Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

The Forest Blu-ray Movie Review

Run form the forest, run!

Reviewed by Martin Liebman April 6, 2016

Consider all of the places where one could become easily and hopelessly lost, and the forest has to be pretty near the top of the list. Landmarks are few and far between. Everything looks more or less the same in every direction. It may not be quite so inhospitable as the desert -- there's at least shade, various food sources, and a greater likelihood of finding water -- but it may be creepier and packed with potential predators and eerie sounds. Mix in tales of the supernatural and a stench of death that permeates the place, and it's altogether frightening. Director Jason Zada's debut feature The Forest effectively uses the environment as a literal and metaphorical maze of danger and terror as a woman travels to a notoriously deadly Japanese forest in search of her missing twin sister. Far from as tightly woven and psychologically maddening as it could have been, The Forest nevertheless works well enough as a passable time waster, a movie that weaves a dark tale of terror in the middle of nature's bountiful beauty.

Deadly secrets await in 'The Forest.'

Sara (Natalie Dormer) arrives in Japan in search of her missing twin sister, Jess. Jess was last seen entering Aokigahara Forest, alone, a foreboding sign that she's likely following tradition with an intent to commit suicide. Sara doesn't give up so easily. She's convinced Jess is alive. Along her journey, she learns more about the forest and the tales that claim spirits cannot find rest in the woodland peace and return to the world angry at their fate. Legend also says that the forest preys on the fears of those who enter it. Sara meets a writer named Aiden (Taylor Kinney) who joins her quest in hopes of penning a human interest story centered on her search. Along with a park guide named Michi (Yukiyoshi Ozawa), Sara and Aiden enter the forest, not knowing what fate awaits them, or Jess.

The Forest employs jump scares, the classic combos of sharp musical cue paired with the sudden appearance of some disfigured thing, but here they're used smartly and, mostly, sparingly. Director Jason Zada and Writers Ben Ketai, Sarah Cornwell, and Nick Antosca make a point to craft the movie through an emphasis on psychological tension and the personal burdens that brings. The movie uses the forest itself as an obvious metaphor for the mind that, paired with the mythos surrounding the forest and Sarah's own fears -- her fear of facing reality, largely -- make for a formidable tandem that drive the character both forward and towards insanity as her determination to find her sister meets heavy resistance from her own real, preconceived, and imagined obstacles. The movie never quite explores as deeply as it should. It's largely predictable but it works in the greater context of the cruder mental and emotional tensions that are accentuated by a location that's both beauty and, for many, beast.

The Forest capably builds a palpable relationship between Sara and Jess, even as they only really share screen time in a few flashbacks. While the actual flashbacks don't add much to the experience -- their relationship is better developed when Sara speaks of it from the heart -- their bond does. It's an integral part of the larger puzzle that more deeply, but not more profoundly, helps explore the movie's central theme of mental anguish and emotional suffering. Much of the reason the movie succeeds is because of its cast. Natalie Dormer manages to take an otherwise bland character and transform her into someone with a well defined past; a tangible, yet uncertain, mental state; and a determination that seems at odds with her established fears but that helps motivate the character and propel the movie. But The Forest never quite digs deep enough. It toys with good ideas but seems either too obvious in its metaphors and contrasts at one moment and too opaque in others. The writing can't mesh with the environment, feed the actors, or even more deeply explore the premise. It's very good to a point, but the movie always feels one step behind where it should be.

The Forest Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Forest comes to life with a beautiful 1080p transfer from Universal. The digital source photography proves rich and robust, practically passing for film quality and presenting with a healthy, handsome texturing. Details are intimate and revealing, managing a natural complexity across every surface. Faces and clothes are particularly impressive, but more so is the way the transfer handles dense foliage, tree trunks, and other little bits in the forest. Cityscapes and manmade structures near the forest are also home to effortlessly complex details. Colors are even and neutral, whether considering bright neon city lights or more subdued woodland greens. Clothing and support colors enjoy proper balance. Skin tones are healthy and black levels honest. The image suffers from no serious compression anomalies or digital tinkering.

The Forest Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Forest enjoys a hearty DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Prominent bass begins the movie, helping to set a rather foreboding tone. Music lingers across the front, mostly, but the surrounds carry a large assortment of sound effects to create an environmentally immersive atmosphere. Leaves rustle about, Tokyo streets spring to life with a healthy mix of city sounds, public address announcements hover around the stage, and a jet pushes through the speakers with effortless movement. Minor little cues like the Horror-classic squeaky door are realistically presented. Dialogue dominates most of the film, and it comes through with faultless prioritization, clarity, and center placement.

The Forest Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Forest contains a featurette, a large collection of image galleries, and a commentary. A UV/iTunes digital copy voucher is included with purchase.

• Exploring The Forest (1080p, 8:05): Director Jason Zada discusses his draw to the film, the real location in the film, the movie's structure and style, and his own real-life journey to and through the forest. It also looks at Natalie Dormer's performance, secondary characters, the importance of caring about the characters, practical makeup work and effects, major set pieces, and story themes.
• Galleries (1080p): A collection of five groupings, all of which are set to music, and all of which play automatically but with an optional "skip ahead" arrow key. Included are Behind-the-Scenes Photos (0:51), Set Illustrations (1:21), Visual Effects/Make-Up Concept Art (2:21), Model Cave Photos (0:41), and Storyboards, which is broken into four scenes: Visitors Center (5:11), 80s Flashback (2:01), Cabin Sequence (20:12), and Revised Ending (10:31).
• Audio Commentary: Director Jason Zada delivers a quality companion commentary that's even-keeled and informative. He dissects the picture in a fairly straightforward manner, covering all the usual bases with a blend of confidence and approachability. Fans will find it to be worth the 90 minute investment.

The Forest Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Forest never borders on brilliance, but it's a surprisingly engaging movie that toys with good ideas, unfolds in a unique environment ripe for exploration, and is populated by a well defined central character. It blends outer beauty with inner fear wrapped around a simple mythos that the movie uses, generally, to fine effect. Jason Zada's debut feature shows much promise, and Universal's Blu-ray does the movie right. Video and audio are rock-solid, and the included supplements are of a high quality. Recommended.