Humbersi The first must-see film of the year.

Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Philippa All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Logan By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

otomoshii If you're expecting a straight up mystery thriller or horror film you'll be disappointed. However, if you keep an open mind you will be rewarded with a poignant & romantic story about moving on.Failing actress Sweetpea (Dree Hemingway) travels to a music video shoot in rural Japan to break up with her neglectful rock star boyfriend (Francois Arnaud). Arriving at the remote location, she discovers he's gone missing. Is he just trying to avoid her? OR is there something more malevolent behind his disappearance? Looking like a Project Runway Jake Gittes, Sweetpea teams up with local forest warden Mak (Jai West), who has his own hidden agenda, to find her lost love. As the story meanders around the creepy forest, Sweetpea slowly realizes solving her boyfriend's missing persons case isn't the point. She's a typically self-obsessed young woman who can't see the forest from the trees. All the clues are there yet she remains oblivious to their meaning. Is she just protecting herself from the hard truth?This is a finely crafted, assuredly directed film where all the small parts elegantly come together. The acting is great all around, with the elegant Hemingway and understated Jai West being true discoveries. There's also a delightful cameo by Pamela Anderson, who plays with and against type as an aging supermodel who may know more than she lets on. Technical credits are solid with the production design complementing the austere cinematography. Kate Bush's "Running up that Hill" lends an effective coda to the proceedings.Definitely worth a look if you get a chance.

jessicaarias I saw it at BAFICI, South America's largest film festival for independent cinema in 2016. The film does not easily fit into a genre and so will not appeal to everyone. It is a little like Yorgos Lanthimos directed Lost In Translation. The film is unique in that it disguises itself as a mystery: the disappearance of a rock star during the filming of a music video in a Japanese forest. But, underneath its eerie atmosphere there is a minimalist story about loss. The film plays almost as as a haunting love song, more than a narrative story. I saw it at the same time as another Canadian indie film Les Demos Phillipe Lesage and I thought both works showed promise from their writer/directors. The good work of its protagonist, Dree Hemingway (great - granddaughter of the writer), and an unrecognizable Pamela Anderson are part of the appeal.

tomh-08119 This is a very cool film but not very mainstream, not very American. It has this kind of European pacing and odd humor. It's suspenseful, but not a thriller. You just sort of feel like something is a little off all along the way. The film makes no attempt to keep the "big ending" from the viewers, but I don't think that's the point. Instead it creates tension by creating more subtle mysteries of the heart. There are these incredible scenes with older Japanese men who live and work in the forest that the main character is in. Those men are so lovely and real, really grounding the surreal world. The unease is palpable because you see what's coming and can't stop it. But it does this very curious things of not making you want to stop it either. Which, given the subject, is a bit of a trip. Dree Hemingway is compelling, perfectly portrays this character that is both distant and empathetic. In the end the film sort of washes over you like this surreal dream but its not obtuse. It's about lost love and keeping secrets and the way we view and present our life to others. I was motivated to watch it again (with friends) to figure out a few things and I got even more details. A true recommendation for those who just want an oddly sweet and perfectly dark melancholy film to spend an evening with (but please note it's not like The Forest - in any way)Also loved all the music choices!

Arek Grzegorzak The People Garden is a movie with a strange, dark vibe. The atmosphere is spooky and it keeps you guessing until the end. Hovever it would be just another solid, Lynch-inspired mystery drama, without the truly excellent performance by Pamela Anderson. She really makes a difference here: still super beautiful and sexy (look for the beautiful nude scene *Thank You, Pam!*) she appears like a dark, mysterious goddess, a Fallen Muse, someone from the realm between reality a fantasy. Think "women-icons" from Felilni's masterpieces. Every scene with Pamela is magical. A must see film for all Anderson's fans, but also for the haters. She's created a complex, super interesting character in The People Garden. An Oscar-worthy performance!