A washed up horror film director named Kôji Kuroishi (played by Kôji Shiraishi) and his assistant director named Miho Ichikawa visit a house deep in wooded mountains to film a movie. Once arrived, they meet a mentally deranged woman named Maria Miyoshi who proclaims she's a fan of Kuroishi's works. The woman pleads that she's experienced the same things as documented in Kuroishi's works. Unexplainable phenomena quickly begin to happen, so Kuroishi sets out to document these experiences and turn them into a film, together with the help of a 'super volunteer' named Shôhei Uno and a handsome psychic medium named Nanashi.
A group of estranged friends reunites for a camping trip in a remote forest, unaware of its dark and mystical reputation. As they delve deeper into the woods, they begin to experience unsettling phenomena and discover ancient rituals. Tensions rise among the friends as they are forced to confront their pasts and a malevolent presence that feeds on their fears.
Welcome to the Occult Forest received a mixed to positive reception, with critics praising its atmospheric tension and visual style, while some found the plot predictable. Audiences generally enjoyed the suspenseful build-up and the thematic exploration of guilt and redemption.
Google audience: Google users generally appreciated the film's suspenseful nature and the strong performances from the main cast. Many enjoyed the film's mysterious elements and its effective use of jump scares, though a portion of viewers found the ending to be somewhat anticlimactic.
Nominated for Best Cinematography at the Russian Guild of Cinematographers Awards.
The distinctive, gnarled trees used in the 'Occult Forest' scenes were actually created using a combination of practical effects and CGI, with some real ancient trees augmented to look more menacing.
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