Despite its flaws, 825 Forest Road nails the unease, elevating the dread till the end and then shutting its frenzied door.
825 Forest Road might have a lackluster cast with manufactured rising conflict, but it more than makes up for it in tension and scares. Here’s a horror film that delivers fright without leaning heavily into jump scares. Although the story lacks cohesion, this film will bring nightmares if you fall asleep watching it. Despite its flaws, 825 Forest Road nails the unease, elevating the dread till the end and then shutting its frenzied door.
It’s unsurprising that the movie produces heightened discomfort. After all, Stephen Cognetti wrote and directed the film. He’s the creative mind behind the Hell House LLC flicks that get better with each one, the most frightening being its latest Hell House LLC Origins: The Carmichael Manor. While the character choices feel slightly confusing, the film has more positives than negatives. Plus, few films nowadays manage to scare me aside from basic jump scares that have no value. 825 Forest Road is a movie worth revisiting for frights.
825 Forest Road Uses the Characters as Three-Act
As the story unfolds, viewers are on the journey with new homeowners, Chuck, played by Joe Falcone (Keep Smiling: The Grinning Man Murders), and his wife Maria, played by Elizabeth Vermilyea (Hell Housee LLC III: Lake of Fire, An Extraordinary Affair), with Chuck’s sister, Elizabeth, after a tragic loss. The movie takes care to craft an act tied directly to each character’s point of view.
One major plus is the overlap of each character’s story. Each act gradually gets audiences closer to the end. 825 Forest Road approaches it through three acts from differing perspectives—a challenging feat. When character’s stories overlap, continuity issues inevitably spring up. However, the movie creates a seamless transition, looking like the same scene from a different angle.
Like Cognetti’s popular franchise, the film makes maximum use of technology, with some of the creepiest, spine-chilling moments occurring during Maria’s streams. Given how many of us use technology, especially cameras, for videos and selfies, there’s a level of fear innate within us. We always fear that a threat will appear behind us while we are vulnerable. Thanks to Cognetti’s keen eye and balance between building fear and jump scares, 825 Forest Road churns out a neverending sense of dread for what comes next.
Cast Does Not Stand Out
While none of the cast outright harms the film, the overall performances often fall flat or lack impact. In particular, the emotional response rarely complements the unfolding events during horror moments. However, it’s not so glaring that it pulls viewers out of the horror. Plus, some of the acting missteps stem from a shaky script.
Plot and Choices Lack Logic
While the horror is terrific, the cast’s choices are often confusing. When strange things occur, or Maria—someone vulnerable and struggling with mental health issues—remains in the home. Why? 825 Forest Road, while entertaining, does not cement decent reasoning for the character’s decision to stay in a haunted house.
825 Forest Road builds a tense and occasionally frightening haunted house film, but don’t expect to make sense of the terror. However, a screenplay that fleshes out characters and sensible plot points would make the movie scarier. Terror increases if audiences can see themselves in similar situations. Unfortunately, that falls apart with 825 Forest Road. Some strange occurrences build up? I’m moving asap. Problem solved.
