THE FOREST... ahh yes, the hidden gem of all hidden gems... well almost.

This movie was made in 1983 and pre-dated most of the movies of its kind. The best thing, it's actually worth its salt in almost every sense of the word. Only problem is it takes too long to get off the ground, however, when it does, it really does.

The story is basic by design now, but given the time a rather interesting jont down the walk of couple life. It's a mixed bag in a lot of ways, cause it deals with a troubled marriage all while dealing with a cannible woodsman who's hungry for human flesh. LOL~ go figure, huh?

The old man is not so much a bad guy and someone you wish to die, but rather a loner and a all around dad you kinda feel sorry for... Even in light of him slaying and butchering the hikers.

The movie even dables in a little ghost story on the side too. This is where most of the eerieness comes into play. This is where you kinda get a little spooked out too, cause this mom just appears from nowhere to look for her kids. Great stuff when played out on film. It's really dark and you just don't expect this scene to come about like it does and when it does, it's very chilling and very eeire... one scene that, out of all the horror movies I've seen, sticks with me.

The acting isn't great, but I've seen worse. No one was gonna win the oscar here.

The gore was actually, for the movie, very little. I only saw 1 stand out gore scene in the movie and It came when the old man strung up one of the prey from a tree, like a deer and slit his throat. It spurted and gashed open rather nice. Looked very painful and very real, great color of just the right amount of thickness on the blood, or lack there of.  I hate in movies like "SCREAM" and "FREDDY VS JASON" the blood is just LOL funny, it's too red and too thick and just looks like someone dumped strawberry syrup all over the ground.  You won't get that here... trust me.

The story is rather deep and the two couples that go hiking never really interact at all with eachother much, it's strange.  The movie is more of a social commentary on relationships than anything, it really is and how much 1 couple can withstand to be together.  They have only 2 fresh on screen kills in the movie and then a flash back with 4 more... however, they aren't too bad... well, the boyfriend gets it rather good.  

In the end you find out that the mom was killed by him for cheating, he killed her and her new man and took the kids to live in the woods... The kill themselves cause they are un happy and so he lives alone as a woodsman and cannible.

Good story actually and it coulda been better with a little more time, less love story and more gore. I also didn't think the music fit the bill here either. Very upbeat and Time in a bottle esq.  Try watching a mutilation while listing to some John Denver tune, it's strange... It's like watching someone get shanked in prision to Tony Bennit.


In the end, the forest is a movie you will get or you won't get. Your not gonna hold it as your favorite, but you won't hold it as your worst.

I personally love the film and am very happy to say I was laid privy to thie gem long long long ago... back in 1986 when a few buddies and I had a sleep over and His mom rented it for us along with ROTLD and HELL NIGHT.

I've seen the film some 15 to 20 times now in my life and still get freaked out by the ghost aspects of the movie.

4 1/2 out of 5 -- Great exacution in most parts. It's a little winded in the love story department and the Cannible isn't really a bad guy... you actually like him, which is strange and you feel sorry for him at the same time.  Not your typical villan by no means.

He also has one of the best, hands down, lines in all of horror --

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ROBERT THE LAME DICK HIKER -- What'cha eating there sir?

SCARY OLD CANNIBLE GUY -- Oh, this...? Um... DEER. It's DEER.

ROBERT THE LAME DICK HIKER -- DEER? Isn't it a bit early for DEER or too late depending on your calander
"Chuckles"

SCARY OLD CANNIBLE GUY - Everything's in season... when you're hungry. Everything.

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Top that line... Top it! You can't!  It's brilliant and just plays out like a million dollar whore in cat house.

Hey, if you find this movie... do yourself a favor and watch a real horror flick.  Like I said, WRONG TURN and all the others are little jimmy's Lego's to this sucker... trust me!  

THE FOREST takes them movies and ass rapes them all.

BALTIS~

GOOD THOUGHTS~