What better way to survive an apocalypse than by beginning again? It can be lonely in the aftermath of a major fallout, something an unassuming Heinrich (Ruan Wessels) has gotten used to as he treks through the wilderness. His lonely journey doesn’t go unnoticed as he’s shadowed by a silent, but charming young woman named Em (Simone Neethling). Their seemingly fated meeting ignites a flurry of sparks as they navigate their surroundings, only to be confronted by forces determined to harm them.
The Forest nestles itself neatly between nuanced romance and post-apocalyptic drama, delivering a satisfying dose of both without ever really truly leaving its comfort zone, to really push genre boundaries. While the film dabbles in action, its primary focus is the developing relationship between Heinrich and Em. The fact that Em is voiceless makes their interactions even more impactful and ultimately, more sincere. Neethling is captivating on screen, always present and powerful when the story calls for it. Wessels is also well-cast as Heinrich, making the pair of them easy to invest attention in. It’s a bit like a fairytale, especially early on when it’s just the two of them against the world – a notion that is quickly challenged by a dangerous revelation.
When we hear the term “post-apocalyptic” these days, images of decayed cities, outbreaks, and atomic disasters come immediately to mind. We’ve grown accustomed to these classic tropes from a variety of popular films and video games. In The Forest, the planet has largely returned to an era before humans began draining its resources, with dense woodlands and shrubs considered an all-consuming force overtaking the surface. It’s certainly a more agreeable kind of Earth-changing phenomenon, and a premise director Hendrik Cronje makes effective use of.
The film benefits from its natural setting, something cinematographer Philip van Zyl uses to his advantage. Crisp, well-composed images characterize the feature throughout, with the color grading really shining in establishing the gorgeous environment and its grittier elements. Perhaps it’s a bit too clean and clinical sometimes, but it’s mighty impressive how Zyl and Cronje guide their viewer’s eyes to what they want to showcase amidst the endless woodland.
It quickly becomes clear that Heinrich and Em are not the only ones roaming around the lush vegetation. What they seek to conserve, or rather, control something exceptional about Em that’s wholly unique and terrifying to her. Seeing it unfold on screen for the first time is definitely shocking and one of the film’s strongest sequences. The actual threat posed is less pronounced, but writer Reine Swart injects the plot with a healthy dose of supernatural mythology to offset these smaller shortcomings.
Despite not breaking conventions, The Forest stands out as a well-made and acted adventure that is definitely worth seeing for its strong central characters and twists.
