Welcome to the shadowy depths of the cinematic wilderness, where the trees whisper secret screams and the shadows hold untold horrors. Here we take a deep dive (trek?) through the eerie and enigmatic forests of cinema, where every rustle of leaves and creak of branches heralds a new tale of terror. Or just one helluva jump scare.
The criteria? Solid scares, suspense and shocks that would make us think twice about roaming a wooded area after dark. So without further ado and in no particular order, let's start. And as always, we'd love to hear your comments, critique and suggestions.
"The Blair Witch Project" (1999) - What a great way to start off with this iconic found-footage horror film. We follow a group of filmmakers as they venture into the Black Hills Forest in Maryland to investigate the legend of the Blair Witch. It's fair to say that it was pretty groundbreaking on release (though it did take a leaf out of Cannibal Holocaust's playbook...) with the movie doing a ton of money and spawning a trilogy. Is it great? Depends on who you ask but there's no doubting its impact.
"The Ritual" (2017) - A group of friends embark on a hiking trip in the Scandinavian wilderness, only to encounter sinister forces lurking in the ancient forest. Tightly directed by David Bruckner and with gorgeous cinematography, The Ritual excels as a psychological thriller. Could it have been scarier? Maybe. Does the ending disappoint? Probably. But still enjoyable and still enough to put you off walking in the woods after dark.
"The Evil Dead" (1981) - Directed by Sam Raimi, this cult classic follows a group of college students who unleash demonic forces while staying in a remote cabin in the woods. It's one of my favorites and caused a major stir when released (a supposed video nasty for those born after 2000 - you can find out more in our Evil Dead feature). The most serious of the trilogy with some genuine disturbing parts, put it on the list if you have't witnessed it.
"The Cabin in the Woods" (2012) - If you're jaded somewhat by horror movies then maybe this is the one for you. This meta-horror film deconstructs the genre tropes as a group of friends find themselves trapped in a mysterious cabin surrounded by a foreboding forest. The overall concept is original and refreshing, what starts out as a stereotypical slasher/horror flick unfolds with SO much more substance than I originally thought.
"The Forest" (2016) - Set in the Aokigahara Forest in Japan, known as the "Suicide Forest," this horror film follows a woman searching for her missing twin sister amidst the eerie and unsettling surroundings. The score (or lack of) separates the movie from the usual tropes whilst the setting is beautifully disconcerting. A little slow in places, sure, but got the hairs standing up for me.
"Antichrist" (2009) - Directed by Lars von Trier, this controversial film follows a couple who retreat to a cabin in the woods to cope with the death of their child, only to encounter increasingly disturbing events. This movie is not your average stereotypical horror movie; there're no jump scares, no deep-seated music scores, and is materially built on psychological appeals. Fantastic cinematography, an art house feel and some very, very (especially if you're a man!) scenes make this certainly stand out from the crowd. Grotesquely brilliant.
"Deliverance" (1972) - This intense thriller follows four friends on a canoeing trip in the remote Georgia wilderness, where they encounter hostile locals and must fight for survival. Expertly directed by John Boorman and with a stellar cast (Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds to name but two) Deliverance delivers (sorry), an absolute with classic which definitely will put you off going on that hike in the States.
"The Witch" (2015) - Set in 17th-century New England, this atmospheric horror film follows a devout Puritan family as they are terrorized by supernatural forces lurking in the nearby woods. Writer-director Robert Eggers’s Sundance prize-winning feature debut is an atmospheric chiller rooted in the fertile soil of religious zealotry, social isolation and original sin. Great acting and with excellent pacing The Witch is disturbing and unforgettable - go watch it!
"The Village" (2004) - Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, this mystery thriller follows a secluded community living in fear of mysterious creatures that inhabit the surrounding forest. Great cast, a good ol' Shyamalan-twist and striking visuals make this top-tier Shyamalan (in my book anyway). Sure, it's lost some of its impact from when it was first released but it's still enjoyable from start to finish. Plus it spawned that funny (in my book anyway, again) parody scene in Scary Movie 4!
"Midsommar" (2019) - Directed by Ari Aster (of "Hereditary" fame), this unsettling folk horror film follows a group of friends who travel to a remote Swedish village to attend a midsummer festival, only to become ensnared in a sinister pagan ritual. Midsummer is one of those movies which is both beautiful and terrifying at the same time, compelling till-the-last-scene it stars Florence Pugh in star-making form. A classic, you'll be thinking about it for days after you've watched it.
