825 Forest Road

I can see why this movie is somewhat divisive. There ARE indeed some good elements in it like one reviewer stated in his/her title.

I would say what really props up this movie at all is the tense atmosphere. The acting overall is decent, not as cringeworthy as many of these modern day Horror films.

I personally like the approach when you have this small, rural town where everyone knows something is not right. That aspect I thought was done very well.

I just don't feel that there was quite enough substance and weight truly to carry the story as well as it should have been. There were definitely instances of genuine creepiness, but perhaps if the writing/plot could have been thought out a bit more thoroughly, I think it really could have been a lot better.

Yes, many good elements are there, but I think maybe a bit more skill was needed to bring it together and really make it much more strongly effective and powerful to the audience.

I was torn between giving it a '5' or a '6', but in considering the sum of everything, I ended up with a '5' So, there is some entertainment value here, but ultimately I honestly feel it is a bit too flawed to be called really good.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MY PARTICULAR WAY OF RATING:

5 - Flawed, but with some entertainment value.

6. A decently passable story maybe worth a watch.

7. A solid film, well made, effective, and entertaining.

And, obviously, you can probably figure out what above and below these would mean... : )

I love the composition of the movie into chapters. It keeps it interesting and let's you interact with each character. Some of the actors are definitely better than others, but I wouldn't call any horrible. It's a pretty solid story line that I haven't really seen before, although there is a tiny Silent Hill vibe -and I've seen a LOT of horror films. It's a bit more psychological than straight up horror, but it has it's moments. All in all, it's a somewhat slower pace, really setting the story and the atmosphere. There are some scenes that seem out of place and kind of random, that are a bit of a distraction.

Honestly, this would get a MUCH higher rating if it weren't for the end though. As is with so many lower-budget horror movies, the end very much seems like they ran out of time/money/ideas and just decided to abruptly cut off the end with very little thought. It *tried* to tie things up, but really just left me with more questions and showed opportunities that they missed exploring or explaining. Even with the same cast and acting, a more complete story and a different ending would have garnered this an 8 or 9, easily.

As it is, it's a decent way to spend a rainy day, but definitely isn't what I would look to for a movie night. True lower budget horror fans might appreciate or enjoy it, but my husband -who just tolerates my horror addiction- would probably not be too happy, especially since he strongly dislikes movies with abrupt endings.

*Personal pet-peeve - why would anyone name a main character Chuck?! I cringed every time they said his name, it just didn't fit the time period, atmosphere, or the character himself. Totally random and mind boggling to me!

Creepy indie film. Kind of an abrupt ending without much explanation, but you still get the overall idea and plot. This director creeped me out with the "Hell House LLC" movies when they were released, but this didn't really live up to that creepiness, but still worth a watch!

The movie has a new refreshing buildup method, and it gives you new perspectives that you don't see in a horror movie very often. I thought this way of telling a story was good and also entertaining.

The bad reviews are just people wanting some high budget horror with known/ famous actors. Sooo if you find yourself liking indie horror, then watch this!

This movie was pretty slow moving and developing also not the best acting, but boy oh boy the scary scenes were very scary. It was pretty difficult to stay with due to slow development, but once it got going I was happy I stuck it out.

I would have to recommend this movie fir a time you are looking for a scary movie that has a new fresh approach to haunted house and human possession.

The movie is eerie and has some good jump scares. Not for the faint of heart.

I was between a rating of 6 and 7. I would have given a higher score if the acting was better and if the story moved along quicker..

This one won't be for everyone. It's a quiet, deliberately paced supernatural thriller that focuses more on mood and mystery than scares. But if you're into slow-burn horror, it absolutely delivers on atmosphere.

There's a found footage feel to parts of it, and the way the story unfolds-through interviews, old recordings, and subtle clues-makes it feel more like a haunted documentary than a traditional narrative. It gets under your skin gradually.

The last act really pays off, and while I wouldn't call it terrifying, it leaves a chill that lingers. Think Lake Mungo meets Hell House LLC, but more subdued. Worth checking out if you like your horror low-key and creepy.