This film belongs to the category of works that, once seen, you will not want to be reviewed right away. Terrifying the audience, it remains a worthy example of a quality thriller. What is the picture âMysterious Forestâ about? Reviews from the audience, a brief summary and a number of interesting facts about the creation are in our article.
Author's approach
Among the works of Indian director M. Knight Shyamalan there are many good paintings. He quickly gained popularity in Hollywood, working on âSignsâ and âSixth Senseâ. A draft script appeared in 2003. Then it was planned to release another film, but with the same name. As a result, it was decided to distinguish between "Dark Forest" and "Mysterious Forest". Shyamalan presented the description of the future painting to the management of the company, and Touchstone Pictures gave a green light to the production. In general, Shyamalanâs participation was the luck for the picture. In each of his work, this person takes a responsible approach to business, because the future of âForest ...â was obvious.
Professionalism as the key to success
Filming took place over two months. The location of the location was selected Chester County in Pennsylvania. The plot action takes place here. The mystical orientation required tremendous work from costume designers. Key mysterious heroes - âthose whose name we donât nameâ - are presented in red robes, although they were originally planned in the form of a monster with a lion's head. The decisive point was put by the director. He wanted the evil to be shown in a light robe, so complex variations had to be abandoned. The creatures ended up without an obvious natural prototype, representing something âaverageâ.
Bryce Dallas Howard (performer of the main female role, which we will dwell on later) was the only one who did not pass the casting. The daughter of director Ron Howard, she liked Shyamalan in one of her theatrical productions. The remaining actors involved in the film include the stars known at the time of filming. Like, for example, Sigourney Weaver. The star of âAliensâ considered the film âMysterious Forestâ creepy in the history of cinema. Admittedly, she suffered from nightmares for a long time while the production process was going on over the picture. It is noteworthy that the village featured in the story was not recreated with the help of computer special effects. On the contrary, the director insisted on live scenery. As a result, Covington was built in a few weeks. Shyamalan made the main performers to be in a special training camp before the shoot with an atmosphere reminiscent of the 19th century.
The main intrigue of the film
Leaving the long preparatory details in the past, it's time to find out what the âMysterious Forestâ is about. The content of the picture takes us to the Protestant village of the last century. It is characterized by the friendly atmosphere of the locals. They are located away from civilization for a reason, believing that megacities conceal lust and debauchery. The borders of the village are indicated by burning torches. Residents believe in the existence of mythical creatures with whom a non-aggression pact has long been signed. When one of the townspeople needed to go through the forest for medicine, he breaks the rules of the community, which leads to dire consequences ...
Best rewards
The Oscar 2005 ceremony did not pass by the film Mysterious Forest. And although he did not receive the statuette, recognition was due to critics' estimates and impressive box office receipts that exceeded the budget four times. In addition to the interesting plot and realistic reproduction of the atmosphere of the village way, an impressive cast was noted. Bryce Dallas Howard, for whom âForest ...â turned out to be the first successful debut, might not have played a major role, since it was originally planned to give it to Kirsten Dunst. For the film, Bryce received a nomination for the MTV Award.
In general, it is logical to say that this film was a powerful start in Howard's career. The very next year, she replaced Nicole Kidman in Manderley, and then appeared in The Girl from the Water. Gwen Stacy in the third âSpider-Manâ and Kate Connor in the next part of âThe Terminatorâ remained noticeable. The actress was especially popular for her role in the âvampireâ saga âTwilightâ. In 2011, Bryce starred in the drama Servant.
Today, Howard is a promising young actress. Among her latest works is fantasy âJurassic Worldâ. Bryce is married to handsome partner Seth Gable.
âMysterious Forestâ: supporting actors
Bryce Dallas performed a key female character. In many ways, her blind Ivy Elizabeth Walker, who also challenged creatures from the forest, is not in vain spelled out as such. Indeed, as viewers will later note, it is blindness that allows you to keep the main secret of the village.
What other characters are involved in the picture? The image of the ambitious and courageous Lucius, who leaves the borders of Covington, was written specifically for the Puerto Rican Joaquin Phoenix. Thanks to him, Lucius turned out to be charismatic. The role of the moron Noah Percy, perhaps the most mysterious character, was intended for Ashton Kutcher, but he was replaced by Adrien Brody. Hollywood veteran Sigourney Weaver was invited to a minor but vibrant role.
We scare better than horror movies
What could be said about the movie âMysterious Forestâ that appeared at the box office? The reviews of the first spectators who watched were inclined to believe that this was a truly awesome picture. But not in the usual sense of horror films. By and large, mythical monster creatures do not cause fear, because they are not shown openly. A big surprise will be the final denouement, revealing the whole truth about the village, and giving rise to a lot of questions. The author-director probably bet on such a âpleasant aftertasteâ.
Heaven on earth
The artificially created world is the main message of the film âMysterious Forestâ. The reviews of those who saw the picture unanimously highlight the attempts of local residents to isolate themselves from the cruelty of the surrounding reality. It seems that the idea is not new, but its originality is fully disclosed in the picture.
Covington reflects the amazing atmosphere of mysticism and isolation. There is a feeling that you are transported to this place. At the same time, burning torches placed along the line of the forest and watchmen watching at the posts give rise to a sense of security. In a word, as a spectator, you get on a par with the locals.
Mystical thicket of events and an unexpected ending
Attract and not let go - these are the goals set by the âMysterious Forestâ. The audienceâs reviews are inclined to believe that this high-quality movie carries not only an atmosphere of mystery, but also philosophical implications. They are not difficult to see at all, especially since each frame is shot âtolerablyâ. The picture, catchy from the first frames, keeps in suspense until the final episode. And after - surprise and wild delight that does not fit into the head. It turns out that under the veil of mystery there were incredibly simple things (including some characters), veiled so much that even once when viewing there was a feeling of deception, a dirty trick, hypocrisy. The picture turns everything upside down. If you want to keep this feeling until the final scene, refrain from annotations and synopsis, and immediately start viewing.
Fullness of emotions
What else attracted the audience to the âMysterious Forestâ? Reviews of the film once again note the amazing trait of "cling", which, unfortunately, is not characteristic of all films. The director correctly distributed where the plot flows evenly, and where the viewer should be scared. Echoing Sigourney Weaver from the nightmare scenario, this fear is genuinely disgusting, which true connoisseurs of creepy thrillers have not experienced. At the same time, M. Night Shyamalan relishes them portionwise and with extreme caution, as if afraid to harm his viewer.
Utopia of modern society
Is it worth agreeing with the opinion that the socio-philosophical aspects underlie the Mysterious Forest tape? Reviews of the film are proof of this. The mystical genre acts as the outer shell, under which lies a deeper message. In this vein, it should be noted that the picture should have chosen the right name. It should be called âVillageâ (in the original - âVillageâ), and nothing else! After all, she, and not the forest, is the object of author's research.
What is the main idea? In a small corner of society, on a small plot of land, people live with their foundations and concepts. At the same time, their idyll, periodically violated by terrible screams from the thicket, is built on ordinary human fear. âForest ...â is in many ways utopian. But even with this understanding, none of the elders who have been creating their own world for so long want to change anything. Preserving values ââis perhaps what to learn from the film.