Is Welcome to the Occult Forest: The Movie Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (2022)

📖 The Core Premise

With the release of Welcome to the Occult Forest: The Movie (2022), audiences are invited back into the world of Horror. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "A washed up horror film director named Kôji Kuroishi and his assistant director named Miho Ichikawa visit a house deep in wooded mountains to film a movie. Once arrived, they meet a mentally deranged woman named Maria Miyoshi who proclaims she's a fan of Kuroishi's works. The woman pleads that she's experienced the same things as documented in Kuroishi's works. Unexplainable phenomena quickly begin to happen, so Kuroishi sets out to document these experiences and turn them into a film, together with the help of a 'super volunteer' named Shôhei Uno and a handsome psychic medium named Nanashi."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. While not a career-best, Mayu Hotta's presence adds a necessary stability to the proceedings. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Horror. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is Welcome to the Occult Forest: The Movie worth your time? If you appreciate Horror films that take risks, this is likely a must-watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, Welcome to the Occult Forest: The Movie is a mixed bag with some redeeming qualities. With a runtime of 123 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Watch on OTT.