In the face of rising mental health challenges among black men, therapist Dillon leads 5 friends on a weekend retreat at a secluded cabin, where they confront their inner demons and rediscover the healing power of brotherhood in Blackwoods

Blackwoods is a story that is meant to highlight the power of community and brotherhood. The movie also challenges stereotypes from what we see from most black men in movies. Instead of being set in an urban environment the characters in this story head to green pastures. Dillon a profesional black male therapist notices that the suicide rate for black men is the fast growing rate for any human group. Feeling the urge to do something about it, Dillon invites his 4 college friends to join him on a mental health, self-care retreat. When the group of friends arrive to the middle of nowhere Red river gorge Kentucky they encounter other white campers who are thrilled to see people of color in their quite space. Through a series of different mental exercises around the camp fire, meditation, climbing a mountain Dillion gets his friends to open up and reflect on the battles they are facing back home. This trip comes at a critical time for each person in the friend group and they all leave better prepared for life back home.—Cam Marshall