The Haunted Forest (2026) is now streaming free with ads on Plex. The drama/horror/mystery film had its world premiere on August 23, 2025, at FightFest in London and was officially released on February 13, 2026, in limited theaters and across digital VOD platforms.
SYNOPSIS: "Zach, a high school senior, lands his first job as a scare actor at Markoff’s Haunted Forest, where he befriends a band of misfits who operate the Halloween attraction. But after one of them dies tragically on the grounds, he begins to question his fascination with death and the macabre."
Written and directed by The Winter House filmmaker Keith Boynton, the film stars Grayson Gwaze, Cedric Gegel, Kaitlyn Lunardi, Meghan Reed, Keith Boynton, Jamie Bernadette, Myles Hamilton, Dave Harding, and Mashka Wolfe.
Trailer:
https://www.instagram.com/hauntedforestfilm/
Trailer Reaction by @SHOCKMANIA | The Forest Is A Killer! Previewing THE HAUNTED FOREST:
Interview with Director Keith Boynton by @CountdownCityGeeks:
Interview with Director Keith Boynton by @macabredailyYT:
Buy or Rent The Haunted Forest (2026) on YouTube:
Stills:
Jack-O's Review: “Really low-budget, tame horror film with twists and turns that takes place at—and is inspired by—the real-life haunt attraction, Markoff's Haunted Forest. The film perfectly captures the cozy, eerie aesthetic of a seasonal haunted attraction in the woods during Halloween. Lead actor Grayson Gwaze stands out, anchoring the story with a naturalism that adds heart to the film. The movie feels more like a drama, featuring haunters wearing Jason Voorhees’ hockey masks and carrying chainsaws reminiscent of Leatherface, while Gwaze’s character experiences three fun, horror-themed daydream sequences—essentially PG-rated jump-scare scenes. Most of the deaths happen off-screen. However, the ending ramps things up with a chainsaw decapitation featuring spurting blood, along with stabbings and additional deaths. Director Keith Boynton also appears in the film as the character Jacko.” ★★ @trickhorrortreater
More Reviews:
"The Haunted Forest works as a horror tale. It’s got strong performances, an awesome location, and some very clever ideas, most notably a bit involving chainsaws. At the same time, something more is going on under the surface. Boynton’s story thoughtfully tackles the theme of morality, as Zach doubts whether the park should be open under the circumstances. There’s a definite place in the market for The Haunted Forest, and I hope it gets wide exposure." AisleSeat.com
"The Haunted Forest excels at creating a potent fall horror vibe, anchored by solid performances and characters that feel lived in. The kills, while not especially gory, are effective in how they build tension and atmosphere. There is an intriguing premise here, and for a while, it delivers on it. Ultimately, this is an initially engaging but increasingly frustrating horror mystery that fumbles its own momentum. It is a decent movie with a strong setup and a weak payoff. If you want to see how a film can lose itself halfway through, this is a fascinating case study. But if you are in the mood for a pedestrian slasher with good vibes, strong chemistry, and a killer setting, you could do a lot worse. Just maybe temper your expectations before heading into the forest." CineDump.com
"Although the film seems to have a resemblance of a soap opera drama special, there was effort placed on interesting scenes that keep the engagement leading to the mystery reveals. I enjoyed the tribute to the classic kings of horror, Jason Voorhees and Leatherface. The location of the scaregrounds is the perfect spot for a haunting venue that I would be interested in visiting. This is the type of film that is best watched with a group of friends for a night, fright-flick." CountdownCityGeeks.com
"The Haunted Forest works as an atmospheric study of a niche industry. It uses its real location to build a sense of place that feels lived in. While the third act shifts into more familiar territory, the film maintains its focus on Zach’s internal growth. The choice to prioritize character over gore provides a grounded experience. It explores how we interact with the macabre." Score: 7 Gazettely.com
"The humor? Flat. The horror? Practically PG. Most of the early “kills” are suggested, like the movie is politely asking you to imagine something scarier than it’s willing to show. Later on, a few on-screen kills finally happen, but by then I had been waiting so long for the movie to start that I half expected an intermission. The twist isn’t a twist. It’s more of a gentle narrative shrug. The writing feels lazy, especially when the marketing leans so heavily into the horror angle. Honestly, this plays like a movie trailer that oversold the product. Scary is the one thing this film never manages to be, no matter how many times it insists otherwise. That said, the production values are solid. The sets look good. The atmosphere is there. And Meghan Reed as Carly is easily the most interesting character in the entire film. Every time she was on screen, I perked up, hoping the story would follow her somewhere more compelling. Instead, The Haunted Forest is far more invested in its coming-of-age identity crisis than delivering actual chills. If you go in expecting introspection with a side of light slasher seasoning, you might get something out of it. If you’re expecting a genuinely scary experience? This forest doesn’t have much buzz." JackMeat.com
"For the most part, The Haunted Forest is a good time that takes advantage of the surroundings of a haunt without ever feeling like it’s using the scenery as a gimmick. Zach is an interesting character, and Grayson does a great job portraying him as someone seeking to fit in. The issue is that the third-act twist can be seen coming from a mile away and is somewhat wasted by being largely anticlimactic and not fully set up well. A few red herrings are peppered throughout, which are pretty easy to dismiss, and it’s a shame that the end lands without much of an impact, given how good a job the film does of establishing its characters and their motivations and keeping things interesting despite being more of a whodunnit than a horror film. Alongside the solid performances are some great gore gags, but the film isn’t too concerned with being a gorefest, and the actual film being shot on location at Markoff’s Haunted Forest adds to the immersion and feeling of fall." MacabreDaily.com
"Dark wit, supernatural undertones, and a narrative that blends classic tropes with modern cynicism, all set against a backdrop of historical injustice... A carnival on a massacre site, chilling, grotesque, and unforgettable." ★★½ Mother of Movies at VanessasNonSpoilers.com
"Best Parts: The movie reflects how scare attractions have a big boom and the scare tourists jump to experience death. It has been seen in other films before, and it shows just how easily people are drawn to wanting to be a chapter in the story. Elsewhere, things show how haunting moments blend with reality. We get strong performances throughout which show us the different mindsets of the characters. Worst Parts: The movie does struggle to hit the highest scare factors it could. It struggles to break out of a slasher mystery and haunted attraction gone wrong. While it keeps things feeling a more grounded, it doesn’t quite bring enough to life. Final Thoughts – The Haunted Forest has a twisted vision on the scare attractions." MoviesReview101.com
"THE HAUNTED FOREST is at once a love letter to Halloween culture, a horror drama, and a character study. In trying to juggle all three, it sometimes frays at the edges, but its ambition is what makes it stand out in a crowded festival lineup." ★★★ OverlyHonestReviews at mailnewsgroup.com/ohmr/
"Even with its flaws, The Haunted Forest has charm. It understands horror fans well enough to play the hits, even if it occasionally stumbles trying to remix them. Boynton directs with an eye for atmosphere, and the cast is clearly having fun with the material. While the burial ground/cult subplot is messy and the ending may frustrate, the film still delivers the thing most festival-goers want: a horror movie that looks, feels, and bleeds like a horror movie. It may not be a future classic, but it’s the kind of title you could imagine popping up on late-night cable in a few years, earning cult status with audiences who stumble across it by accident. The Haunted Forest looks great, moves fast, and scratches the slasher itch, even if it can’t quite outrun some dated tropes and a wobbly ending. Call it a fun, flawed ride through the woods that horror fans will be glad they took." SignalHorizon.com
"I think some people will be disappointed by the lack of scares and horror as there's a long stretch of the film dedicated to getting to know the characters and location but I had fun with it. It's set at Halloween and it does feel like Boynton could've leaned heavier into the Halloween spirit a bit more just to heighten the overall atmosphere." ★★½ TheFrightClubNI.com
"There is an authentic foundation here and moments that feel pulled straight from haunt life are buried under a story that never finds its footing. Like a scare actor jumping out too early, The Haunted Forest reminds you what could have been, then moves on before it ever truly lands." ★★ ZombiesInMyBlog.com
YouTube Reviews:
Review of actual Markoff's Haunted Forest location used in the film:
Teaser Poster:
