Brightwood

When a group of friends ventures into the remote and supposedly haunted Brightwood forest for a weekend camping trip, they quickly discover the local legends are terrifyingly real. As they get lost deeper within the woods, strange occurrences and unexplained disappearances begin to plague the group. They must confront an ancient evil lurking in the trees or become its next victims.

Brightwood received a mixed to negative reception from critics, with some praising its atmospheric tension and initial scares, while others criticized its derivative plot and predictable jump scares. Audience scores were similarly divided, with some finding it a serviceable low-budget horror flick, and others deeming it forgettable.

• Praised for its creepy atmosphere and suspenseful build-up in the first act.

• Criticized for relying too heavily on common horror tropes and a weak narrative resolution.

• Some found the practical effects effective, while others felt they looked cheap.

Google audience: Google users were split on Brightwood, with many appreciating the attempt at a classic slasher-in-the-woods vibe and the effective scares. However, a significant portion of reviewers felt the film lacked originality, suffered from pacing issues in its second half, and featured underdeveloped characters.

The filmmakers utilized a local abandoned property with a reputation for being haunted as one of the primary filming locations to enhance the film's eerie atmosphere.