Review of The Forest (2016) by Mike D — 24 Sep 2016

Since 2002's 'The Ring,' there have been a slew of Japanese horror films that have taken moviegoers by storm - some much better than others. In Jason Zada's 'The Forest,' we get to experience what it's like to hike through the notorious Aokigahara Forest. Situated at the base of Mt. Fuji, this place is also known as the "Suicide Forest" thanks to, well, it should be easy to figure out based on the name.

While this is a setting that pretty much any horror film could only benefit greatly from, 'The Forest' finds a way to fumble and falter to the point where the surroundings seem like a waste rather than an integral part of the story. Perhaps it's the fact that the protagonist - a young twin named Sara (portrayed by Natalie Dormer) - is not really a sympathetic figure. Or maybe it's because there are a host of cheap scares that have been recycled in countless similar movies before. Whatever it is, 'The Forest' falls very short on a number of fronts.

Dormer shares the screen with Taylor Kinney, who portrays a journalist in search of a story when he stumbles upon Sara's search for her missing twin in the famed forest. There is no chemistry between the two, and the film really loses its fright factor as time goes by. And the "twist" that we're greeted with at the end of the movie is something that could have been guessed far in advance. The only bright spot is the cinematography in 'The Forest,' as the lush underbrush of the forest makes for a great setting. But again, this is not something that helps the film overcome the rest of its missteps.

While it could have been a haunting piece of cinema, 'The Forest' is a cheaply made, major letdown.