<P> Dormer cited the opportunity to play two characters in one film enticed her to accept the role . "That's like a life tick box as an actor, to be playing against yourself . It's certainly surreal," she said . "(But) it's hard to make choices as Sara when you don't quite know how you're going to play it as Jess yet . You haven't got the other actor to react against . You have to be a bit schizophrenic ." </P> <P> Kinney cited a confluence of reasons for accepting the role: the story and its location, the ability to tweak his character, and the attachment of Dormer . He stated he was looking for something "more cerebral than gory slasher films", in the vein of The Amityville Horror, Friday the 13th and Halloween, as well as the Stephen King adaptations Cujo, Pet Sematary and The Shining . </P> <P> Principal photography began on May 17, 2015, in Tokyo, Japan . As filming in the Aokigahara forest is not permitted by the government, the filmmakers chose a forest near the Tara Mountain in Serbia to double as the Japanese forest in which the film is set . Poor weather plagued the production in Serbia, and many scenes were shot in a former warehouse . </P> <P> In May 2014, Focus Features acquired domestic distribution rights to the film . On May 20, 2015, Focus Features relaunched their Gramercy Pictures label for action, horror, and science - fiction movies, with the film being one of its releases . The film was released in the United States on January 8, 2016 . </P>

Where did they film the movie the forest
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