825 Forest Road (Movie Review)

Moviegoers have relished the idea of haunted houses for decades. Over the years, countless films about haunted houses, such as 1959’s House on Haunted Hill, 1963’s The Haunting, and 1979’s The Amityville Horror, have made their mark on the genre. However, what if there was a story about a haunted town—or rather, a town entirely of haunted people…

Changing things up, Hell House LLC Franchise Creator Stephen Cognetti explores this idea in the new film 825 Forest Road, which premieres  April 4, 2025, through Shudder. After a tragic accident takes their mother away, Chuck Wilson (Joe Falcone) hopes to start a new life in Ashland Falls with his wife Maria (Hell House LLC III: Lake of Fire 2019, An Extraordinary Affair 2022) and his little sister Isabelle (Kathryn Miller: Out of My League 2019, Lockbox 2020). Still, he soon discovers the town has a dark secret or, rather, a dark history.

As mentioned, Stephen Cognetti is notably known for the Hell House LLC films labeled as Found Footage Horror. While each of them, between 2015’s Hell House LLC and 2023’s Hell House LLC Origins: The Carmichael Manor, gained a lot of notoriety over the years, 825 Forest Road is Congetti’s first feature outside of the franchise.

Diving in deep, in the beginning, you get a small taste of what is to come. You have Ashley (Madeleine Garcia: Lost Kiddy Found 2020, Brave the Dark 2023), a student, describing to her friend on a Face chat that the town borders mysteriously shrunk, and it all goes back to the grid lines when suddenly there is a knock at the door. When her friend reminds her that her parents are not there, Ashley becomes extremely frightened and soon comes face to face with a woman who should be dead.

Ashley’s character does wonders for the film, but unfortunately, many of those in 825 Forest Road seem to have issues relating throughout. Characters are most potent when their stories can keep the audience intrigued. With that in mind, the main cast of 825 Forest Road are all decent actors/actresses… but something seems to be missing.

For example, as Chuck, Joe Falcone seems to show minimal reaction and emotion towards his wife Maria…they barely even touch each other in the film. This is while Elizabeth Vermilyea plays a great, high-energy wife with emotional scenes, but the only link that is truly established is her character’s relationship with her YouTube channel. Meanwhile, Kathryn Miller’s Isabelle is most connected with her brother Chuck and her newfound friend Luke (played by Podcaster Darin F. Earl II). 

Overall, 825 Forest Road moves incredibly fast. Things begin happening as soon as the family arrives, and the townspeople become friends fast with Chuck and Isabelle. In a sense, it feels a bit too rushed. What about the story of Helen? And her daughter? Could that not have been extended a bit? What about Ashley? What happened to her? The audience gets a short glimpse of her in the library when she warns Chuck not to go looking for 825 Forest Road.

The most interesting concept within 825 Forest Road is that the whole town seems to know about Helen, the woman who haunts it. They also all know that the town’s maps have been sealed. Everyone seems to be looking for this road, but those who seem to get close to finding it end up dead.

In the end, minus the pace and character disconnect, 825 Forest Road’s story is good, the jump scares are on point, and the ending is a shock. That is why Cryptic Rock is 4 out of 5 stars.

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