After a tragedy strikes, a young man moves to an isolated cabin
to start a new life. The Lost Tree is definitely not a bad film,
it's just like the writer/director couldn't decide if he wanted
to make a drama or a mystery/horror film.
19 Reviews
Not good, not horrible
byronhold2 July 2020
The plot seems to veer from paranormal to romance with neither going anywhere. A couple of spooky scenes with shadow people. Overall, had the character of Noah been played by a better actor as well as the pace been faster it would have been a better film.
Looking for scares or gore? Skip it. If you like Lifetime Originals, you might want to give it a look.
Did everything wrong!
biba_yu10 December 2022
First of all, there is such thing as too much music in movie. The background music is overdone, it's distracting and overbearing. Horror movie should not make you feel like there is an orchestra playing somewhere while main character is going into dark basement. Overbearing, loud and really annoying music will not make any moment more tense or more emotional, it will be just: annoying. I don't want to hear bloody orchestra playing in what's supposed to be tense moment when main character is in some dire situation. I don't want overbearing "sad" music when he has a flashback, it's just too much!
Second, the characters' reactions are so unbelievable and unrealistic it's ridiculous, it's not even funny. Who says "wtf" when sees an intruder in his rented cabin and just goes to sleep? And his conversations to himself are super cringe and such bad acting. Michael Madsen and Lacey Chabert are completely under-used and get 5 minutes onscreen while this other actor gets all the time, don't know his name but he is not really good, sorry. His reactions are unrealistic, his love story does not have any realistic feelings no matter how much orchestra in background is trying to play "sad" music, his behavior is totally out of place and unbelievable.
Third, there is no story. What happened? No explanation. Nothing makes sense. No resolution. This is so bad, I have no words.
Second, the characters' reactions are so unbelievable and unrealistic it's ridiculous, it's not even funny. Who says "wtf" when sees an intruder in his rented cabin and just goes to sleep? And his conversations to himself are super cringe and such bad acting. Michael Madsen and Lacey Chabert are completely under-used and get 5 minutes onscreen while this other actor gets all the time, don't know his name but he is not really good, sorry. His reactions are unrealistic, his love story does not have any realistic feelings no matter how much orchestra in background is trying to play "sad" music, his behavior is totally out of place and unbelievable.
Third, there is no story. What happened? No explanation. Nothing makes sense. No resolution. This is so bad, I have no words.
The Lost $2
torroutedipz23 May 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I got suckered into this by some reviews that people were clearly paid to write. That and I figured if it was bad at least I could watch cute little Lacey Chabert for 90 minutes. Sucker! Chabert had maybe 5 minutes of screen time. As a matter of fact, only a handful of scenes featured anyone more than the main character, and most of those were awful flashbacks. This movie seemed like something that would play in network television on a Sunday afternoon in the 80's. Awful picture quality, several times I started to curse at my WiFi connection for 240p resolution and then I remembered I was watching a disc. Seriously, there were times you couldn't even make out facial features. Then there was the overdone musical score. Do you know what puts me to sleep during a movie? Long stretches of music with no dialogue. Guess what 90% of this movie was...that's right, I was drifting in and out of consciousness from the 10 minute mark. It didn't matter though because whenever I was awake the main character was just wandering around a barren landscape. The acting when there was dialogue was awful, as if they were reading straight from the script. As bad as the opening scene was I was really hoping it would get better because it had good reviews. When the guys wife gets hit by the car it was sooooo poorly done; no sound effects like a screeching car, collision, or screaming. All of a sudden he walks up and you see his wife in the street wtf. Absolutely dreadful! The last 30 minutes (which is how long the movie should've been) the action finally picks up but by that point the movie is hopeless, and even the "climax" was pretty senseless. It's as if someone had this movie sitting in their closet for 30! years and decided to reshoot some scenes to include texting and iPhones to modernize it. Don't waste your money renting this and furthermore, when it makes it onto a free service, still do not waste your time unless you need something for insomnia.
Great way to kick a film habit. Thanks IMDB
helloadrift26 July 2018
I was a hopeless film addict for years. I would watch anything and could always justify my penchant for low-budget and poor quality products by finding some kernel of redeemability in even the most tawdry production. Viewing this film along with The 5th Passenger (thanks to the Redbox) was the equivalent of reaching rock bottom; like mortgaging one's house for a poker hand or being sodomized behind a dumpster for a half-gram of heroin. I could no longer fathom continuing down the reckless path of film consumption. Even the peripheral view of a production company logo or the briefest flash of a title card will send me into violent paroxysms.
I can attribute my newly discovered film-free lifestyle to the hundreds of fake accounts created on this once reputable website that falsely inflate the rating of terrible productions. Your work does not go unappreciated. I'm certain that your duplicitous actions, fully aided and abetted by the very people who own and operate this bastion of cinematic knowledge can help others as you did me in my quest to extinguish a lifelong passion for film.
Well done
JennFilms16 February 2018
Very well done and emotional film for an indie film. I had no clue which way this movie was going. The acting was well done and the directing had interesting angles. The film did a good job of keeping you interested which was impressive since a large amount of the film is about a person inside a cabin.
Horrible
amc-4221423 May 2018
Horrible acting, music, and effects. It had me laughing the whole time. I could barely make it through 10 mins. The storyline makes no sense, and the ending was sloppily but together. Maybe if this was in the comedy genre instead of horror, I might give it 5 stars...I've watched tons of 'B' horror movies on Netflix and not one of them was nearly as bad as this.
Film School Style Production
lavatch25 May 2018
Warning: Spoilers
"The Lost Tree" throws together a large pile of clichés from the horror film genre, and the overall look and sound of the film is amateurish. It was as if this were a film school exercise, as opposed to a final, polished feature film.
In the film's opening scene, Emma catches her husband Noah flirting with a co-worker named Jenna. After the emotionally distraught Emma races out of the office, she is struck and killed by a car. Noah feels enough guilt and remorse to take time off from work to go to a cabin outside of L.A.
Even after Noah leaves town, there is an ongoing flirtation with Noah and Jenna, with Jenna closing her texts to him with "Love." Noah makes a faint-hearted attempt to reject Jenna's overtures, yet does not do so with a profound sense of bereavement. The cabin turns out to be haunted. Noah recognizes that the place is spooked, yet chooses to remain, against the advice of both Jenna and his dad.
It was a bad decision to stay, Noah.
The film suggests a paranormal encounter with Noah and Emma, who seems to be present at the haunted cabin and around the supernatural oak tree on the premises. The filmmakers string out the paranormal world of the cabin for too long. There is not enough suspense while Noah is wandering through the cabin talking to himself and not enough payoff at the end.
The use of flashbacks and the labored pacing of the film were major drawbacks. The score consisted of canned music and added nothing to the suspense and tension. The special effects were cheesy, once again reeking of film school experiments.
One of the key props was the necklace worn by Noah that includes Emma's ring. The necklace, which at one point is stolen, figures in Noah's desperate attempts to "attack" the tree to try to recover the ring. But the prop of the necklace was poorly handled throughout the film. So, when it finally figures prominently at the end, the audience really doesn't care.
At one point, a frustrated Noah asks the following question about the cabin and the tree: "What the hell is with this place?!!!" The question could be slightly revised for the audience to ask, "What the hell is with this turkey of a movie?!!!"
In the film's opening scene, Emma catches her husband Noah flirting with a co-worker named Jenna. After the emotionally distraught Emma races out of the office, she is struck and killed by a car. Noah feels enough guilt and remorse to take time off from work to go to a cabin outside of L.A.
Even after Noah leaves town, there is an ongoing flirtation with Noah and Jenna, with Jenna closing her texts to him with "Love." Noah makes a faint-hearted attempt to reject Jenna's overtures, yet does not do so with a profound sense of bereavement. The cabin turns out to be haunted. Noah recognizes that the place is spooked, yet chooses to remain, against the advice of both Jenna and his dad.
It was a bad decision to stay, Noah.
The film suggests a paranormal encounter with Noah and Emma, who seems to be present at the haunted cabin and around the supernatural oak tree on the premises. The filmmakers string out the paranormal world of the cabin for too long. There is not enough suspense while Noah is wandering through the cabin talking to himself and not enough payoff at the end.
The use of flashbacks and the labored pacing of the film were major drawbacks. The score consisted of canned music and added nothing to the suspense and tension. The special effects were cheesy, once again reeking of film school experiments.
One of the key props was the necklace worn by Noah that includes Emma's ring. The necklace, which at one point is stolen, figures in Noah's desperate attempts to "attack" the tree to try to recover the ring. But the prop of the necklace was poorly handled throughout the film. So, when it finally figures prominently at the end, the audience really doesn't care.
At one point, a frustrated Noah asks the following question about the cabin and the tree: "What the hell is with this place?!!!" The question could be slightly revised for the audience to ask, "What the hell is with this turkey of a movie?!!!"
Dark, emotional indie that's nicely done
diana_lynn216 February 2018
This film is not perfect but it kept my interests the entire time. The feeling that this movie made me feel was a feeling of sadness, fear, mystery. It kept me interest throughout. The acting was fairly decent with a special nod to Scott Grimes for his comical relief.
That's not to say the film didn't have it's problems. There were budgetary restraints but that said, the effects in this film were pretty good. There were some sound issues as well. The third act is very good as the pace goes from slow to very fast. Overall, I enjoyed this film.
That's not to say the film didn't have it's problems. There were budgetary restraints but that said, the effects in this film were pretty good. There were some sound issues as well. The third act is very good as the pace goes from slow to very fast. Overall, I enjoyed this film.
I want a refund
davemorgan301714 February 2018
This movie is a warm, steaming pile of poo. The acting is pathetic. Parts of the dialogue are obviously ADR and sound like they were recorded in a tin can. The special effects are bad even for a B movie. Michael Madsen and Lacey Chabert should be embarrassed for having anything to do with this disaster. I'm just glad it was only $2.99.
Decent indie
joedean12319 May 2020
I watched this on Tubi for free. I had zero expectations or knowledge what this film was about. I found it to be an interesting storyline. I expected a very formulaic horror film with cheap scares. Instead I got a feeling of dread the entire time. It has a 70s horror feel to it. The lead actor guy does a decent job keeping you interested and you never quite know where this is going. It had some interesting twists and turns and I got this feeling of dread the entire time while watching. It has some good fx in it and nice wide shots. If they had a bigger budget I can imagine what they would have done.
Not well done
samb89 April 2018
The folks who rated this high had to be friends or relatives of the actors/director. A comedy of bad acting, music score, writing, directing,cinematography,hair & make up, extras, lighting, fx, you name it. One word sums this mess up: cornball
Not worth it.
ekrauss-933703 September 2018
Waste of 1:75$
shawndonovan-2903224 May 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I don't know what the previous reviewer's are talking about because this movie what doo doo. Couldn't even read the messages on the phone. They were too small and only showed it quickly along with the newspaper articles. Not to mention, the music was absolutely horrified. Was like music from 1950s horror flick. I'm extremely disappointed in this movie.
Time Wasted
julied3-467-554721 September 2018
Madsen phone acting again?
teebear81730 December 2020
Second bottom of the barrel Michael Madsen movie where his entire role is on the telephone. Hard working actor huh? Any actor can do that. Why pay him more that another actor? He is uncouth and creepy like just woke up after a drunken night. Movie was ludicrous as well.
At least it was free to watch
seetheworld-466319 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
WTHeck? With Lacey Chabert and Michael Madsen I figured I'd give it a try. I'm not sure how one would get paid for writing good reviews but sign me up. Obviously, someone was paid. Now, I'm no film connoisseur but even I noticed the horrible music, way too much! It was a little creepy when it showed the shadow people but the main character made such idiotic choices I just couldn't continue to care. Who decides to stay in a rental where the former tenants left all their crap and disappeared? When you see shadow people over and over but just decide to take a nap? By the last 10 minutes I was playing chess on my phone.
Really loved this film
joey-kravitz18 February 2018
I had no clue what this indie movie was about or anything. But after watching it, I fell in was really surprised. I kept thinking about the film throughout the day. But what really got to me was the feeling I had going to bed. It just kept sticking with me. What I enjoyed most is this film goes for the creepiness under your skin, not the super quick shocks that alot of movies have today. It was more of a slow burn than anything. The camera direction was nicely done. The shots were gorgeous. Some of the scenes such as the lakebed scene are breathtaking. There are some dark shots that were grainy but it didn't really bother me because I was invested in the characters.
It won't be everyone's cup of tea though. Sometimes the acting seems a little funky. There were a surprisingly large amount of effects in this indie film. They were pretty good for the most part. I was happy that the filmmakers went for a climatic ending. The music is very haunting and beautiful throughout. I wish I could get a soundtrack of it to just listen to in the car. Pacing started out very slow and calm, but by the third act, it was moving very fast. The director, Brain Metcalf managed to keep the film interesting while focusing largely on only one character by showing lots of different environments and lots of creepy things happening.
I give the film 9 out of 10 stars.
It won't be everyone's cup of tea though. Sometimes the acting seems a little funky. There were a surprisingly large amount of effects in this indie film. They were pretty good for the most part. I was happy that the filmmakers went for a climatic ending. The music is very haunting and beautiful throughout. I wish I could get a soundtrack of it to just listen to in the car. Pacing started out very slow and calm, but by the third act, it was moving very fast. The director, Brain Metcalf managed to keep the film interesting while focusing largely on only one character by showing lots of different environments and lots of creepy things happening.
I give the film 9 out of 10 stars.
They really should allow a zero star rating
orionhi19 September 2021
Movies like this one, even one star is to generous. It's that bad. The acting is horrid, the story is the dumbest story ever and the effects could be done on a flip phone. I cannot believe this was made and released. No, just no.
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