The Haunted Forest Review – Horror, Heart, and a Black Nerd at the Center

A Feel-Good Haunt with Heart, Identity, and Just Enough Horror

Grayson Gwaze leads The Haunted Forest, a heartfelt horror about identity, fandom, and the thrills of haunted attractions.

It’s easy to forget sometimes that horror is more than blood and shadows—it’s also a space where people can finally see themselves. For many young Black men, especially those growing up in suburban America, embracing horror culture has often meant dealing with ridicule or dismissal. But times are shifting. Horror fandom, once mocked as “weird,” has become a space to proudly let your freak flag fly. That’s part of why The Haunted Forest feels important—it places a young Black horror nerd at the center of the story and lets him own it.

Keith Boynton’s film follows Zach (Grayson Gwaze), an African American boarding school student whose life is split between grief, intellect, and obsession. After losing his parents, Zach is raised by a white family, but no matter the environment, his curiosity and love for horror culture remain constants. Unlike the tokenized characters we still see in shows like Stranger Things, Zach isn’t relegated to the background. Here, he’s the heart of the story.

The film balances its horror elements with a genuine coming-of-age journey. Zach navigates school crushes, brushes with older women, and—most importantly—his deep fascination with haunted attractions. Boynton clearly loves the culture of haunted houses, and this movie feels like a love letter to them. Rather than leaning on tired found-footage tricks or faux documentaries, The Haunted Forest takes a classic approach: a group builds a haunt, it grows in popularity, and strange, deadly things start to unfold. There are hints of occultism lurking in the backdrop, but the film is less about jump scares and more about how identity and passion can define someone’s path.

Where the movie falters slightly is in leaving certain character beats unexplored. A fleeting interaction between Zach and one of the only other Black men in the story hints at a much richer subplot that never fully develops. Instead, the narrative pivots back to standard horror beats. The supporting cast—Cedric Gagel (Mark), Megan Reed (Carly), and Lunardi (Sarah)—deliver solid performances, but it’s Gwaze’s portrayal of Zach that gives the movie its soul.

Despite its clichés and reliance on TikTok-age tropes that might frustrate older horror fans, The Haunted Forest finds a surprising groove. It isn’t terrifying, but it’s heartfelt. It carries a rare feel-good vibe for a horror film, which is unusual in a genre built on fear and despair. For high schoolers, college kids, and anyone who grew up hiding their love of horror, the movie feels like it’s speaking directly to them.

Final Verdict

While The Haunted Forest doesn’t break new ground in horror storytelling, it does something just as valuable: it humanizes a Black horror nerd as the protagonist and gives us a fun, accessible entry into the world of haunted attractions. It’s messy in places, but sincere in spirit.

⭐ 3 out of 5 stars

A solid Halloween-season watch with more heart than horror, and a welcome reminder that horror belongs to everyone.

FrightFest World Premiere on Saturday, August 24th

Director: Keith Boynton

Producers: Cassie D’Agostino, Mashka Wolfe

Story by: Devin McEwan

Executive Producer: Alison Rosa

Consulting Producer: Catherine Corchoran

Director of Photography: Aitor Mendilibar

Production Designer: Crescentia Volz

Cast: Grayson Gwaze, Cedric Gegel, Kaitlyn Lunardi, Meghan Reed, Keith Boynton, Jamie Bernadette, Myles Hamilton, Dave Harding, Mashka Wolfe, EJ Roeder, Victor Zheng, Josie Martin-Knowles, Samantha Waldrup, Elizabeth Keith, Nathan Lassman, Grant Scherini, Tristen Raughton