Into the Forest (2016)

It's a very good film, but it's not really a thriller or post apocalypse, unless going without TV & internet is your idea of that. Set slightly in the future the whole electrical supply system fails, was probably AI Smart without people who could fix or switch it. The real story is about the sisters, their love and bond.I'm a man and could understand that was what it wanted to portray. Those who hate it seem to be usual survivalists freaks, you need more guns and ammo. Read a couple of those, one said " you can't read how to survive from books ", on the contrary you can, what berries, fruits and roots are edible or not. Another said " didn't understand why they killed that animal ", it was read out to the audience and sister. A certain vitamin deficiency is due to lack of meat and dairy products, they'd been living on rice, beans and berries. If you want Mad Max adventure look elsewhere, you'll hate it. If you want a story of two sisters, very well portrayed, facing hardship and surviving together, it's well worth watching.

I've seen my fair share of dumb apocalypse scenario films, ranging from the far-fetched to the completely implausible, but 'Into the Forest' takes the biscuit. This film is just ludicrous, dreadfully written and featuring characters without a brain cell between them. Anybody with an ounce of common sense would never do what the characters in this film do to survive, in fact they would often do the complete opposite.Why would anybody choose to sleep outside in the rain and freezing cold when they could just sleep inside? Why would anybody in their situation burn their only shelter, and their own home to the ground, and then live inside a tree? And why would anybody desperate to survive waste their valuable time and energy doing bizarre and pointless exercise routines? 'Into the Forest' is one of the dumbest survival films I've ever seen.

While the premise has been done it still seemed like an interesting watch. However, it takes such a "realistic" view of what would happen in this post-apocalyptic scenario that it teeters very heavily on the side of boredom. So much more could have happened and been covered but instead they spent long periods of time showing people staring off in the distance just dealing with their situation/feelings. Simply think about what it would be like and that's what you saw. Boring and plain.

I have applied the spoiler warning to be fair, but I haven't revealed anything that isn't in the parental warnings.There is a lot of darkness and sorrow in this film. To quote Ava: "It just feels like these black waves. And I (sob} swim up to the surface and I think (sob) I'll be OK. I can fight this (sob) and then another black wave comes and I'm just drowning again." There is a rape in this movie and the woman's face is shown through what seems like a long sequence. I am against actually showing rape in movies. In a similar way, I am also against showing explicit torture of anyone. I believe that both of these are too easily exploited.I question the choice to show a topless woman, who only seconds ago could barely move because she wrenched her back, suddenly rise up in bed and nimbly turn so viewers can see her naked breast while she tries to comfort her distraught sister. Taken together, is this art, or exploitation? Since the nudity is not necessary to advance the story, I lean toward exploitation.Beyond these complaints, there are many stupid things in this movie beginning with the blackout that mysteriously lasts forever. But I also refer to stupid choices. For instance, in the sequence leading to the wrenched back, why did this small girl try to lift a rock that a man twice her size could probably not move. There are many more. They are just absurd.I'm sure we all appreciate graphically showing the pig gutting.I did appreciate Ava's desire to respect the baby's rights.