Into the Forest

Set in a not-too-distant future, two sisters Nell and Eva hole up in a remote forest as the world outside veers toward catastrophe. They scratch out a living by foraging, hunting, and repairing the remnants of a shattered society. As rumors of a broader collapse spread, strangers and intruders threaten their fragile sanctuary. Illness, hunger, and loneliness test their bond and their ability to rely on each other. The sisters must balance practical danger with moral choices, keeping their autonomy intact while a bleak reality presses in from every side. The film pairs intimate character study with a speculative backdrop to explore survival, identity, and trust.

Directed by Patricia Rozema, Into the Forest adapts Jean Hegland's novel and unfolds through restrained drama. Released in 2016, the film stars Elliot Page as Nell and Evan Rachel Wood as Eva, with Max Minghella and Callum Keith Rennie.

Critics lauded the film for its quiet, austere approach and the performances of Page and Wood, who carry the emotional weight amid scarcity and danger. The story uses the forest as a canvas to examine autonomy, sisterly bond, and ethical choices when the outside world seems gone. It stays intimate and human.

Through its focus on two women tracing a fragile existence in a collapsing environment, Into the Forest adds to a niche of feminist sci-fi drama. It prompts reflection on how communities might rebuild values when institutions crumble and nature steps in as both ally and adversary. The film's restrained, character driven approach offers a counterpoint to more action oriented apocalyptic plots.

At festivals, Into the Forest drew favorable notices for performances and mood, but it did not accumulate major awards. It found audience appeal in smaller cinephile venues and earned critical respect for its atmosphere and performances, a quiet triumph of intimate storytelling.