly blurts out, Andy laughing in response.

      But when Andy looks over to see his friend’s face he realizes he’s serious, as Josh continues his train of thought, “I’ve been seeing him for a while now.”

      Andy simply responds that it’s “Awesome.” But he suggests that he also feels bad. That he’s just been too “goofy” (which he actually is), perhaps if he had been less so, he reasons, Josh could have told him earlier.

     Josh explains that the reason he hadn’t told him had nothing to with him being “goofy,” that he was just afraid. The two men hug, Andy, playing goofy again, but quipping, “You’re not gonna touch my butt, are you?” Josh reassuring him that he’s not.

      In short, nothing really happens in this truly believable film. The friends remain friends, and maintain their strong differences. This is the way friendships should be, people moving on with their lives, but still caring about and loving those left behind, staying in touch whenever possible.

There’s something so refreshing about this lovely walk in the woods, even with the eager intruder. No drama her, no hurt or anger, no misunderstandings, homophobic remarks, accusations.

 

Los Angeles, November 11, 2025

Reprinted from My Queer Cinema blog (November 2025).