The Forest (2016) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
Set in the Aokigahara Forest, a real-life place in Japan where people go to end their lives. Against this backdrop, a young American woman comes in search of her twin sister, who has mysteriously disappeared.
Rated R • 2016 • 1h 33m
In The Forest, Sara travels to Japan's infamous Aokigahara forest to find her missing twin sister, Jess. The film relies heavily on psychological horror, featuring disturbing imagery of suicide, graphic hallucinations, and jump scares. Parents should be aware of themes involving traumatic childhood loss and self-harm, which are central to the plot. Because of the intense supernatural dread and scenes of self-inflicted violence, the… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is The Forest appropriate for kids?
In The Forest, Sara travels to Japan's infamous Aokigahara forest to find her missing twin sister, Jess. The film relies heavily on psychological horror, featuring disturbing imagery of suicide, graphic hallucinations, and jump scares. Parents should be aware of themes involving… Read more — free account
Content severity in The Forest
What happens in The Forest, moment by moment
- 0:15 🍷 Substances 2/10
- 0:20 ♥ Sex & Nudity 2/10
- 0:35 ⚔ Violence & Gore 4/10
Sex and nudity in The Forest
The sexual content is minimal, consisting of one fleeting moment of romantic affection.
Violence and gore in The Forest
The film contains moderate to strong horror violence, including self-mutilation, stabbing, and gruesome depictions of death. Characters are frequently shown suffering from bloody injuries, and the climax features a violent confrontation involving a knife.
Language in The Forest
Profanity is mild throughout, consisting of infrequent use of common expletives.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The Forest
There is light depictions of alcohol use in social settings.
Mature themes in The Forest
The film deals heavily with dark themes, including suicide, unresolved grief, childhood trauma, and the psychological weight of witnessing a parent's death.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Forest appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests The Forest is best for ages 15+. It's rated R. In The Forest, Sara travels to Japan's infamous Aokigahara forest to find her missing twin sister, Jess. The film relies heavily on psychological horror, featuring disturbing imagery of suicide, graphic hallucinations…
What age rating does The Forest have?
The Forest is officially rated R. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 15+.
What is The Forest about?
In The Forest, Sara travels to Japan's infamous Aokigahara forest to find her missing twin sister, Jess. The film relies heavily on psychological horror, featuring disturbing imagery of suicide, graphic hallucinations, and jump scares. Parents should be aware of themes involving traumatic childhood loss and self-harm…
Is there sex or nudity in The Forest?
The sexual content is minimal, consisting of one fleeting moment of romantic affection.
How violent is The Forest?
The film contains moderate to strong horror violence, including self-mutilation, stabbing, and gruesome depictions of death. Characters are frequently shown suffering from bloody injuries, and the climax features a violent confrontation involving a knife.
Is the language in The Forest appropriate for kids?
Profanity is mild throughout, consisting of infrequent use of common expletives.
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in The Forest?
There is light depictions of alcohol use in social settings.
What mature themes appear in The Forest?
The film deals heavily with dark themes, including suicide, unresolved grief, childhood trauma, and the psychological weight of witnessing a parent's death.
How long is The Forest?
The Forest runs 93 minutes, directed by Jason Zada, released in 2016.
Where can I read the full The Forest parent guide?
Create a free Bontent account to unlock the full scene-by-scene notes, filter by your kids' ages, and save titles to your personal watchlist.
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