The Forest

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The Forest

PG-13

Released Jan 8, 2016

1h 33m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

10%

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137 Reviews

22%

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10,000+ Ratings

When her twin sister disappears in Japan, a young American named Sara (Natalie Dormer) becomes determined to find out what happened to her. Sara's investigation leads her to the legendary Aokigahara Forest, located at the base of Mount Fuji. Accompanied by expatriate Aiden, she enters the mysterious wilderness after being warned to "stay on the path." Her investigation plunges her into a dark world where the angry and tormented souls of the dead prey on those who dare to explore the forest.

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Critics Consensus

The Forest offers Natalie Dormer a few chances to showcase her range in a dual role, but they aren't enough to offset the fact that the movie's simply not all that scary.

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

The film feels more like an expertly crafted missed opportunity, a suspense opus filled with some solidly intriguing ideas that for some reason it refuses to investigate.

Rated: 2/4

Aug 16, 2016

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Roxana Hadadi

Chesapeake Family Magazine

Disturbingly manipulative and yet totally conventional, The Forest is more memorable for being opportunistic than for being truly frightening.

Rated: 1.5/5

Aug 2, 2016

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Donald Clarke

Irish Times

We are packed onto a poorly designed ghost train and hurtled past a randomly arranged array of stuff that would fail to frighten even the frailest infant.

Rated: 2/5

Mar 6, 2016

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Jordy Sirkin

Jordy Reviews It

It’s not scary, slightly cheesy, and a little confusing (but not in a good way). While there’s an interesting twist at the end, you can’t help but feel completely robbed of time when this movie is over.

Feb 22, 2023

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Instead of turning the forest into a place where Japanese people find some kind of sad and disturbing comfort on a mass scale, the filmmakers have chosen to turn the place into a haunted house.

Rated: 1.5/4

Apr 23, 2022

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Nick Levine

NME (New Musical Express)

Playing both sisters, Natalie Dormer gives a compelling dual performance but she's saddled by the script's simplistic dialogue, which is often as wooden as the forest itself.

Rated: 2/5

Jun 8, 2021

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Lloyd S

The writers should go and hang themselves in that forest after this terrible and unwatchable movie

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

05/31/25

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Carnello H

I think theres someone hanging right there

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/25

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Anniston P

Horrible ending. All bad

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/07/24

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steve d

It dragged along with absolutely no suspense.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

Pretty freaky. Keeps you watching. Was decent

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/11/22

Full Review

jelisije j

Natalie Dormer searches for her twin sister who was last scene in one of the deadliest supernatural forests in the world. Had potential, but left me unsatisfied at the end.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Jason Zada

Director

Natalie Dormer

Sara

Taylor Kinney

Aiden

Yukiyoshi Ozawa

Michi

Eoin Macken

Rob

Stephanie Vogt

Valerie

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The Forest: B-Roll 1

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The Forest: Trailer 2

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Synopsis

When her twin sister disappears in Japan, a young American named Sara (Natalie Dormer) becomes determined to find out what happened to her. Sara's investigation leads her to the legendary Aokigahara Forest, located at the base of Mount Fuji. Accompanied by expatriate Aiden, she enters the mysterious wilderness after being warned to "stay on the path." Her investigation plunges her into a dark world where the angry and tormented souls of the dead prey on those who dare to explore the forest.

Director: Jason Zada
Producer: Tory Metzger, David S. Goyer, David Linde
Screenwriter: Ben Ketai, Sarah Cornwell, Nick Antosca
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Lava Bear Films, AI-Film, Phantom Four Films
Rating: PG-13 (Disturbing Thematic Content|Disturbing Images)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 8, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 6, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $26.6M
Runtime: 1h 33m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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