I might be sticking my neck out and going against the stream; but this grabbed me, held me, and passed before I was ready. I'd checked out the IMDB reviews before watching this on BBC iPlayer, and almost didn't watch. I'm glad I took the gamble, this was and IS a fantastic story on so many levels. I'm watching it again as soon as I've written this.The performances are true, I totally sympathised with the characters. There's an easy, laconic unraveling of the story. We're definitely made to think. A lot of the clues about the disintegration of society are subtle, every day events. I found it rather pleasing that the Writers/Director (Jean Hegland, Patricia Rozema) give us the credit of being able to think for ourselves without making things too obvious. The house itself becomes a metaphor for society, so we can track it's metamorphosis, degradation and death knowing this is happening to everyone, everywhere.TRYING TO GIVE A BROAD PICTURE WITHOUT SPOILERS (cover your eyes);Nell (Ellen Page) is little sister, cosseted and nurtured by Dad (Kallum Keith Rennie) and much bigger sister Eva (Evan Rachel Wood). She is destined to live a comfortable life, apart from the gap year travelling the world or in The Peace Corp (I made that last bit up, she doesn't, but you get the picture). They live in a gorgeous, all mod cons and tech house in the forest three days walk from town. Not a problem with a 4x4 and plenty of petrol, a big deal without them. A minor setback becomes an all encompassing disaster; a small power cut drags out becoming a national (and possibly global) emergency, slowly eroding a rural society and its access to all of the modern comforts that were taken for granted like full petrol pumps, the internet and bulging supermarket shelves. There's an unfortunate accident that leaves both sisters in limbo not really knowing what to do or how to get by. Starvation is a real threat, the girls are totally isolated and just floundering. However Nell starts to rise to the challenge forced by hunger to dig deep and tap into that survival instinct. The one inherited from our ancestors; thousands of generations of hunter gatherer survivors. Slowly the girls learn how to use the forest and realise they're surrounded by an abundance of food and everything they could need, Starvation needn't be an option anymore. The self sufficiency continues, the girls actually start to thrive, although totally isolated, they are almost content. But, as always, it's not to last, dastardly 'modern man' almost destroys the idyll. Although his interference is brief he inadvertently begins the new chapter for humanity, setting in motion events that allow the girls to cut their ties with the past and all of its modern ills, and embrace the new world with a sense of purpose...This is a film for thinkers, not a jack hammering compilation of steam punk violence or fake morality where 'the good guys' always win and the bad guys always die in regret. If you need to be told what to think and want instant gratification, then you might not enjoy Into The Forrest at all. If you have an inquiring mind and like independent non Hollywood style films, then I think you'll like this, a lot. I can't be that wrong, can I?

An apocalyptic movie about a family in the forest. I know a couple of friends who completely hated this movie. And there is one scene that is really despicable. When you see it, you'll understand. Some may even say it is completely unnecessary. It is depressing and I guess it was supposed to even further challenge the viewer.Whatever the case, the movie itself is pretty slow and some also might say boring. It is a slow burner, so there is that for starters. And there is really not that much going on. It does have some merits, especially in the family dynamic, but overall there is something missing. The actors do try their best, but it just isn't enough to put this in a really good place.

I would just like to know what they were doing with several giant sacks of salt, but didn't have propane, emergency fuel, and even quickly ran out of soap! They're starving to the point of reading books to continue their vegetarian diets of berries while there's wild boar roaming around?! They don't shoot one until big sis is vitamin deprived wasting away?They smile when they burn the whole house down with all their life's mementoes (including all those precious books that apparently allowed them to survive so long) because a part of the roof caved in and big sis diagnosed and overreacted to suspected black mold by a little sniff in the stormy air?! Why didn't they just live in the *huge* dance studio? Among a list of other silly things they did/didn't do, in real life they wouldn't have lasted that long, even with naiive dad around.

While the title and synopsis suggest a survival drama, this movie in fact gives you very little detail on the actual measures taken to 'survive' in a situation of prolonged power outage. Two sisters, Nell and Eva, are left orphaned after their dad succumbs to the injuries he received from a chainsaw accident, leaving them helpless at their house with no electricity.This is a story that tries to highlight the bond between the two sisters played by Ellen Page and Evan Rachel Wood who deliver terrific and above-average performances respectively. As such, the film packs an emotional punch but fails terribly as a survival thriller. For instance, one wonders how they look as gleeful and healthy as they are, even after a year of no-power (the reason for which isn't explained clearly either). How were they able to procure clean water? Surely, they must have decided on some constraints in the quantity of food they eat. But this doesn't seem to take any toll on their bodies (not even a minor blemish); Page's cheeks look round and rosy as ever. They must have had to hunt for food on more instances than what's shown in the film. They should have had to fend off more intruders than just the one guy who ends up raping the (supposedly) older sister. There are a plethora of possibilities that could have taken place in the lives of the two sisters. But alas, the director doesn't seem interested in expounding any of it.Logical reasoning does take a backseat too often, in between the highly emotional moments. Like Eva almost springing into a comfortable upright position just after she has gone through a painful delivery. Like Eva deciding to go ahead with childbearing after being raped. Like the posh house that starts falling apart in like a year and half of not-so- great maintenance (so much for modern architecture!). Like using their last available bit of fuel to burn their house down during heavy downpour and deciding to take shelter in a tree stump instead (with an infant, mind you!) while they could have at least used the gasoline to warm themselves later on.Nevertheless, the movie does score high on performances and this is probably why one wouldn't want to write off the film altogether. I just wish the movie probed more into the actualities of survival than staging emotional scenes.Verdict: Writing department needed to do a lot better!