Into the Forest (2015)

Drama, Thriller, Sci-Fi

Director: Patricia Rozema
Writers: Patricia Rozema, Jean Hegland
Starring: Ellen Page, Evan Rachel Wood, Max Minghella, Callum Keith Rennie

"Hope is power."

Two sisters try to stay alive after a mysterious power outage leaves them isolated, in a minimalist dystopian drama set in the not-so-distant future.

Nell (Ellen Page) and Eva (Evan Rachel Wood) are two teenage sisters living with their recently-widowed dad, in an remote house in the forests of Northern California. Nell is constantly online studying for exams while Eva rehearses diligently for an upcoming dance recital. When their electricity suddenly goes out, things change abruptly, as the outage stretches for days and there's talk that the whole country and maybe the entire world might be in the dark. The two young girls are thrust into survival mode when it becomes uncertain what the future will hold.

Based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Jean Hegland, Into the Forest is unlike most post-apocalyptic movies you are used to. Set almost in entirety in an near the two sisters' house, it doesn't feature zombies, aliens, chases, or people randomly killing each other, focusing on the beauties of the outdoors, of living organically off the land, and on the strong relationship between the two sisters, that, courtesy of the performances of the protagonists, feels really genuine.

Plot summary from IMDb: In a world that is increasingly dependent on electricity, a power outage seems like an awful predicament. Mankind is using electricity for the past 140 years, but still, we can't imagine ourselves living in a world deprived of electricity. In such a difficult and dreary situation found themselves a father and his two daughters, after a seemingly normal power outage lingered on, changing the lives of everyone in the region. What was the reason for this outage? Is it regional, or does it affect the whole country? No one really knows and as time passes, the family will have to put to the test its survival skills, adaptability and endurance, but most of all, the integrity of the familial bonds.

Awards: 1 win & 3 nominations.
Runtime: 101 min
R