‘Game of Thrones’ Star Natalie Dormer Leads Horror Film ‘The Forest’

Alysia Gonzales

Natalie Dormer (“Game of Thrones,” “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “Rush”) stars as the lead in the new horror film, “The Forest,” set to premiere Jan. 8. The film follows Sara, whose twin sister has disappeared after she was seen entering Aokigahara forest, also known as the “suicide forest.”  Sara senses that her sister is in danger and is determined to go into the forest to find her. But when Sara finds her twin’s abandoned tent, against pleas from her guide, she vows to stay the night in Aokigahara forest despite cautionary tales of malignant spirits and creatures who cannot rest within the forest boundaries.

Dormer is best known for her role as “Margaery Tyrell” on HBO’s hit show, “Game of Thrones,” where she plays the would-be queen.  She has had numerous other roles, including playing “Cressida” in the blockbuster series, “The Hunger Games.”  Despite her consistent career, this will be the first time that she will be starring as the lead in a film. Her career has been quite eclectic, spanning from huge Marvel superhero hits to HBO dramas, and now to a horror film.  

The film, even prior to its release, is already coming under fire for “whitewashing” the sensitive subject in Japan. Namely, that this suicide forest is a real place where real people go to end their lives.  Not only did the film take this taboo topic and turn it for profit, but additionally, all the major roles in the film are played by white actors, perpetuating the “white people save the day” trope that is so prevalent in many major films. Any Japanese actors in the film serve secondary and periphery roles at best, only underlining the argument of the film’s “whitewashing” of what is inherently a Japanese topic.

Whether filmgoers will be able to overlook the faux pas remains to be seen. The film isn’t going up against any other large scale blockbusters in its opening weekend, but it will have to put up a fight as “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” enters its fourth weekend at the box office still pulling large numbers and breaking box office records left and right.

“The Forest” comes to theaters nationwide on Jan. 8.