My quick rating – 3.5/10. The classic horror trope with a group of friends heading to a remote cabin for some much-needed R&R. Cue the ominous forest, the skinwalker lurking nearby, and, of course, the “splitting up” moment that happens in record time—literally less than 10 minutes in! Seriously, I thought they were trying to set a new world record for the worst decisions. But hey, at least they got the clichés out of the way early, right? Well, let me just put it like this. If someone told you an insane sounding story that seems very implausible to ever happen, AND the next thing you know, the EXACT thing that was just described starts happening, wouldn’t you give that warning story some creed? Not these folks, nope, not at all.
Let’s talk about the acting—because, oh boy, it’s a rollercoaster. At some points, I was convinced I was watching a community theater production where everyone forgot their lines. In fact, I’m pretty sure I saw one actor glance down at a cue card mid-scene. That said, it gives the movie this charmingly awkward vibe, like you’re rooting for them to survive just because you’re watching a blooper reel unfold in real time.
Now, this film actually has some potential. The creative camera work and eerie shots of doppelgangers are the real MVPs. These moments are genuinely unsettling, but they’re too few and far between. Instead of indulging in their budget-friendly, freaky visuals, they decided to throw in some not-so-convincing practical effects that felt like they were trying to be too ambitious. Spoiler alert: When the “creature” does show up, you’ll be wishing they stuck to what worked: spooky shots of people who aren’t who they say they are.
As for the horror… well, there are a couple of chills here and there. But overall, it’s like a haunted house with too many plastic skeletons. You’ll find a few moments that actually make you jump, but not enough to keep you glued to your screen. It’s the kind of film you’ll watch if you’re a hardcore horror fan who’ll take whatever is handed to you… or if it’s just on in the background while you do other things (you know who you are).
In the end, Forest of Death barely scrapes by with a rounded-up 4 out of 10. It’s not a complete disaster, but it’s not a gem either. It’s like that weird snack you regret buying—it’s not terrible, but you’re probably never going to finish it.
If you are gonna watch this flick, get ready for a weekend getaway all the way to the land of bad decisions! That being said, there are some streaming options for you, including Amazon.