The Forest

If you want a crime drama that treats its mystery as more than a puzzle, The Forest is available in Australia on Netflix, and in the UK on MGM Plus Amazon Channel right now. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. With 1,872 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Natalie Dormer's performance alone is worth the time investment. Put it on tonight on Netflix and see for yourself.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, The Forest earns its spot. At its heart, The Forest understands what makes crime drama work — character first, plot second. Set in the Aokigahara Forest, a real-life place in Japan where people go to end their lives. Against this backdrop, a young American woman comes in search of her twin sister, who has mysteriously disappeared. Natalie Dormer and Eoin Macken lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2016. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry scenes where the mystery takes a breath — The Forest passes that test consistently. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Viewers who think they have seen every crime drama tend to find The Forest proves them wrong. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Natalie Dormer carries scenes that would sink a lesser production. The resolution feels inevitable rather than arbitrary, which is rarer than it sounds.