Review: The Forest BD + Screen Caps

THE MOVIE – 1.5/5

Tagline: Everyone comes here looking for a way out.

The same could be said for anyone watching the movie itself.

The Forest is the latest in the short line of movies set in and around Aokigahara a.k.a. Suicide Forest a.k.a. The Sea of Trees, the latter the title of a 2015 drama starring Matthew McConaughey and Naomi Watts. This incarnation takes inspiration from Japanese folklore and applies the J-Horror tropes namely a creepy Japanese schoolgirl looking utterly creepy.

The story centers on Sara Price (NATALIE DORMER) who has set off to Japan upon learning her identical twin sister Jess (DORMER) has set foot into Aokigahara and has not been seen since. The authorities believe she, like numerous others before her, went in to commit suicide but Sara’s twin intuition believes otherwise and is intent on finding her.

After exploring Jess’ workplace, and speaking to her employer, and apartment, Sara makes the train ride to Narusawa. While staying at a Japanese motel, she meets the charming Aiden (TAYLOR KINNEY) and as she relays her story, he offers to take her, with a nature guide, Michi (YUKIYOSHI OZAWA), who knows the forest back to front, to search for Jess. Together, they journey through the restricted section as we get a history on the forest and lost spirits known as yurei who will scream and howl throughout the night.

During their search, after encountering the grisly sight of someone who had hung himself, they come across Jess’ tent which, according to Michi, means she hasn’t fully decided to take her own life. With darkness coming upon them soon, Michi insists they get back to the path but Sara refuses contending she stays at the tent for if/when Jess returns. Reluctantly Aiden stays behind while Michi will return in the morning to lead them back. Of course nothing at all happens during the night… or strange happenings occur from haunting shrills during the night and Sara even encounters a creepy Japanese girl in the middle of the forest. This is her first flight into madness where reality and dark fantasy begin to merge.

The Forest is just the latest in the unfortunately long line of bad Westernized J-horror subgenre, only one of which was any good, that being The Ring, while the rest were disastrously awful. Is this one as bad as, say, Pulse? Not even close as The Forest is at least partially competently made and certainly looks good, though any DP worth their salt should make Tokyo look good, those who don’t should just find a new profession.

The film was directed by Jason Zada who marks his first feature length debut and I suppose he does a fine job with the screenplay – written by the trio Ben Ketai (The Strangers 2) and Sarah Cornwell (debut) & Nick Antosca (upcoming Friday the 13th reboot) – that is filled with J-horror tropes and lame-ass jump scares that were hardly, if ever, actually scary, and that includes the obligatory final scare topped off by laughably bad CGI.

If there was a highlight to The Forest, it resides with Natalie Dormer who displays some decent enough charisma to carry the half-baked script. She could be a star on the rise and displays more talent versus her role on “Game of Thrones” (where she’s overshadowed by Peter Dinklage and Lena Headey) and was a mere background player in The Hunger Games franchise. And for his part, Taylor Kinney does well playing up both charm and suspiciousness especially as Sara’s paranoia grows; it’s not an especially multi-dimensional part but he does well enough for what he’s given.

In the end, The Forest is plain and simply bad. There was some nice atmosphere early on but everything beyond that are jump scares that were hardly effective and culminates with an ending that was predictable as it’s something seen and done in the majority of supernatural horror films.

SPECIAL FEATURES – 1.75/5

This release comes with a matted slip cover. Inside is a redemption code for the Digital HD copy.

Audio Commentary – Director Jason Zada gives a standard but at least interesting track talking about some behind-the-scenes anecdotes on making the movie, casting and working with Natalie Dormer, shooting in Tokyo, Serbia and London. It would’ve probably been beneficial if Zada was joined by someone else.

Exploring The Forest (8:05; HD) is your basic EPK behind-the-scenes featurette including interviews with Zada, Natalie Dormer, Producer David S. Goyer and others.

Galleries: Behind-the-Scenes Photos, Set Illustrations, Visual Effects/Make-Up Concept Art, Model Cave Photos and Storyboards (Visitors Center, 80s Flashback, Cabin Sequence, Revised Ending)

VIDEO – 4.5/5

AUDIO – 4.25/5

OVERALL – 2.5/5