825 Forest Road

Alright, let's just be real-825 Forest Road sucks. It's one of those movies where halfway through, you're checking how much time's left and hoping everyone just dies already so it can end. The setup isn't terrible-creepy house, weird vibes-but it feels like it was written by AI that got bored halfway through.

Doing this story in chapters was a huge misstep, ESPECIALLY from different angles of the same events. They should have done it from the POV of the vlogger and just run with found footage/view from the audience.

As a massive Hell House LLC fan... I was let down. Obviously it doesn't have to try and be Hell House, but it can at least be well made and scenes that are truly scary...

825 Forest Road could have been a great horror movie with a few more script re-writes. There are a handful of great scares, and interesting relationships between the three main characters. You can expect that the creators of Hell House made the most out of the mannequin in this film. Unfortunately, the script also suffers from some significant flaws. For instance, there are only about four characters in the story who actually matter. Many of the side characters could have easily been written out of the story. The Gardening Club, realtor, and the opening scene characters didn't serve a relevant purpose. There are also often times when the writing makes basic story elements confusing. As an example, It took me awhile to realize that Ashley and Isabel were different characters. Finally and most importantly, the ending leaves a lot to be desired. Despite these flaws, I would recommend watching 825 Forest Road. Just don't expect the next Shining, or even the next Insidious.

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.

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'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.