The Forest Movie Ending Explained, Cast, Plot, and Where to Watch?
by Srinithi | Updated Jun 15, 2023
The Forest Movie
"The Forest" is a supernatural horror film that was released in 2016. Directed by Jason Zada and written by Ben Ketai, Nick Antosca, and Sarah Cornwell, the movie features a talented cast including Natalie Dormer, Taylor Kinney, Yukiyoshi Ozawa, and Eoin Macken.
The story revolves around a woman named Sara (played by Natalie Dormer) who travels to Japan in search of her twin sister, Jess. Jess was last seen entering the Aokigahara Forest, a real-life infamous suicide forest at the base of Mount Fuji. As Sara delves into the eerie and mysterious forest, she encounters paranormal phenomena and must confront her deepest fears to find her sister.
"The Forest" was released in the United States on January 8, 2016, distributed by Gramercy Pictures. While the film didn't receive favorable reviews from critics, it managed to achieve commercial success at the box office. With a reported budget of $10 million, it grossed $37.6 million worldwide, surpassing expectations.
Despite the mixed critical reception, the film captivated audiences with its chilling atmosphere, suspenseful storyline, and the compelling performance by Natalie Dormer. The Aokigahara Forest, known for its real-life reputation, added an additional layer of intrigue and horror to the narrative.
"The Forest" serves as a testament to the enduring popularity of supernatural horror films, offering viewers a thrilling and unsettling cinematic experience. Though it may not have garnered critical acclaim, its financial success demonstrates the continued demand for captivating and spine-tingling tales of the supernatural.
The Forest Movie Ending Explained
The ending of "The Forest" takes a curious and haunting turn as it incorporates Japanese myths surrounding the infamous suicide forest. The film concludes with the tragic demise of Sara and the eventual rescue of her twin sister, Jess. As the story reaches its climax, Sara finds herself immersed in a disturbing hallucination, leading to a shocking act of self-destruction.
In a gripping sequence, Sara, driven to despair and influenced by the forest's malevolent forces, takes the life of Aiden, the man who lured her into the depths of the Aokigahara Forest. Succumbing to the darkness and chaos surrounding her, Sara tragically ends her own life with a knife. This grim act not only solidifies the pervasive nature of the forest's suicidal myth but also leaves a haunting impact on the audience.
However, the film doesn't conclude abruptly after Sara's demise. In the final scene, Michi, one of the search-and-rescue guides who assisted in the forest, is seen gazing intently into the depths of the forest. Through his gaze, an unsettling revelation emerges—a subtle indication that Sara's spirit has somehow taken possession of Michi. This eerie revelation implies that Sara's presence lives on within Michi, leaving viewers with a sense of lingering uncertainty and an intriguing cliffhanger.
By intertwining Japanese myths and folklore associated with the Aokigahara Forest, "The Forest" explores the psychological and supernatural elements that surround the real-life location. The ending not only serves as a chilling conclusion to Sara's journey but also raises questions about the mysterious and enigmatic nature of the forest itself. It leaves viewers pondering the extent of its influence and the lingering impact it has on those who venture within its boundaries.
In this curious and ambiguous conclusion, "The Forest" offers a blend of psychological horror and supernatural intrigue. It leaves the audience with a lingering sense of curiosity and invites them to contemplate the deeper implications of the story, leaving the door open for speculation and interpretation.
The Forest Netflix
"The Forest" is conveniently available for streaming on the popular platform Netflix. With a Netflix subscription, viewers have access to the movie as part of the extensive library offered by the streaming service. This means that fans of supernatural horror films or those intrigued by the captivating premise of the Aokigahara Forest can easily enjoy the movie from the comfort of their own homes.
By being accessible on Netflix, "The Forest" provides a convenient and user-friendly way for audiences to dive into its chilling storyline. Netflix's vast collection of films and series offers a diverse range of genres, and having "The Forest" included in their streaming catalog allows subscribers to explore the captivating and mysterious world of the movie at their leisure.
Whether viewers want to experience the suspense and psychological terror of the Aokigahara Forest for the first time or revisit the intriguing twists and turns of the plot, the availability of "The Forest" on Netflix makes it easily accessible to a wide audience. With just a few clicks, subscribers can immerse themselves in the unsettling atmosphere of the film and discover the fates of its compelling characters.
Overall, the presence of "The Forest" on Netflix provides a convenient streaming option for those interested in supernatural horror and psychological thrillers. It allows viewers to engage with the movie's unique storyline and experience the tension and mystery of the Aokigahara Forest without leaving their homes. With Netflix's user-friendly interface and extensive library, fans of the genre can seamlessly indulge in this suspenseful and chilling cinematic experience.
The Forest Cast
Natalie Dormer
Sara and Jess Price
Taylor Kinney
Aiden
Eoin Macken
Rob
Stephanie Vogt
Valerie
Yukiyoshi Ozawa
Michi
Rina Takasaki
Hoshiko
Noriko Sakura
Mayumi
Yûho Yamashita
Sakura
Akiko Iwase
Head Teacher
Masashi Fujimoto
Yurei
Actor/Actress
Character
The Forest Where to Watch?
The Forest" is available for streaming on various platforms. Here are some popular options where you can watch the movie:
Netflix:
The Forest" is available for streaming on Netflix. If you have a Netflix subscription, you can easily access and watch the movie as part of their library.
Amazon Prime Video:
The movie is also available on Amazon Prime Video. If you have a Prime membership, you can stream "The Forest" at no additional cost.
Hulu:
Hulu subscribers can also enjoy "The Forest" as it is included in their streaming library. You can watch the movie on Hulu with a subscription.
Google Play Movies & TV:
"The Forest" can be rented or purchased on Google Play Movies & TV. You can stream it online or download it to watch offline on compatible devices.
YouTube Movies:
The movie is available for rent or purchase on YouTube Movies. You can access it on the YouTube platform and enjoy watching it on various devices.
The Forest Plot
The majority of the story takes place in and around Aokigahara, a forest located at the northwest base of Mount Fuji in Japan, renowned as a popular destination for individuals contemplating suicide.
Sara Price receives a call from the Japanese police informing her that they believe her troubled twin sister, Jess, has died, as she was last seen entering Aokigahara. Despite the concerns raised by her fiancé, Rob, Sara travels to Japan and arrives at the hotel where Jess had been staying.
At the hotel, Sara meets Aiden, a reporter. They have drinks together, and Sara shares the story of her parents' demise. In reality, her father committed a murder-suicide, but she tells Aiden they were killed by a drunk driver.
While her sister witnessed the tragic scene, Sara did not. Aiden invites Sara to venture into the forest with a park guide named Michi, along with himself, in search of Jess. As the trio enters Aokigahara, Michi suggests that Jess likely took her own life, but Sara refuses to accept this, relying on her twin connection to believe Jess is still alive.
Deep in the woods, they come across a yellow tent that Sara recognizes as Jess's. With nightfall approaching, Michi proposes leaving a note for Jess and departing, but Sara insists on staying, with Aiden volunteering to accompany her throughout the night.
During the night, Sara hears rustling in the bushes, assuming it could be Jess, she rushes into the woods. Instead, she encounters a Japanese girl named Hoshiko, who claims to know Jess. Hoshiko warns Sara not to trust Aiden and flees upon hearing his voice. Sara attempts to pursue her but ends up losing her in the process.
The next day, Aiden and Sara get lost while walking in the forest. Sara's suspicions about Aiden grow, and when she demands his phone, she discovers a picture of Jess on it. Aiden denies any connection with Jess, but Sara runs off into the forest alone. While running, she starts hearing voices urging her to turn around.
Initially unaffected, she becomes startled when the voice appears directly behind her. When she looks back, she sees a hanging body and continues running. Eventually, she falls into a hole, landing in a cave where she wakes up to find herself with Hoshiko, who turns out to be a yūrei (a ghost in Japanese folklore)
. Hoshiko transforms into what appears to be a demonic figure. Sara flees back towards the cave's entrance, where she discovers a flip camera. Upon watching the footage, she witnesses the scene of her parents' death, with her father unexpectedly jumping up in the photos.
Aiden finds her and helps her out of the cave. After some persuasion, they continue walking together. Meanwhile, Rob arrives at the Aokigahara forest with a search party, accompanied by Michi, determined to find Sara.
Aiden leads Sara to an old ranger station he claims to have discovered while searching for her. Sara hears her sister's voice coming from a locked basement and finds a note suggesting that Aiden is holding Jess captive there.
Convinced that he poses a threat, Sara attacks and fatally wounds Aiden with a small kitchen knife. As he dies, Sara realizes that Aiden had been telling the truth and that the picture on his phone, the voice behind the basement door, and the note were all hallucinations.
In the basement of the ranger station, Sara experiences a vision of the night her parents died. Suddenly, the ghost of her father appears and lunges toward her, grabbing her wrist. She manages to free herself by cutting his fingers and escapes from the station. Running into the forest, she sees Jess running towards the lights of the search
The Forest Movie Ending Explained- FAQs
In the movie's ending, Sara succumbs to the darkness and chaos of the forest, tragically taking her own life. The final scene hints at Sara's spirit possessing Michi, leaving a haunting impact.
"The Forest" follows Sara's journey into the Aokigahara Forest in Japan to find her twin sister, Jess, who was last seen entering the infamous suicide forest.
"The Forest" is available for streaming on platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Google Play Movies & TV, and YouTube Movies.
The main cast includes Natalie Dormer as Sara and Jess Price, Taylor Kinney as Aiden, Eoin Macken as Rob, and Yukiyoshi Ozawa as Michi, among others.
The plot revolves around Sara's search for her missing twin sister in the Aokigahara Forest. As she explores the forest, she encounters paranormal phenomena and must confront her deepest fears to find her sister.