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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Forest, The

    Featured In Issue 207, June 2016

    Picture3.5
    Sound4
    WSR Score3
    Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
    (Studio/Distributor):
    Universal Studios Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number):
    62176397
    (MPAA Rating):
    PG-13
    (Rating Reason):
    Disturbing thematic content and images.
    (Retail Price):
    $$34.98
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    93
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    A
    (Theatrical Year):
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    (Disc Release Date):
    4/12/2016
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    (Director):
    Jason Zada
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):
    (Academy Awards):
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
    (Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
    (Disc Soundtrack):
    DTS HD Lossless 5.1
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
    (Additional Languages):
    (Subtitles):

    A young woman's hunt for her missing sister leads to horror and madness in The Forest. When her troubled twin sister, Jess, mysteriously disappears, Sara Price (Dormer) discovers Jess vanished in Japan's legendary Aokigahara Forest. Searching its eerie dark woods, with the help of Journalist Aiden (Kinney), Sara plunges into a tormented world where angry spirits lie in wait for those who ignore the warning: stay on the path. (Gary Reber)

    Special features include commentary with Director Jason Zada, the featurette Exploring The Forest (HD 08:05), galleries, storyboards, upfront previews, and an UltraViolet digital copy.

    The 1.85:1 1080p AVC picture is generally natural in appearance, but much of the imagery is set at night in the forest, and black levels struggle to really descend to blackness. There is always a sense of grayness, and shadow delineation suffers as well. To view requires a very capable display and a very dark viewing environment, to really fully realize the darkest segments. Daylight segments exhibit earthy tones and green foliage in the forest. Fleshtones are naturally hued throughout. Contrast is true to the available light in the scenes. Resolution is good, though, a bit soft. Still, close-ups are decently sharp. Overall, this is an atmospheric picture, designed to create suspense and eeriness. (Gary Reber)

    The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is heavily atmospheric and laced with sound effects to accentuate the fright. Nuanced forest sounds, including birds, are nicely spread to the surrounds, with more aggressive surround engagement during frightful forest night scenes. The music is haunting, with touches of electronic sounds and eerie sounds, at times punctuated with deep .1 LFE bass extension. The music extends wide and deep throughout the soundfield. Dialogue sounds natural but is at times wanting in spatial integration. Overall, this is an effective soundtrack, providing eerie support for the genre. (Gary Reber)

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