Natalie Dormer, known for her role as Margaery Tyrell in Game of Thrones, portrays twin sisters in The Forest. One sister embarks on a search for the other, who was last seen entering Aokigahara, the infamous Japanese suicide forest. This premise initially offers some excitement, but the film’s potential is undermined by its execution. Instead of a compelling narrative, it devolves into a rather conventional “ghosts-and-evil-spirits-story,” further hampered by subpar acting across the board. Jason Zada’s inexperience as a director is readily apparent throughout the film. Despite relatively well-executed special effects, the overall impression is that of a B-movie.
While the jump scares do elicit a reaction on occasion, this is largely due to the element of surprise rather than genuine suspense. The film’s shortcomings lie in its setup, acting performances, direction, and musical score, raising questions about the production quality acceptable in contemporary cinema. The fact that it receives theatrical distribution, while films like the exceptional Ex Machina do not, is frankly frustrating.
While 2016 promises several noteworthy horror releases, The Forest is not among them. It is advisable to skip this film and instead consider The Witch upon its release, which appears to offer both genuine scares and superior directing and acting. Fortunately, Sweden lacks a notorious suicide forest; otherwise, some cineastes might be tempted to make a one-way trip after enduring this film. Not recommended.
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