Release: Boys from the Forest

 

Boys from the Forest

Genre: Drama

Director: David Wnendt

Writer: Wyatt Allen

Cast: Lazar Simaifar, David Ali Rashed, Quang Anh Le, Emilia Eidt, Ruben Meiller, Albrecht Schuch, Michael Lott, Nhung Hong, Martina Eitner-Acheampong

Budget: $11,000,000

Domestic Box Office: $9,480,114

Foreign Box Office: $7,501,599

Total Profit: -$5,873,546

Reaction: Considering its cast and crew are mostly unknown outside of Germany, the numbers here weren't too bad - At least the losses were single-digit.

"David Wnendt’s Boys from the Forest delivers a grounded, affecting portrait of working-class adolescence, with a standout turn from Lazar Simaifar. The film skillfully captures the inertia and quiet desperation of life in Waldhofen, but it occasionally derails itself with jarring tonal shifts—most notably a surreal katana subplot that strains credibility. While the supporting characters often lack depth and the pacing meanders, the film’s core—the friendship between Lazar, David, and Quang—remains emotionally resonant. The film is ultimately flawed but sincere." - Chuckie Smits, MovieCrush Daily 

"Boys from the Forest is what happens when a gritty coming-of-age film takes a detour into anime sword-fight territory. Lazar and his friends feel real, their struggles relatable, but the story wobbles between social realism and straight-up absurdity. The film’s heart — its portrayal of brotherhood and class frustration — keeps it grounded for the most part though. The film is uneven, sure, but at least it’s never boring." - Dave Manning, Ridgefield Press

"While I liked getting an insight into Waldhofen I couldn’t help but think the film was very cliche. Most of Wyatt Allen’s films so far have tended to grab me from the start and not let go, but this one seems to keep its distance the whole time. The characters aren’t intriguing in the slightest. It may be the language difference but I just couldn’t connect at all.” - J. Darell Ellington, Behind the Camera

Rated R for language, drug use, violence, and thematic elements.