Director: Bruce Wemple
Year: 2021
Country: USA
Alternate Titles: N/A
Genre: Bigfoot/Sasquatch
Plot:
Heading out into the wilderness, a group of college students on a field trip studying a rash of missing person’s reports finds that not only is the suspected culprit Bigfoot not the only monster in the woods but a pack of wendigo lurk in the area forcing them to fight off the creatures to get away alive.
Review:
This was a rather enjoyable creature feature. One of the better features here is how this one manages to execute the ability to keep the creature hidden throughout here. The opening attack is a great example keeping the creature off-screen for the most part except for brief looks at the hands and a way-too-blurry close-up that instead focuses on noises in the distance, animal movements through the underbrush, and brief glares of flashing eyes staring at them in the distance unaware they’re being watched. This is carried over into the stories about its existence in the area or the inclusion of the other beings that are introduced which not only incorporates an unconventional feel but gives the film a wild, unpredictable feel due to these various factors being involved.
As well, there’s a lot to like with the ability to include the various creatures and storylines together. The manner in which they’re introduced, from the ghost showing up at the side of the road and possessing the victim, the wendigo grabbing a passenger out of a car accident scene, or the hunter taking the hostage out into the wilderness as bait, are all quite fun and offer up some fun scenes. As each of them takes a great action scene, with the wendigo attack on the hunter, the possessed student running wild on the cabin, and the big attack at the end, features all the creatures coming together for a fun battle royale in the middle of the woods. This offers a great chance to see the practical effects work used for the scenes as well as the fun gore effects which are highly effective, give this one a lot to like that hold this up over its few flaws.
This one does manage to bring about some flaws. The main drawback on display is the chaotic and jumbled storyline that tries to cram way too much into this one. Featuring the search for Bigfoot, a possession by a strange entity that’s never explained, rampaging wendigos, and much more, there are way too many storylines and plots for what should be a simple, straightforward creature feature. As well, the other factor here is the rather sluggish first half getting the group to the cabin and starting their journey. These scenes showing the group going through the woods on their field trip or just interacting with each other at the cabin, are quite full and underwhelming, being full of cliché elements and nonsensical actions to force the issue for no reason. These would’ve gone a long way to helping this one out as these do lower it enough overall.
Overview: ***.5/5
Although it has a few issues cramming too many storylines into this one, that it’s quite fun combing all these factors gives this one some enjoyable elements to hold itself up over those flaws. Give this a look if you’re a fan of this kind of creature feature or the creative crew while most others should heed caution if they’re not fans of this style or approach.
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