• Home
  • Buy our Kindle Movie Quizzes
  • Meet Team BMAF
  • Contact BMAF
    • Website Privacy Notice
    • Cookie Policy

Barking Mad About Films

One man and his dog; both barking mad about films

BMAF Enters The Forest

March 3, 2016 by Bill Leave a Comment

n/a
shares
Be First to Share ->
Share on Twitter
Share on Google+
Share on LinkedIn
+
What's This?

A quiet week at the cinema saw us take a chance on newly released  horror film, The Forest.

We went into this screening not sure what to expect, a lot of the reviews that had been posted were saying it wasn’t the best. Trouble is, as I’m sure you do, we tend to make our own decision when watching films, reviews only help give us information on the film, but not sure they would ever sway me to not go if I had decided that was the film I wanted to see.

The film’s lead is played by Natalie Dormer, who we best know for playing Cressida in the Hunger Games franchise, but is most known for TV monster hit, Game of Thrones.

In this film she plays TWO characters, twins, Sara and Jess. The film opens with Sara in America, being told that her twin, Jess, who is currently in Japan, is dead. The reasoning being that she has left the main path and entered the Aokigahara forest, and has not returned. This forest is also known as The Suicide forest and has Jess has not returned, it is assumed she has left the path of safety to take her own life.

Sara, feels that s a twin, she is still alive. We learn that incidents in their past have shown them to have a connection, not having a twin myself, I am not sure if this is a trait of being one, yet does seem possible.

Sara heads out to Japan, to find the truth about Jess, even if it means the worse and finding her body. Once in Japan, after failed attempts to get a guide to take her into the forest, she meets Aiden (Taylor Kinney, best known for his TV work in Chicago Fire) and tells him about her sister’s plight.

Aiden, who is a reporter, whilst showing concern, also senses a great story, so in return for an interview and rights, he will get her into the forest, through the park guide, Michi (Yukiyoshi Ozawa)

Michi, regularly searches the Forest, and also does venture off the path, into the known suicide area, in order to retrieve or rescue those who have considered or have taken their lives.

Whilst the film maybe slow to start, it does build up the characters, we learn the strong connection between Jess and Sara, is most likely due to the horrific death of their parents at a young age. However, once in the Forest, this film really does pick up a gear.

Sara finds Jess’s tent and refuses to leave the path, which Michi is adamant is asking for trouble. Sara does not take no for an answer, Aiden agrees to stay as well, in order to keep his story alive and promises they will not leave the tent!

Michi agrees to the terms but warns them the Forest will play tricks on them. Once night falls, things start to get very scary with very spooky imagery, breaking woodland, shadowy figures seen through the inside of tent etc

Sara suspects Aiden to be involved in Jess going missing, even to the extent of seeing pictures of her on his phone. Yet is this the Forest, playing tricks or real? Will Sara find Jess? Dare you enter the forest, well that’s up to you!

However, I had chewed most of my nails off during this viewing, and there were plenty of sequences that made me jump, so find it hard to see why this film is getting so many bad reviews. For me, it did what it was supposed to, keep me entertained and provide some scares along the way!

It certainly felt more original than every other horror reboot which seems to come around at present, although granted, it does not stand up to actual Japanese horrors such as The Ring; The Grudge or Dark Water for example, although it is on a par with the American remakes of them. If you have heard of these films and want to see them, we urge you check out the originals.

The film, also has the added bonus of the Suicide forest being an actual place which makes it just that bit more creepier.

If you want to check out the real forest, you can do so using the film’s website which offers an immersive 360 experience here 

If you want a film that will not outstay its welcome and provide a few good scares along the way, we think the Forest is worth taking a chance on.

One thing for sure is if we are ever in Japan, I know one place that I shall not take Pepper for a walk =)

Are you a horror film fan? Have you seen the Forest? Are you a twin who feels things? We’d love to hear from you here at Barking Mad about Films

Chihuahua and The Forest website
It was only a film! It was only a film! Pepper can’t face the real forest from the film website! 

 

Never miss a BMAF blog. Receive email notifications when new posts are published by entering your email address in the subscription box on the top right-hand side of this page.

Share on Twitter
Share on Google+
Share on LinkedIn
+

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Critics, Film, Film review, Halloween film, Halloween viewing, Horror, Japanese Horror, Movie Discussion, Movie Review, Reboot, remake, remakes, Scary, Scary film, Scary movie, Supernatural, Suspense, suspense film, True events Tagged With: Aokigahara Forest, Chicago Fire, Dark Water, Game of Thrones, Japan, Natalie Dormer, Reboots, Remakes, Taylor Kinney, The Forest, The Grudge, The Hunger Games, The Ring, The Suicide Forest, Twins, Yukiyoshi Ozawa

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

What Have We Been Barking Mad About Recently?

  • Our Visible Review of the Invisible Man
  • Is Bad Boys For Life A Return to Form For The Franchise?
  • Is The Rise of Skywalker A Fitting End To The Star Wars Saga?
  • The Barking Mad About Films Top 10 Films of 2019
  • 10 Films We Can’t Wait To See In 2020

Jump to a Category

Jump To a Tag

3 star review 3 Stars 3D 4 Star review 4 stars 5 Star Review 5 Stars Blockbuster Book Book Adaptation Book to Film CGI Comedy Deadpool Disney drama Film Film Blog Film Review Five star review five stars Four Star review Four Stars Franchise Ghostbusters Harry Potter Horror James Bond Jaws Jennifer Lawrence John Wick Marvel Marvel Comics Movie Blog Movie review Reboot Remake review sequel Star Wars Star Wars: The Force Awakens Three Star Review Three Stars Thriller Tim Burton

Copyright © 2023 · Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in