King Vidor directed Beyond the Forest, with Lenore J. Coffee and Stuart Engstrand writing the screenplay. The cast includes Bette Davis, Joseph Cotton, David Brian, Ruth Roman, Minor Watson, and Regis Toomey. Max Steiner composed the music, and Robert Burks was in charge of cinematography. Rosa Moline (Davis), a married woman who feels unhappy with her life, plans to leave town with a wealthy businessman—and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen. While not as polarizing as something like Johnny Guitar, Vidor's film follows a similar path toward accusations of camp and exaggerated staging. Davis seems ill-suited for the part and too old, and her performance is over-the-top, which will either please her fans or annoy viewers looking for a more serious noir film. It’s hard to say who’s at fault, but if you're in the mood for histrionics with noir elements, there’s plenty here to enjoy. The advantages and disadvantages of small-town life are vividly portrayed, as is the story of a woman yearning for something more. Metaphors abound to illustrate Rosa’s psychological instability, such as the mill furnace that illuminates the sky repeatedly, or the steam locomotive that passes through town carrying people off to Chicago; Vidor skillfully incorporates these audio cues. Beginning with flashbacks, Vidor fully embraces a noir style, which is enhanced by Burks' photography. It’s unfortunate that Burks wasn't hired for more noir projects in the 1950s, as his work here is excellent—low lighting and side lighting are prominent in the final third as the story's femme fatale elements reach a powerful conclusion. With Steiner’s dramatic score, the film is a technical achievement. However, there are some drawbacks. Roman’s role feels insignificant and wasted, and a Native American maid (Donna Drake) appears in scenes that handle cultural issues insensitively, seemingly only to emphasize how unpleasant Rosa already seems. Toomey and Watson (the latter an important character) also have very limited screen time. Even though I'm not declaring it a masterpiece, this film offers numerous cinematic rewards—perhaps surprisingly so. 7/10

Source on TMDB