“Weekend camping trips just never seem to go well…do they?”

A group of friends decide to get away for the weekend and go camping deep within the woods, but unbeknownst to them their care free time is about to take a turn for the worst!  Sound familiar?  Well, this is the usual setup for the slasher flicks that all horror fans have come to love over the years.  It’s been done countless times, and is usually hit or miss.  In 2015, a Canadian Indie film named Dark Forest emerged to prove that this popular horror genre will never die!  Written and directed by Roger Boyer in his first full length feature film, he shows that if done right, a slasher film can be simple but effective.

THE PLOT

The film primarily follows four friends as they prepare for a weekend camping trip.  The group is led by Michelle (Veronica Ternopolski) and includes her spunky sister Francine (Jalin Desloges), Jolene (Weronika Sokalska) who is excited to document the experience, and finally their troubled friend Emily (Laurel McArthur).  Emily’s “trouble” lies in her mentally and emotionally abusive boyfriend Peter (Dennis Scullard).

When Michelle comes to Emily’s home to pick her up, she is met with disturbing resistance by Peter leading to a brief confrontation.  After Michelle leaves, Emily ponders a tough choice while Peter sleeps…should she remain his “slave” or break free and join her friends?  She chooses the latter, and this proves to be a HUGE mistake.

As the girls begin their weekend fun, back at home a dangerous transformation is starting to take place, and Peter is letting his disturbing anger take over until he eventually snaps.  He decides to find the girls and end their good time with a blind rage that can’t be controlled!

SHOULD YOU SEE IT?

I, like most horror fans, have always been a fan of slasher flicks.  For the most part they can be a bit cheesy, with weak acting and occasional sub-par special effects. However one thing remains the same…they are supposed to be campy fun!  This film is exactly that, a bloody good time!  I believe director Roger Boyer achieved exactly what he set out to do.  He uses the right ingredients necessary to deliver a slasher flick anyone can enjoy.  It’s simple, effective, and has sprinkles of humor that don’t detract from the story.  It has a bit of violence towards women that some may find tough to watch, but given the plot, it works very well. I would say the standout performance comes from Dennis Scullard. His portrayal of a jealous controlling psychotic boyfriend is VERY convincing.

Overall I’d say I enjoyed this Indie film.  It’s exactly what one would expect from this type of flick.  Just keep in mind that if you’re planning a camping trip anytime soon, be sure that no one in the group has a psycho for a partner or this trip could be your last!