Shadows of Bigfoot

I bumped into this efficient little film on Tubi. It's a found footage horror in which a young filmmaking couple, with the woman's brother acting as cameraman, illegally explore a trail in the woods, ostensibly to interview a hermit accused of killing his family. The hermit says bigfoot did it. Is the hermit a killer? Or was it bigfoot? Or both?

The crux of the film is the two solid performances by Tatum Bates and Andrew Thomas as the couple. They sell their non-actorly performances and hit all the right found footage notes at different moments. They are real as a couple, as researchers, as filmmakers, as people having minor disagreements. Supporting players are definitely not as good, or not directed as well. A menacing guy who sort of threatens to help them is considerably overshooting. And I didn't think the hermit character was able to pull off the fake documentary type of performance.

The story has a good red herring with the hermit. You know bigfoot's real, you glimpse him in the gee-you-up opening scenes, but the hermit may or may not also be a killer. Little Blair-Witch-like developments keep the story evolving. Can we make this hike? Can we find this guy? Do we trust this stranger?

There are a few weak points. The scenery rarely changes; I guess it's all filmed in one area, and this subtracts from a visual sense that we're getting deeper and wilder in the woods. The characters always look too well-scrubbed, even after twelve mile hikes or with blood on them. And while non-diegetic music is used (kind of controversial in this genre) it's mixed so low it might as well not be.

However, with strong core performances, good story development and excellent late escalation, including some discreet gore, this is ultimately a satisfying film. There are a few killer jump scares, too.

Ignore all of the 17 reviews, so far posted for this film.

This is awful. Amateur beyond belief, and almost 'cartoonish' in the way characters keep 'bumping' into these main characters.

It's all shot in the dark, clearly to hide the fact they're filming in a small copse of trees in the middle of a field.

The 'guide' character who sneaked up on them when they decided to take a stroll, even though it was 'late', was perhaps the most 'cartoonish' character in the whole film, which is quite impressive, as they're all straight out of the world of animation.

His sneering at camera, his slow, deliberate movements, the amateur manner in which he delivered his lines, was comical.

There were so many idiotic attempts at jump scares, which didn't work.

Overall, an absolute disaster of a film. Decent for a high school production, embarrassing for anything above that.

I am a BIG Indie Fan.

Not all movies are a 10 but you have to look further then CGI and VFX.. This company goes hard on making movies and use what resources that are available to them.. If you're looking for fun and excitement then give it a watch.. Their SFX has gotten so much better then their previous movies.. I loved their backstory to Bigfoot.. If you are a indie fan or a Bigfoot fan then this is a must watch for you.. If you are looking for a multimillion dollar film then this isn't for you but you may just like it..

And No they didn't pay me to write a review. This is my personal opinion.

This indie film is a refreshing reminder that big budgets aren't everything. With a focus on strong characters and a compelling story, it proves that even with limited resources, filmmakers can create a truly memorable experience. The film's characters are relatable and their motivations are believable, making it easy to connect with them on a personal level. Despite its low budget, the film's special effects are impressive and add to the overall atmosphere. If you're looking for a film that's grounded in character and storytelling, rather than flashy effects, then this indie gem is worth checking out.

Come for the Bigfoot, stay for the friends.

Obviously, there's a Skunk Ape in this film and he/she does Sasquatch things- which is awesome.

There is so much more depth to this film than the average Bigfoot story. There's an impressive amount of characters we get to spend time with, and they are all wonderfully creepy in the most interesting ways.

The leads bring an incredible amount of hearth and depth to their characters. This becomes the rare horror movie where you find yourself rooting for the lead characters to survive, succeed and have their happy ending.

This is a quick, fun, found-footage horror film which will hit all the needs you have.

I would like to see the original ending released; maybe online or a special edition #ReleaseTheRogerCut.