The line between truth and fiction is often blurred, and the reason is simple enough. As writers, we look for ideas and inspiration in what we see around us. Of course the most timeless stories draw on the imagination, but even then, there's usually a grain of truth buried somewhere in the story. But Hollywood sometimes plays up the connection between reality and fiction to boost interest in a film, and not always without controversy. The new movie The Forest is the latest example of a horror film that employs this technique, which has attracted contention.
But before we get to The Forest, let’s illustrate with a slightly older example that also belongs within the horror genre. In quite a few trailers for horror films, one of the title slides at the very beginning reads along the lines of “based on a true story.” This is simply a ploy to get audiences interested in the film and, despite its scary connotation, it actually does work in getting seats filled in movie theaters. For example, in the 1974 film, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, this decade old ploy worked on viewers. Unfortunately, in some cases, audiences may get a bit of a shock at stories of the horror or thriller variety that really have been inspired by true-life horror stories. For instance, the foreboding chainsaw wielding Leatherface, is based loosely on a serial murderer, Ed Gein. But of course, the antagonist of this horror franchise was exaggerated in order to draw in crowds and to make the story fit the genre.
Let's now return to my original, more modern example. The Forest, starring Natalie Dormer, is set in the Aokigahara forest, a lush, beautiful environment located in Japan, which has been referred to as the “suicide forest” for the number of people who have chosen it as their final resting place. Japanese people find solace in this place where they kill themselves by hanging, overdosing on medication, or succumbing to starvation, as they see it as a way to escape. Many people find this spot sacred and deem it a place not to be disturbed, given how many people have taken their lives in the forest, in order to respect the dead and their families. But it is the setting of a new horror film that will be released this coming January.
Some people have taken offense to the film, as it depicts those who took their lives in a negative light and because it features a white-skinned actress in the leading role. A writer on a blog titled the “Love Life of An Asian Guy” wrote in a post “...The Forest,’" a HORROR movie which stars a BLONDE WHITE GIRL, takes place in Aokigahara. So not only did they whitewash a movie and sidestep the opportunity to cast an Asian actress, they COMPLETELY DISRESPECTED the fact that Suicide Forest IS A REAL ****ING PLACE where the Japanese go to end their life. And it's not like these suicides happened 400 years ago. This is happening RIGHT. NOW. Over one hundred bodies are found in Aokigahara every single year.”
While this is part of a larger post, this section largely frames the argument of his article. In summary, the author feels that given that the movie features a caucasian women and takes place in the Aokigahara forest, and given the history, it seems like those behind the production of the project didn’t consider how sacred the spot is to natives of the country or the surrounding area.
Many others have come forward to join the conversation recently, including the blogger who wrote this article. Without scrutinizing the details and just looking on the surface, the idea for the film may seem insensitive and doesn’t take into account those who made the conscious decision to take their lives.
