The Forest (1982)

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

I've been collecting 80's slasher films recently and I got my hand on a copy of the Code Red DVD release of The Forest, a little known and not very liked 80's supernatural slasher film. The Forest is pretty interesting for your typical slasher fare, it revolves around a group of hikers, adults mind you are hunted by a cannibal hermit in the woods who is haunted by the spirits of his dead wife and kids. It gets a poor 3.5 on here which is the same of Don't Go in the Woods...Alone! and I will say The Forest is a better film. Now, let's get down to the usual criticisms here. The acting is atrocious, the best acting in the film is by Gary Kent who plays the cannibal hermit and he's really not that good either but he's given somewhat solid character development for his character and he is not annoying which is more than I can say for a lot of slashers. The directing is about average for slashers, nothing special but I do like the setting and I think it's captured decently here. The body count is low, but this film is not about the body count, more about the story instead. The score I actually didn't mind, there's song which is horrendously funny but the score itself, isn't that bad, in fact, I liked the score they used for the opening kills. My two favorite scenes are the opening with the two kills and the flashback sequence though poorly acted by everybody but Kent, gives us decent character development and while cheesy, actually makes us sympathize with the killer.The Forest is not a good film by any means and I paid quite a bit for the DVD but it's a solid DVD and I liked the film more than I thought I would. Recommended to slasher fans who want something a little different than just the killer in the woods formula.

A cannibalistic backwoods killer is on the prowl and two bickering couples might be his next source of protein in this bargain basement Friday the 13th-clone cheapie. There s literally nothing of interest to see in this one, the killings are surprisingly sparse and when they do happen, completely amateurish. It also adds ghosts into the mix for no reason what so ever. I felt drained after watching it as if my brain was liquefying and draining out my nose. And it remains without a doubt Donald Jones' worst movie. If you're thinking of renting it because of Code Red's snazzy new DVD re-release Don't botherMy Grade: F

~Spoiler~I watched two forest-themed slasher movies this weekend: Don't Go in the Woods and this one, The Forest. They were both equally bad, but one of them was fun. This one was just plain stupid. The Forest is your usual dreck with campers getting offed one by one by a demented backwoods killer. Unfortunately our demented backwoods killer (played by Gary Kent) is one of the least threatening characters ever! The guy just wants to eat. Can you blame him? The killer in The Forest would be a victim in a movie like Madman or The Burning. That's how menacing he is. On top of that, there is a supernatural angle with the ghosts of his children keeping him company and helping out the campers. Weird. There are plenty of great forest slashers out there; No need to see this one.

I first saw this when I was 14. I remember I wanted to swap it with my mate but he wouldn't so I tried to borrow it very long term and hope he forgot about it! Haha. In the end he asked for it back (DAMN!)Anyway this film is a classic slasher, it's "so bad but it's good". I really think it's just great in the way it's so cheap but cool at the same time. Love the location (forest) but could of been a bit more detailed on the "gore score" but if you like cheap bargain bin horror flicks then you should watch it. It's a rare film and pretty hard to come by. All in all it has something about it that I really like. Oh, and the music is great! Reminds me of the first ever casio keyboards and gives it that old slasher feel.