'Trees Are Watching' Is a Haunting Mess of AI and Human Heart

When Folklore Meets the Future

It's no secret that we're living in a time when technology and storytelling are colliding like two trains on a collision course. Enter Trees Are Watching, the latest from Iranian director Bahman Ghobadi, who has long been celebrated for his sensitive portrayal of marginalized communities. In this new film, he attempts to merge the eerie Kurdish legend of people reborn as trees and furniture with a contemporary horror narrative — a promising premise that falls flat on its face thanks to the film's reliance on AI-generated visuals.

"Perhaps it's time for a moratorium on major festivals — like Toronto, where 'Trees Are Watching' premiered in the Centerpiece section — programming films that use this technology... at the very least, there should be some kind of disclosure before audiences purchase tickets."

Ghobadi's intent is clear: to explore themes of legacy, memory, and identity through the lens of supernatural horror. But in a film that features A.I.-generated imagery as its backbone — from the eerie chair that haunts the main character Darya (played by Eva Green) to the forest scenes where trees are felled — he ends up making a spectacle out of substance.

The Cast Is There, But the Film Isn't

Despite the film's ambitious themes and strong performances from the likes of Green and Neva Kuş (who plays Darya's deaf daughter Connie), Trees Are Watching is undermined by its inability to ground itself in human emotion or visual integrity. Green gives a nuanced performance, but she's fighting an uphill battle against a script that feels more like a collection of half-baked ideas than a coherent story.

The young actresses playing the three Kurdish girls — whose stories serve as flashbacks throughout the film — are exceptional. Their ability to bring life to their characters in these sequences is what makes those moments memorable, but even they can't save the film from its own hubris.

AI as a Creative Crutch

The film's use of AI-generated imagery isn't just problematic — it's an aesthetic crime. These scenes are often jarring, lacking the warmth and humanity that should come with visual storytelling. The film's attempt to portray environmental themes is undercut by the tech behind it — using A.I. that's known to consume enormous amounts of resources while producing low-quality output.

This isn't just about technical limitations; it's about artistic integrity. When a director like Ghobadi, who has shown such care in past projects, chooses to rely on AI for large parts of his film, it raises serious questions about what he values most: the human element or the spectacle.

What Was Supposed to Be a Haunting Tale

Originally, Trees Are Watching was meant to be a haunting, atmospheric horror story rooted in cultural mythology. Instead, it becomes a self-conscious mess of digital hallucinations and disjointed flashbacks. The supernatural elements that are supposed to give the film its spine — like the haunted chair or the idea of people reborn as furniture — become flat and lifeless when rendered through AI.

What should have been a meditation on loss, family, and legacy turns into an exercise in forced profundity. And don't even get me started on the ending, which is so heavy-handed that it makes the film's earlier attempts at subtlety feel like they were done by a different director entirely.

A Misguided Collaboration

It's no surprise that Martin Scorsese — one of the most respected figures in cinema — is involved as an executive producer. His presence on the project adds a certain prestige, but it also brings a sense of responsibility that the film fails to meet. How can a filmmaker with such a deep understanding of visual storytelling be associated with something that feels so visually careless?

It's a shame because Trees Are Watching has potential — it just gets lost in the noise of its own ambitions.

Final Verdict: A Missed Opportunity

If you're a fan of Ghobadi's work, this one is a tough watch. If you're looking for a solid horror film with emotional depth and visual craftsmanship, you'll want to look elsewhere. Trees Are Watching is a cautionary tale about the dangers of letting technology overshadow artistry — a lesson that seems particularly relevant in today's climate.

In short: don't expect anything supernatural from this one. Just expect more disappointment.