Director: Brett Piper
Year: 2006
Country: USA
Alternate Titles: N/A
Genre: Creature Feature
Plot:
Trying to save his reputation, a man sends his team of monster hunters to the spot where his career was ruined in order to search for an elusive monster, but when they come to realize that something might be out there beyond the locals faking it they try to get out of the woods alive.
Review:
This one proved to be a solid B-movie effort. One of the biggest aspects going for this one is the fun and overly enjoyable low-budget charm running throughout this one. There's a lot to like with how this goes through the early setup of the show with the way he has to sell the story to the executives while they watch his last episode showing why he has to sell the shoot to the manner of arriving at the location as they go through various stages to finally arrive at the campsite. Coupled with the continuous action scenes showing the team heading out to catch sight of the creature and the charmingly obvious low-budget throwback feel here with the monster costumes, sound effects and the fine bikini fight for no reason, these provide this with a solid charm to this one.
That charming low-budget feel in the action scenes works due to the fact that both sides here set up the same scenario. Taking on the idea of the two sides working to fake the creatures' existence by tackling all the various behind-the-scenes antics of everybody in on the joke not only with her having been secretly filming the group conducting their plans or going off to investigate the various clues they've left behind which really gets highlighted in the final half of the film. As the ploy of wondering whether the creature is real or fake, the various confrontations here not only with the race to keep them from finding the truth but also the revelation about the monster which provides some of the most cheesily enjoyable elements here.
The cast here also is perfect for this kind of film. Alison Whitney as the tough tomboy Billie is a charming, endearing lead as the one who doesn't care about anything and has a mind of her own which gets her into trouble but is able to get herself out of it. A.J. Khan as the spoiled princess anchor Asia works perfectly once you realize what the twist with her is and the ability to grate on the nerves is a fine ability. Danielle Donahue as the level-headed assistant Pauline showed signs of being a quality final girl only to switch it out for Billie so she gets left to the sidelines in the second act being initially setup as a rather intriguing character. The rest of the cast hams it up perfectly and comes off as cheesy which is the intended result. These here are what holds this one up over its flaws.
There are some problems here, mainly stemming from the type of film this one truly wants to be. By going all-out of the plotline about the sides going through their attempts at faking the creatures' existence all the way until the end, there's a distinct and decidedly lighthearted tone present that never once puts any of the characters in danger. There's so little here that it played as threatening despite supposedly being about a creature hunting them down through the woods, and the setup requires so low a body-count there's no need for blood and gore as a result. As well, that forces this one into some incredibly hard to believe rational being uttered by the characters which makes for a hard time to believe what's going on here. Alongside the shoehorned monster at the end which doesn't need to be there, there here are the films' flaws.
Overview: ***/5
While it's a goofy and cheesy effort, there's some highly enjoyable work here for fans of these cheesy old-school style creature features which this one really works nicely for. Really give this one a shot if you're a solid fan of these styles or are curious about it while those that don't appreciate this kind of effort in the slightest for it's issues should avoid this one.
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