The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot

This is a movie with the most campy title and premise that is more character-driven drama then guilty b-movie action entertainment. Its surprising prestige that elevates its genre setting comes a lot from Sam Elliot's performance and director Robert D. Kryzowski's focus on the emotional weight of the protagonist's journey.

Elliot carries this strange absurd premise as Calvin Barr, a retired veteran living in solitude. As the man who assassinated the titled Nazis leader in secrecy during WW2 (played by Aiden Turner as the young Calvin), he feels regret that his mission mattered very little to world while the love of his life, Maxine (Caitlin FitzGerald) had to move on herself when he returned home. When an American agent (played by Ron Livingston) asks for Calvin's skills and service to kill the titled creature to prevent it from spreading humanity-ending disease, it becomes a catalyst for Calvin to find some form of redemption to give purpose in his life. Elliot doesn't just rely on his usual charm and charisma but shows vulnerability in his character's state of mind. From moments where he breaks down into sadness when thinking about the life he could have had or being forced to inflict harm on another thing, we are shown that Calvin is not the war hero that lived a happy life but instead is this old warrior fading away into nothing more then a myth that glorifies his violent actions. And it surprisingly fits thematically when the film explores him killing Hitler and the Bigfoot (as the title says so not a complete spoiler). The two well-known figures are interpreted in ways one would not expect as Hitler's evil was more powerful and contagious then history described and Bigfoot is seen less as a classical movie monster but as this damaged being in pain much like Calvin is internally. You still get a memorable bloody fight between Calvin and the legendary creature (even if gets too silly) but by the end you feel the tragedy for both Calvin and the Bigfoot.

Outside of Elliot's performance and his character's journey, the movie does have weak aspects. When it tries to embrace its b-movie cheesy elements they feel forced and distracting to the point it hurts the serious weight the story has built. While the film doesn't spend too time much trying to justify or explain its ridiculous plot, the slow pace can feel like its dragging even near the end. Plus the music felt like it was from a 90's hallmark soap opera that didn't feel like it fit. As silly as this movie gets, I never felt it was trying to entertainment me with cheap thrills. Elliot's awards-worthy performance and its examination on the glorification of myth and history made for an engaging piece of dramatic art to analyze and appreciate. Give this movie a watch. It will certainly be a memorable and surprising experience even if gets too crazy for its own good at times.

This is not the movie you might reasonably have expected from the title - while both killings are part of the movie, they play second fiddle to the story of a man who has sacrified everything for what he believes is in service of the greater good.

Really took me by surprise, Sam Elliot really delivers a superb performance, which is pretty much what the movie hangs on.

Yes, it's a bit bizarre to have a movie where the assassination of Hitler and killing of Bigfoot - by the main character - are mere sidenotes in a slow-burn character study....

But it worked for me, I can see why it wouldn't for others, but it's genuinely a good movie and not the b-movie schlock-fest the title implies.

...and end up watching this pretty slow paced drama about a extraordinary man living an extraordinary life.

Sam Elliott is as good as he's always been, leading almost by himself this film, that's has quite the Forrest Gump feel to it. More than a movie, it is a tale.

Pretty classic in its narration and image, "The Man That Killed Hitler and Then Bigfoot" surprises by the atmosphere it gives, the sadness of its character and the world he lives in.

A good film.

In Empire Strikes Back, Luke is about to enter a cave, he asks Yoda what is in there. The answer, "Only what you bring with you." This is really at the heart of The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Bigfoot. The tale follows Calvin Barr, played in youth by Aiden Turner and in age by Sam Elliott, both of whom give outstanding performances. As a young man he is tasked with hunting down and killing Hitler, as an old man he's drawn into hunting down and killing The Bigfoot. But is that really what this film is about? I saw it as an allegory on aging, vulnerability and Alzheimer's but reading other reviews it clearly means different things to different people. From an allegory on America's fight against Fascism and then Communism, through a man rewriting his past, a weak man trying to give the mistakes in his life meaning, to a story about a man who genuinely killed Hitler and then Bigfoot. There are many other reviews that offer different readings on this film. This movie seems to hold up a mirror to the audience and you put your own meaning on it. What isn't up for debate are the fantastic performances of the cast, from Elliott and Turner, through to Larry Miller as Calvin's brother and Caitlin Fitzgerald as Maxine, Calvin's lost love. It's a mesmerising film and you'll debate what it's trying to say for a long time afterwards. It's definitely worth a viewing or two.

Great first half, even if it does bounce around a lot between timelines, though unfortunately that becomes a little tiresome the more the film goes on. Sam Elliott is fantastic, and he is truly the perfect actor for this role; I award this a 6.5/10 solely based on his performance, in a film that isn't quite sure what it is supposed to be, though ends up being more of a drama about a tired old man than anything else.