I didn't really liked The Body Tree. Maybe I expected too much of it. The story is just not that great to keep you interested, at least not for me. And that was due to some really annoying characters. Plus the acting was not good from everybody. The characters are basically arguing and yelling during almost the entire movie, trying to find out who's the murderer, and at one point I couldn't care less who was the murderer. The plot was also not the greatest I ever saw. Maybe it could have been better with another cast and characters. It's also obvious that this is not Siberia so that's also a thing that bothers me. Just do some research and find a right place for it if you want it to look like Siberia.
16 Reviews
I tried, I really tried.
elizrug30 April 2018
We thought we would give this movie a shot but we turned it off straight away. The fact that they filmed in Southern California was so evident from the first time they stopped the car. Everything about the scenes screamed Cali, from the outside of the farm area to inside the house. There was absolutely nothing that said Russia or Siberia at all. That right there spoiled the whole movie. I know I wouldn't be able to see past it.
why so low rating?
steerpikeever7 June 2020
Everybody Loves Kara
nogodnomasters9 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Yes, really does have a spoiler.
Kara was a college student who was murdered. Brendan who was found holding the body was convicted. His sister Alice believes he is innocent. On the one year anniversary of her death they attend a burial celebration in the Altai Mountains, Siberia with Kara's brother and a local Shaman performing an ancient rite. They were in the middle of nowhere in the middle of nowhere. The rite does not go as plan as someone there didn't love Kara and is her killer. The film moves into an Agatha Christie who-dun-it which includes a random demonic possession with an ax...Mr. Green with an ax in the living room.
The killer wasn't hard to figure out. It is like when someone says, "I never slept with Russian prostitutes. You know that is false. You're not investigating that are you? I know I was recorded." We know that guy protests too much and in any universe we know he slept with Russian prostitutes. In this film there was a "I didn't do it" person...so go figure Queen Gertrude.
This started out better than most "cabin in the woods film" without Sid Haig but ends up just as bad.
Guide: F-word. Sex. Brief nudity.
Kara was a college student who was murdered. Brendan who was found holding the body was convicted. His sister Alice believes he is innocent. On the one year anniversary of her death they attend a burial celebration in the Altai Mountains, Siberia with Kara's brother and a local Shaman performing an ancient rite. They were in the middle of nowhere in the middle of nowhere. The rite does not go as plan as someone there didn't love Kara and is her killer. The film moves into an Agatha Christie who-dun-it which includes a random demonic possession with an ax...Mr. Green with an ax in the living room.
The killer wasn't hard to figure out. It is like when someone says, "I never slept with Russian prostitutes. You know that is false. You're not investigating that are you? I know I was recorded." We know that guy protests too much and in any universe we know he slept with Russian prostitutes. In this film there was a "I didn't do it" person...so go figure Queen Gertrude.
This started out better than most "cabin in the woods film" without Sid Haig but ends up just as bad.
Guide: F-word. Sex. Brief nudity.
Good idea for storyline, just horribly executed.
russianak16 January 2019
The writers and everyone else involved with creating the plot had a good idea, they just didn't go about writing it very well. They characters weren't introduced very well so it was hard to keep track of who was who and they did a horrible job explaining what happened to their friend that caused them to wind up in Siberia in the first place other than that she inexplicably ended up dead.
Boring movie.
meydiana-6524218 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Film content that does not show spectacular. It's so boring there's some swearing in the dialogue. The film, which lasts more than an hour, makes us bored with a very cheap and predictable storyline. The acting is also very bad and terrible.
Oh so average
juliewillemsenonline24 April 2021
Terrible
gianmarcoronconi8 November 2023
This is not a real review, it should be understood more as a collection of impressions on the film.
The first thing to say about the film is that the acting is something terrible and terrible and for this reason alone the film deserves to be destroyed rather than watched, then the plot is very banal and in any case so convoluted as to be unnecessarily complicated to understand. But it's complicated because it doesn't make any sense and the ending then has a twist which to say is stupid is to give it a compliment because it's completely useless and it claims to explain the film with a little final explanation that makes everything even more senseless and ugly.
The first thing to say about the film is that the acting is something terrible and terrible and for this reason alone the film deserves to be destroyed rather than watched, then the plot is very banal and in any case so convoluted as to be unnecessarily complicated to understand. But it's complicated because it doesn't make any sense and the ending then has a twist which to say is stupid is to give it a compliment because it's completely useless and it claims to explain the film with a little final explanation that makes everything even more senseless and ugly.
Rooted in Familiar Horror Tropes
Spike_the_Cactus10 March 2018
The Body Tree is heavily influenced by films such as Ten Little Indians, and The Thing, with a group of people in an isolated location trying to second guess who the killer is. However, the plot turns things on their head in an original way.
Yes it's got plenty of cliched jump scares and slasher movie stereotypes, but this is definitely one of the better horrors I've seen in recent years. The Siberian setting (not the snowbound variety) is distinctive, the acting is decent enough, and the characters are developed enough to have some investment in their fates. Admittedly some are unpleasant.
The group are brought together to celebrate the life of a mutual friend who was murdered. There are some flashbacks that reveal more of the events of that incident, and it keeps the story flowing and entertaining.
It's well worth a watch, and I'm surprised it hasn't had a more positive reaction.
Yes it's got plenty of cliched jump scares and slasher movie stereotypes, but this is definitely one of the better horrors I've seen in recent years. The Siberian setting (not the snowbound variety) is distinctive, the acting is decent enough, and the characters are developed enough to have some investment in their fates. Admittedly some are unpleasant.
The group are brought together to celebrate the life of a mutual friend who was murdered. There are some flashbacks that reveal more of the events of that incident, and it keeps the story flowing and entertaining.
It's well worth a watch, and I'm surprised it hasn't had a more positive reaction.
I liked it
mercedes_sk18 June 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Overall, I thought it was interesting. I thought it was an original storyline on the 'who done it?' With a side of paranormal thrown in. My main complaint is Helen. Geez if a killer is after you, screaming is probably a dumb idea. I wish she had a heart attack on the way up so she wouldn't have been in the majority of the movie.
Goooood!
kyrieirving-629067 May 2018
I'm a thriller junkie and I liked that this film did something different. Not a perfect movie but I liked that it kept me guessing. Some really tense scenes and back and forth dialogue. Not for everyone I'm sure but if you're like me and looking for something different in horror, something more suspenseful, this is a cool twist.
I enjoyed it
wildblueyonder28 April 2018
Who done it?
rodneyjsmith9 June 2018
Was totally into the flick. Saw on Amazon. Thought I knew who did it, then thought again, and again, still surprised. More suspense thriller with touches of dark comedy than horror. Liked that it had a lot of twists and turns and covered young people being hunted in the woods in a new way. A good watch!
Body tree is it doesn't know what it wants to be- a horror or a murder thriller
geralts25 May 2018
The problem with Body tree is it doesn't know what it wants to be- a horror or a murder thriller and ultimately it ends up being neither. This is a problem with a lot of indie films- they lack a vision and blueprint. (Avoid it)
The Dead and the Living
kylieblondiejanuary3 July 2018
Loved this movie. All these crazy characters trying to solve a murder and they're all torn in different directions about what to do and who's to blame...until it's too late. It's got some of the usual of horror but also dark humor and mystery like a Hitchcock.
Nifty horror mystery thriller
Woodyanders18 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
A group of young Americans travel deep in the woods in Siberia to honor the memory of a friend who was killed a year ago. Things turn nasty after an evil spirit gets conjured up that threatens all of their lives.
Director/co-writer Thomas Dunn relates the absorbing story at a steady pace, ably crafts a creepy atmosphere, takes time to develop the characters, maintains a dark take-no-prisoners tone throughout, makes nice use of the breathtaking rural landscape, offers a cool blend of horror and mystery thriller elements, and generates a good deal of tension. The solid acting by the capable cast keeps this movie humming: Erica Dasher as the sweet Alice, Emma Dumont as the feisty Sandra, Kyle Jones as the jerky Mike, Ivanna Sakhno as the perky Helen, Sam Hamill as the sarcastic Rez, Mark Barkowski as sage, but sleazy professor Jeff, and Michael Cardelle as the easygoing Tony. A neat fright flick.
Director/co-writer Thomas Dunn relates the absorbing story at a steady pace, ably crafts a creepy atmosphere, takes time to develop the characters, maintains a dark take-no-prisoners tone throughout, makes nice use of the breathtaking rural landscape, offers a cool blend of horror and mystery thriller elements, and generates a good deal of tension. The solid acting by the capable cast keeps this movie humming: Erica Dasher as the sweet Alice, Emma Dumont as the feisty Sandra, Kyle Jones as the jerky Mike, Ivanna Sakhno as the perky Helen, Sam Hamill as the sarcastic Rez, Mark Barkowski as sage, but sleazy professor Jeff, and Michael Cardelle as the easygoing Tony. A neat fright flick.
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