Starring - Bill Oberst Jr, (Coyote, Red Dirt Rising), Jason Vail (The Cabin, The Originals), and Miles Joris-Peyrafitte (Gut)
Release Date - 2015
Genre - Horror
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
The face of horror is often changing depending on what fad is currently taking place. We are currently in a paranormal found footage craze that is almost overshadowed by the zombie apocalypse. However, when I think of horror I think of the days long gone during the drive-in age. Movies then featured cheesy stories and equally as cheesy monsters. The drive-in era ruled the 60s and 70s and around that time we saw an increase in bigfoot films. Sadly. this is a trend that did not last long and that is due to the quality of the bigfoot films. During this time we did get a few bigfoot flicks that were fun and would go on to become horror classics. The remainder, however, went on to become films that are often mocked and spoofed. Over the years we see a few films pop up here and there and most are shit. With that being said, I recently came across the film Valley of the Sasquatch when I received an email requesting that I review it. I saw that it had Jason Vail and Bill Oberst Jr in it and I gladly accepted.
The film follows a father and son pair who are struggling financially after the death of their wife and mother. They are unable to keep their home and move into an old shack in the woods. The father, Roger (Vail), is having a hard time coping with the lose if this wife and it is affecting his relationship with his son. Roger is dedicating his time to fixing the shack and preparing for winter while he forces his son to search for a job. However, before they do all that, Roger invites his asshole friend Sergio and his polite brother up for a weekend of drinking and hunting. That does not go according to plan when they spot something in the woods. The beast inspires paranoia among the group until they are finally attacked and forced to fight for their lives.
Modern bigfoot flicks are a touchy subject among horror fans. Too many rely on cheap visual effects that take away from the film. When you have a shitty creature the film falls apart. However, Valley of the Sasquatch took the minimalist approach to the creature feature and it worked very well. The film shows the creature as little as possible and relies heavily on the horror of the situation to work to it's advantage. The acting in this one is top notch which is something I expected when I saw Jason Vail and Bill Oberst Jr. was attached. Both are amazing actors and this film is another prime example of why these two are constantly getting cast in films. The remainder of the cast did a solid job as well which really helps the story flow along. The story for this one is simple, easy to follow, and very effective. The film reminds me a lot of the 1990 film Demon Wind which follows a group of people that are trapped in a cabin while forces of evil (supernatural or cryptid) try to get in and kill them. Hell, you can even name a dozen or so other films that follow the same story but none involve sasquatch and that is a huge plus for me. The story, also, effectively uses the "show as little as possible" technique used in most monster films and for once it actually worked, and when we finally get a good look at the beast it was well worth it. Finally, the film has several bloody moments but they are done in a tasteful manner and do not shower the viewer in unnecessary gore. The film has some great practical effects as well and the beast looks great for the short period of time we get to see it. My only real complaint about the film was that it was just too damn dark and as a reviewer I am torn about how to handle this. I sometimes get a rough cut of a film and it may be dark before being color corrected. I am assuming this is the case. Overall, Valley of the Sasquatch is a great addition to the creature feature revival. It has bloodcurdling suspense and an amazing cast of indie stars that makes this film a must see. This film is destined to be a modern indie classic so do yourself a favor and check it out!
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