The Forest addresses suicide and paranormal activity

Movie Title:      The Forest [Blu-ray] 

Grade:   C-

Rating:   PG-13, 1 hour 35 minutes

In a Nutshell:   This is the classic “January Junk” horror movie.  This will be a movie your teens will have playing in the background while they do something else.

I’m a twin.  So, there’s that…

Uplifting theme: 

•  Do not leave the path.
• If you’re sad, you’re more vulnerable.
• Don't go to Japan to kill yourself.  Try the sushi instead.

Things I liked:

• You get to see a little bit of Japan.
• The Aokigahara forest is a real place in Japan.  People really do go there to commit suicide, so much so that there is a sign at the entrance that encourages people to think of their families and call the suicide prevention hotline.  It’s the third most popular place in the world to commit suicide.   How sad.
• Fans of Game of Thrones and The Tutors will enjoy seeing Natalie Dormer play twins.
• Some creepy moments.
• Sara says her twin sister’s favorite poem by Sara Teasdale was “There will come Soft Rain”: “Not one would mind, not bird nor tree, if mankind perished utterly.  And Spring herself , when she woke at dawn, would scarcely know that we were gone.”  It’s an especially sad poem when you learn that Teasdale committed suicide.

Things I didn’t like:

• You’ll be watching a scary scene and then it turns into a dream.  Lazy writing.
• Cliched jumps and scares.
• A LOT of dumb “what’s behind that door?” moments
• It could have gone somewhere interesting, but didn’t.
• Super lame ending.

Interesting lines:

• “I kept my eyes closed, but she saw it all.” – Sara (Natalie Dormer)
• “If you see anything bad, anything strange, it’s not real.  OK. It’s not there; it’s here.” (pointing to his head)  - Michi (Yukiyoshi Ozawa
• “How’s it feel to be in the forest where she disappeared?” – Aiden (Taylor Kinney)

      “It feels… necessary.”  - Sara

Tips for parents:   

• Some profanity.
• Blood, maggots, stabbing
• Lots of talk about suicide.