825 Forest Road

I love the composition of the movie into chapters. It keeps it interesting and let's you interact with each character. Some of the actors are definitely better than others, but I wouldn't call any horrible. It's a pretty solid story line that I haven't really seen before, although there is a tiny Silent Hill vibe -and I've seen a LOT of horror films. It's a bit more psychological than straight up horror, but it has it's moments. All in all, it's a somewhat slower pace, really setting the story and the atmosphere. There are some scenes that seem out of place and kind of random, that are a bit of a distraction.

Honestly, this would get a MUCH higher rating if it weren't for the end though. As is with so many lower-budget horror movies, the end very much seems like they ran out of time/money/ideas and just decided to abruptly cut off the end with very little thought. It *tried* to tie things up, but really just left me with more questions and showed opportunities that they missed exploring or explaining. Even with the same cast and acting, a more complete story and a different ending would have garnered this an 8 or 9, easily.

As it is, it's a decent way to spend a rainy day, but definitely isn't what I would look to for a movie night. True lower budget horror fans might appreciate or enjoy it, but my husband -who just tolerates my horror addiction- would probably not be too happy, especially since he strongly dislikes movies with abrupt endings.

*Personal pet-peeve - why would anyone name a main character Chuck?! I cringed every time they said his name, it just didn't fit the time period, atmosphere, or the character himself. Totally random and mind boggling to me!

I'm not sure why folks are giving it bad reviews. It wasn't as bad as folks are saying it was.

Could the ending have been better ? Yes.

Could we have done without the few barely mentioned characters? Sure.

Could there have been more insight to the supporting roles? Definitely.

But the scares still scared.

I like to think that jump scares still have their place in the horror genre.

Personally if a movie doesn't make me jump or cower even a little or even go as far as making me talk to the screen like they can hear me.. then it's not scary enough for me.

All and all.... There are better scary movies out there but this one was not among the worst.

I recently watched 825 Forest Road (2025) on Shudder. The story follows a family searching for a fresh start who move into a new house in a small town. Unfortunately, the town-and the house-have a dark history that threatens to make their new beginning anything but refreshing.

The film is written and directed by Stephen Cognetti (Hell House LLC) and stars Elizabeth Vermilyea (Hell House LLC: Lineage), Kathryn Miller (Nefarious), Joe Bandelli (Hell House LLC), and Brian Anthony Wilson (Law Abiding Citizen).

This is one of those horror films that focuses more on building a backstory and explaining why things are happening rather than showing them unfold on screen. I found myself wanting more horror scenes-it felt slow at times and bordered on boring. That said, when the horror finally kicks in, the effects are well done. There are solid practical effects, effective makeup to enhance the haunted visuals, and a couple of decent jump scares.

Still, it's the kind of film where you might find yourself checking your phone regularly, waiting for something to happen.

In conclusion, 825 Forest Road has a few redeeming elements, but ultimately it doesn't do enough to stand out in the haunted house subgenre. I'd give it a 5/10.

I can see why this movie is somewhat divisive. There ARE indeed some good elements in it like one reviewer stated in his/her title.

I would say what really props up this movie at all is the tense atmosphere. The acting overall is decent, not as cringeworthy as many of these modern day Horror films.

I personally like the approach when you have this small, rural town where everyone knows something is not right. That aspect I thought was done very well.

I just don't feel that there was quite enough substance and weight truly to carry the story as well as it should have been. There were definitely instances of genuine creepiness, but perhaps if the writing/plot could have been thought out a bit more thoroughly, I think it really could have been a lot better.

Yes, many good elements are there, but I think maybe a bit more skill was needed to bring it together and really make it much more strongly effective and powerful to the audience.

I was torn between giving it a '5' or a '6', but in considering the sum of everything, I ended up with a '5' So, there is some entertainment value here, but ultimately I honestly feel it is a bit too flawed to be called really good.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MY PARTICULAR WAY OF RATING:

5 - Flawed, but with some entertainment value.

6. A decently passable story maybe worth a watch.

7. A solid film, well made, effective, and entertaining.

And, obviously, you can probably figure out what above and below these would mean... : )

This one won't be for everyone. It's a quiet, deliberately paced supernatural thriller that focuses more on mood and mystery than scares. But if you're into slow-burn horror, it absolutely delivers on atmosphere.

There's a found footage feel to parts of it, and the way the story unfolds-through interviews, old recordings, and subtle clues-makes it feel more like a haunted documentary than a traditional narrative. It gets under your skin gradually.

The last act really pays off, and while I wouldn't call it terrifying, it leaves a chill that lingers. Think Lake Mungo meets Hell House LLC, but more subdued. Worth checking out if you like your horror low-key and creepy.