The Forest (2016)

The Forest (2016)

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller, 31 days of horror

Rated: PG-13

Duration: 93 minutes

This movie can be summed up in one word/sound….eh. It was not amazing and it was not terrible. There were tense moments but I wouldn’t describe this movie as scary. I don’t think that is reached its full potential but there were interesting things that occurred.

I kept saying to myself, and so did the friend that watched this movie with me, clearly this woman doesn’t watch horror movies. If the locals say don’t leave the path, then don’t leave the path. If the locals say don’t spend the night you might not want to spend the night. If a local says fine be stupid and spend the night but I will be back to get you at noon than maybe you should stay were they left you so that person, a local who knows the forests, can find you instead of wondering off in to the forest that locals avoid. And if you know all of this about a forest why in your right mind would you blindly run through the forest! Seriously, such stupidity. But I guess this is what is needed for many horror movies to take place. Many stupid decisions after another stupid decision.

I do appreciate that the writers did not put in 20-30 minutes of character history and build up. It was well written with the backstory being told through the character development. The legend and myths around this historical place could have been used much better in my opinion. Since there is legend of suicides taking place in this forest the variety and potential of grisly angry spirits is there but sadly not even tapped in this movie. There were also a lot of nightmare scenes that I feel could have been better. The jump scare tactics were weak and disappointing. The potential scare for those scenes, and many throughout the movie, were far from reached.

I hope down the line there is another attempt at a movie focusing on this place. There is a lot of potential for a great horror story.

IMDB: 4.8 out of 10 at time of review

Amazon: 2.9 out of 5 at time of review. Available for streaming (purchase only)

Netflix: Not available at time of review

Mala’s Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Check out the other movies on this years 31 days of Horror. And if you like what you read last years (not all movies were reviewed but I hope to do better this year!)