The Forest Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Girl goes into a forest to find her sister but ends up finding ghosts and also herself, in a bad way.

🍿 The Forest: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Sara’s Journey to Aokigahara

Sara Price, an American woman, learns her troubled twin sister Jess went missing in Aokigahara Forest in Japan, a place known for suicides. Despite her fiancé Rob’s concerns, Sara travels to Japan, driven by a strong feeling that Jess is still alive. She arrives at Jess’s hotel and seeks information about her sister’s disappearance.

Encountering Aiden and Entering the Forest

At the hotel, Sara meets Aiden, a reporter who offers to help her search the forest in exchange for her story. She agrees, and they venture into Aokigahara with Michi, a park guide. Michi warns Sara about the forest’s deceptive nature, where the spirits prey on sadness and lead people to despair.

Night in the Forest and Growing Suspicions

The group discovers Jess’s abandoned tent, and Sara insists on staying overnight, despite Michi’s warnings. Aiden volunteers to stay with her. During the night, Sara chases after a figure she believes is Jess, encountering a young girl who warns her not to trust Aiden. This sparks Sara’s paranoia and distrust.

Hallucinations and the Ranger Station

Sara and Aiden become lost, and Sara grows increasingly suspicious of Aiden. She finds a picture of Jess on his phone, but he denies any involvement. Separated from Aiden, Sara experiences vivid hallucinations. Aiden eventually leads her to an old ranger station where she hears her sister’s voice and finds a note suggesting Aiden is holding Jess captive.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Sara Price (Natalie Dormer): An American woman who journeys to Aokigahara Forest in Japan to find her missing twin sister, Jess.
• Jess Price (Natalie Dormer): Sara’s troubled twin sister who goes missing in Aokigahara Forest.
• Aiden (Taylor Kinney): An American reporter who befriends Sara and assists her in her search, while potentially having his own motives.
• Rob (Eoin Macken): Sara’s concerned fiancé who is skeptical of her journey and the dangers it entails.
• Michi (Yukiyoshi Ozawa): A park guide familiar with Aokigahara Forest who initially helps Sara and Aiden search for Jess.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Sara: “My sister Jess and I, we are identical twins. Once something happens to the one of us, the other one could tell.” – Sara explains the unique connection she shares with her twin, justifying her belief that Jess is still alive despite the circumstances.
• Michi: “If you see something bad, it’s in your head.” – The park guide warns Sara about the forest’s ability to prey on one’s fears and mental state.
• Sara: “I have to find her.” – Sara repeats this line throughout the movie, and demonstrates her determination and stubbornness to find her sister.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $10,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $26,594,261
• Worldwide Gross: $39,712,000

💥 The Forest Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into this expecting a typical jump-scare fest, and while it had its moments, it was more unsettling than outright terrifying. Natalie Dormer is great, and I really felt for her character as she desperately searched for her sister. The Aokigahara Forest is genuinely creepy and I appreciated that the movie tried to explore the psychological impact of such a place. While the plot had its flaws, I found myself thinking about the movie long after I left the theater. The ending was unexpected, and it definitely left me with a sense of unease.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of supernatural horror movies”
  • “Viewers interested in Japanese folklore and ghost stories”
  • “Those who enjoy suspenseful thrillers with psychological elements”
  • “Natalie Dormer fans”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Suicide themes and imagery”
  • “Gore and disturbing images”
  • “Violence”
  • “Hallucinations and psychological distress”

Professional Reviews

• IMDb: “The Forest has an intriguing premise but suffers from a confused plot and a lack of genuine scares. The atmosphere is creepy, but the jump scares are cheap and the characters make frustratingly stupid decisions that kill any empathy you might have had for them. The setting is unique, but it’s used as a backdrop rather than a character. Overall, it’s a disappointing experience.
• IMDb: “While Natalie Dormer gives a committed performance, ‘The Forest’ fails to capitalize on its unsettling setting. The film relies too heavily on jump scares and predictable horror tropes, lacking the depth needed to truly explore the psychological impact of the Aokigahara Forest. In the end, it’s a forgettable addition to the horror genre.
• IMDb: “The Forest is an original and entertaining horror movie. It’s not a slasher flick – more like a creepy and sometimes scary supernatural thriller. Think of it as a combination of ‘The Amityville Horror’, ‘The Descent’ and ‘The Grudge’. There are enough scary images to qualify this as a horror film, but it’s effectiveness lies in what you don’t see – and don’t know about the characters and their surroundings

Audience Reactions

Creepy atmosphere and a good twist at the end kept me engaged.: The setting of the Suicide Forest is genuinely unsettling, and Natalie Dormer’s performance is a highlight.

I jumped a few times, and the story made me think about mental health.: Although not perfect, it provides a decent horror experience, with jump scares and intriguing mystery.

Overall Consensus: While it has its flaws, the movie offers a decent horror experience thanks to the creepy setting and Natalie Dormer’s performance. However, cheap jump scares, and confused plot leaves many feeling disappointed.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Natalie Dormer visited the real Aokigahara Forest for research, but her Japanese driver refused to step more than a few inches off the marked path.”
• “While the film is set in Japan’s Aokigahara Forest, known as the Suicide Forest, most of the filming took place in Tara National Forest, Serbia, due to restrictions and sensitivities surrounding the actual location.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Forest?

The Forest is available to rent or purchase on various platforms including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for streaming availability and rental options. Physical copies (DVD and Blu-ray) can also be found at major retailers like Amazon and Walmart.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Forest, you might like these similar films:

• The Grudge (2004): Features vengeful spirits in Japan with a similar tone.
• The Ring (2002): Deals with supernatural entities in Japanese horror style.
• Grave Halloween (2013): A group of westerners encounters a supernatural entity in Aokigahara forest.
• The Descent (2005): A group of women goes caving and encounters deadly creatures in dark, claustrophobic spaces, similar to Sara’s underground experience.

🛒 The Forest Related Products

• Japanese Folklore: Ghosts and Spirits: Dive deeper into Japanese folklore with this collection of ghost stories. Explore Yokai, Yurei and other supernatural entities featured in the movie.
• Funko Pop! Asia: Japanese Folklore – Kappa: A great way to further expand your knowledge of Japanese folklore and display it. Get this traditional Japanese figure Kappa, the water imp and collect all the Japanese mythical characters.
• Japanese Horror Collection – DVD: A collection of classic Japanese horror films like “The Ring” and “The Grudge.” Experience the original J-horror that inspired movies like “The Forest.”
• Japanese Suicide Forest Poster: A perfect item to display that will scare any guest and make them fear the Japanese Suicide Forest.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Forest features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Japan” – performed by Alex Banks and Hannah Thomas

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The Forest ▶ Story EXPLAINED (Watch Before Sons of the Forest)

Heard ‘Sons of the Forest’ is amazing but confused about the first game’s story? This video breaks down all the lore you need to know. Honestly, I was totally lost before watching this, it’s a lifesaver!

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