Stars: Elizabeth Vermilyea, Joe Falcone, Kathryn Miller, Lorenzo Beronilla, Darin F. Earl II, Leyah Rose | Written and Directed by Stephen Cognetti

There’s something uniquely satisfying about a horror film that takes its time. 825 Forest Road, from writer/director Stephen Cognetti (Hell House LLC), is one of those rare slow-burners that doesn’t rush to its scares but lets them simmer just under the surface. From the moment I pressed play, I felt that creeping unease that only good horror knows how to deliver—a subtle, tightening grip that doesn’t let go until the final frame.

The story centers around Chuck Wilson, who relocates to the sleepy town of Ashland Falls with his wife Maria and his younger sister Isabelle after suffering a family tragedy. The trio seeks peace, maybe even healing—but instead, they find a town haunted by a local legend. That legend is Helen Foster, a...