Dark Forest – An Independent Horror – Movie Review

Remember back in the 80s when we had those brilliantly mass-produced horror movies that we all used to love watching at our friend’s house, well Dark Forest is very much like one of those movies and no matter how many times you watch it, the feeling of an 80s slasher movie never goes away.

But that’s no bad thing with Dark Forest, to be honest, its part of the charm if that’s the right word to use, from its style that it has been filmed to the soundtrack, Dark Forest plucks on the strings of nostalgia of horror movies from a bygone age.

Dark Forest (Cast)

Dark Forest (Cast)

The film builds up the characters and the tension as we are introduced to the characters before then decide to head out on a camping trip into that Dark Forest, Emily (Laurel McArthur) is in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend, Peter (Dennis Scullard), to bring some fun back in to Emily’s life, her best friends Michelle (Veronica Ternopolski), Jolene (Weronika Sokalska), and Francine (Jalin Desloges) plan a camping trip and after being mentally abused by her husband, she sneaks off with them for the weekend.

Dark Forest - Selfie (still)

Dark Forest – Selfie (still)

But Peter is furious, how could she leave him for some fun with her friends, isn’t he enough for her, and so the horror starts as Peter searches the woods for his girlfriend, and if anyone is unlucky to stand in his way, he removes them from the equation with true 80s slasher style.

Dark Forest is pure certainly an indie movie, the look and feel of the film screams out independent production, but it is all nicely put together, I loved the lighting in certain scenes in the movie that bring the scenes to life and give them some pop. The acting isn’t bad either, with the cast bringing their characters to life well, but Dennis Scullard, who plays Peter, really stood out for me in the later part of the movie, when the psychopathic, killer, side of the character is at full fruition, he made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up to attention with his performance.

Dark Forest (Dennis Scullard as Peter)

Dark Forest (Dennis Scullard as Peter)

The movie isn’t over gory, so don’t expect a movie with limbs here there and everywhere, but you can expect some moments of blood splatters hitting the camera lens to give you that shock treatment, directed Roger Boyer has done a great job with keeping the gore at bay, while still making a movie that is a good slasher movie that horror fans will enjoy seeing.

I’ve been watching a lot of indie movies lately and I have to say that I’m enjoying them, it’s great to see people making movies for a passion.

Available to stream here in the UK on Amazon Prime, also available on Blu-ray and DVD from the film’s website.

3

Summary

A nicely done Independent Horror that will have you digging out those 80s horrors after watching, so that you can have a horror-fest.