Director: Steven R Monroe
Writer: Ryan W Smith, Sheldon Wilson (Screenplay)
Starring: Kaitlyn Leeb, Cassi Thomson, Graham Wardle, Dejan Loyola, Jeffrey Ballard, Hiro Kanagawa, Jesse Wheeler, Tom Stevens, Kevan Ohtsji
Plot: Suicide forest is just a name – isn’t it? Miko intends to find out, even if it means uncovering the sad truth about her mothers suicide.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: If you go down to the woods today you will die
Story: Grave Halloween starts with Maiko (Leeb) dreaming as she searches a forest looking for her mother who has mysteriously died in the forest. Maiko is at university and about to head of to film a documentary with Amber (Thomson), Kyle (Wardle) and Terry (Loyola) as they go in search of Maiko’s mother. The buddying young film crew are heading into suicide forest and world famous forest for the unusually high amounts of suicide taking place there.
Our group of friends arrive at the forest first seeing an abandoned car, followed by a body being carried out before getting shown the way by mysterious stranger Jin (Kanagawa). The deeper the friends get into the forest the increased number of strange events start happening as they find out they might not be alone in the forest and the suicides might have more to them.
Grave Halloween uses a concept that does actual interest me because I have heard about this forest before but this film almost exploits the idea. This also could have been an awful found footage luckily we are saved from that horror because the build up. Saying all this I did find it slightly disrespectful towards the victims of the real forest and also found it confusing how we only has American characters in Japan apart from the authorities. I feel this film really struggles to get started and flows at a very slow pace throughout. It does hold out on the kills for a long time but never really hints at what will happen which I guess would be a good thing but in the end it feels very forced and boring. (3/10)
Actor Review
Kaitlyn Leeb: Maiko has agreed to do a documentary about the search for the location where her mother committed suicide months before, she guides the team into the forest known for its high suicide rate. Kaitlyn does a ok job in the role but is never believable as a leading lady. (4/10)
Cassi Thomson: Amber is the ambitious producer using this film as her work at university. She has a team she trusts and even after ending up with a back up member she tries to make the best she can. Cassi does seem to have to do the extra amount of screaming in the film but that seems like her main point in the film. (3/10)
Graham Wardle: Kyle is the last minute replacement camera man who is much more experienced to there original member. Graham fills the reluctant hero role well but never does anything special. (4/10)
Dejan Loyola: Terry is the sound guy working in the crew that has to explain why the previous cameraman left the project. Terry gets trapped in the forest with Amber but let’s face it he is the supporting disposable character. Dejan makes for solid enough supporting disposable character but nothing too important. (4/10)
Support Cast: Grave Halloween has a supporting cast that includes the rest of the victims as well as the ghostly spirits.
Director Review: Steven R Monroe – Steven doesn’t do the best job directing because he never makes you too interested in the characters r what is going on. (3/10)
Horror: Grave Halloween has very basic jump scares with a couple of good gore moments. (6/10)
Settings: Grave Halloween does put us in a good isolated location which does help increase the horror ideas. (8/10)
Special Effects: Grave Halloween uses good effects with the kills and gore filled moments. (7/10)
Suggestion: Grave Halloween is one to maybe try on a late night television but in the end it is easy enough to avoid. (Late Night TV)
Best Part: Amber’s leg scene.
Worst Part: Very slow.
Believability: No (0/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Runtime: 1 Hour 29 Minutes
Tagline: No one survives in the suicide forest
Overall: Slow, scare-less horror film that never really gets interested.
Rating 
