Sötét erdő

Talán maga a forgatókönyvíró sem tudta, hogy mi csak a hősnő elméjének képzelete, és mi a valóság. Vagy legalábbis, melyik jelenetnek van hatása a valóságra, és ha igen, milyen hatása. Ahogy valószínűleg azt sem tudta, hogy a végén pontosan mi történt. A film olyan kísérteties betétekkel akar ijeszteni, mint az Átok amerikai változata, sőt az erdőben öngyilkosságot elkövető emberek dühös szellemeinek témája is az eredeti japán A harag. Ám hiányzik belőle a valóság, a gyerekkori démonok és az erdei kísérteties illúziók közötti áttekinthetőség és egyensúly, és meglepően a kamera és a vágás vizuális kifinomultsága, amit a minőségi horrorfilmekben már megszoktuk. Átlag alatti falatka, amely elpazarolja a témában rejlő nagy potenciált (az öngyilkosok erdeje Japánban tényleg létezik). (2020.04.14)

The Aokigahara Forest caused visions not only to the main character of this film, but also to me, the viewer. While the screen was showing an average, unambitious American horror film, what I saw was mainly the squandered potential and the fog-shrouded, excellent film that could be made on the basis of that place. But for that, Jason Zada would’ve had to try a little harder and build things on something more than several, and to a great extent cheap jump scares; to play with heavy paranoia, anxiety and insecurity. Or to al least find a somewhat scarier place, because the pine forest they’ve used is actually antiscary. Even that would be enough, see for example the recent The Hallow or The Witch. But, even though I’m rather critical, the horror year of 2016 could have begun a lot worse. This is just about nothing. Watched, standard, carry on. (2016.01.07)

The Forest is a film with great potential, a film that could create a place for legends, not only in real life but in the film world as well. And although the filmmakers tried very hard to make it have the right WTF effect at the end, unfortunately, the excitement doesn't really come, and it's pretty gross in places. There is not a single character - except perhaps the Japanese ones - that I like in any way. Very much a missed opportunity. (2017.08.19)

The only mystery about this film is why it’s supposed to be a horror movie or a thriller. For me, the beginning was a boring and protracted preparation of a future victim for what might happen to them while running around the woods, followed by some similarly tedious running around the aforementioned woods, complete with predictable jump scares and an even more predictable ending. Now that I know what the Japanese wells and forests can hide, I can’t wait to see what’s next to come. Some sort of a mysterious cave or stream perhaps? (2017.04.13)