If there is one perpetually underappreciated horror monster out there, it’s Bigfoot. America’s most famous and recognizable cryptid has a wealth of films and literature devoted to it – but the elusive, hairy beast has rarely found itself in the horror spotlight among its brethren such as the vampire and werewolf.
Legends and myths of Bigfoot or Bigfoot-esque creatures span centuries and continents. Sasquatch, Yeti, Skunk Ape, and more all come to fall under the Bigfoot banner. Many states and regions across the country have their own version of the ape-like figure. Entire communities and groups of people can be found dedicated to tracking down and proving Bigfoot exists. The legend also comes with a decent score of individuals looking for a bit of attention by concocting pranks, hoaxes, and staging sighting.
The ongoing fascination with Bigfoot is easy to understand. It taps into our collective obsession with the unknown and the mysterious. We humans may not agree on most things, but we all enjoy ourselves a good yarn involving the few shadowy corners of our world that have yet to be illuminated.
In a world where any question seemingly has an answer and the entire history of the world is at our fingertips, the desire to believe in something outside of our capacity to understand is magnetic indeed. Not having the proof is all the fun. If we can’t disprove it without a shadow of a doubt, then well, whatever it is may still be out there.
In honor of the King of all Cryptids, let’s take a long at four genre movies that do the legend of Bigfoot justice and see if they can make believers out of us.
1. Night of the Demon (1980)
This is it, guys. Night of the Demon is one of those oddball genre jamborees you hear tell of often for how good it is at being uniquely bad. Y’know the type of film I’m talking about: the kind of low rent schlock with such wacked out charm it transcends its shoddy makings to become an experience unto itself.
The story is simple. A group of college students and their professor trek into the wilds of Northern California in hopes of finally proving the existence of Bigfoot. Spoiler alert: he exists.
Shot in 1979 but not released on VHS in the U.S. until 1983, Night of the Demon is one of the rare cases where the hype delivers on all it promised. Censored in the UK as a Video Nasty, this James C. Wasson helmed creature feature classic has it all. It’s gory, it’s salacious, and it’s unintentionally hilarious. Everything exploitation junkies crave can be found in this 92 minute meal of hot celluloid cheese.
The majority of the kill scenes are showed to the audience via flashback as our hero, Dr. Nugent (not of the Ted variety) tells his team about all the recent encounters with the mysterious beast. Each kill is its own mini-movie of giddy genre goodness. Silly acting, terrible dubbing, and low rent gore carry the film until its bonkers finale.
When Bigfoot mayhem is not on screen, our cast of characters is shockingly agreeable to be around. They aren’t anywhere close to being developed or nuanced, but they aren’t actively annoying or hateful which goes a long way for a film like this.
Night of the Demon is one of those “I gotta show this to my friends” kind of exploitation flicks. It makes a great double-feature with something like Don’t Go In the Woods…Alone! or Pieces. If you haven’t seen this film yet, those two references should clue in you in to the general vibe Night of the Demon gives off.
2. The Legend of Boggy Creek (1972)
If a campfire tale was a movie, it would be The Legend of Boggy Creek. Shot and edited by renowned regional genre filmmaker Charles B. Pierce (The Town That Dreaded Sundown), Boggy Creek is a gorgeously photographed docudrama detailing the myth of the Fouke Monster who is said to reside in Fouke, Arkansas.
Told through lovely narration by Vern Stierman, Pierce uses actual Fouke locals to craft his docudrama. Many of the people featured are also actual self-proclaimed witnesses of the beast. The tangible air of authenticity this lends to the picture can’t be overstated. It’s a wonderful glimpse into a different era and small town rural life.
The DIY love and craft that goes into low budget regional horror is always something to appreciate no matter the outcome of the work itself. With a Pierce film however, you can always expect to see something with gorgeous cinematography and an above average grasp on shot composition. The Legend of Boggy Creek is loaded with brilliant nature photography. Pierce lingers on the still waters, the twisted branches of trees, hanging moss – it creates an immersive atmosphere that makes the natural landscapes of Fouke almost feel endless in their beauty and mystery.
The Legend of Boggy Creek is downright cozy, so those going into the film expecting to see a Bigfoot-esque creature tear through a cast of hapless victims won’t get this here. What Pierce accomplishes here is something more low-key, with the sole victim of the entire film being a dog. Outside of a few shots of decaying animal carcasses, the film is also utterly devoid of blood.
In that regard Boggy Creek is an ideal gateway horror film for young and enthusiastic horror hounds.
That’s not to say the film is devoid of chills or tension. The depiction of the Fouke Monster himself is startlingly well done. While obviously a man in a black fur suit, Pierce shoots him from a distance or obscured by foliage. At times the beast almost looks like a black void disrupting the natural beauty of the area. Pierce’s keen eye and the exceptional sound design of the film (the Fouke Monster’s wailing cry is a true spine-tingler) do everything to sell the beast as something that could truly exist.
The Legend of Boggy Creek is a true gem, and served as an inspiration for the granddaddy of all Found Footage films: The Blair Witch Project. Which brings me to my next suggestion…
3. Exists (2014)
I don’t recall this film making much of a splash when it was released. You would figure Eduardo Sanchez, one of the architects of The Blair Witch Project, returning to the world of Found Footage would create a bigger a buzz with genre fans…alas it seems Exists kind of just came and went.
Perhaps it was due to the subgenre being well into oversaturation by this point. Or maybe most people just didn’t think it was that good (the critics were not kind to the film). Oh well, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that Exists is a prime slice of Found Footage horror with an excellent depiction of Bigfoot.
As with all Found Footage the conceit here is very simple. A group of young people drive up a secluded cabin in the woods. Bigfoot is, uh, afoot. It terrorizes the group, picking them off one by one in increasing intensity. What did these kids do to incur the wrath of the beast? Is there something more at play than Bigfoot just being a mindless killer?
Exists is a film that gets better as it goes. The set-up is too familiar and the cast too generic at first to make the film standout in the Found Footage pantheon. However, as the conflict escalates the characters become more endearing and the danger more intense. There are some really, really fun set pieces in Exists. The staging and execution of the attack sequences are expertly crafted, putting some of the action on par with Matt Reeves’ Cloverfield – which still holds the gold medal for Found Footage monster action.
One of the most impressive elements of Exists is the ending. Most Found Footage films tend to have very abrupt endings. This goes with the territory of the concept. Exists takes the time to bring the mayhem full-circle and ends on surprisingly emotional and nuanced moment. It’s genuinely affecting.
Props should also be given to the film for featuring what is, in my opinion, the best Bigfoot design to grace the movies outside of Harry and the Hendersons.
4. Abominable (2006)
Ryan Schifrin’s Abominable is the most straightforward creature feature on this list, and the most appropriate Bigfoot flick to go out on.
Since its release in 2006, Abominable has maintained a fan-favorite appeal for genre fans. It’s a no frills monster movie that delivers everything horror hounds look for in this kind of film. It’s got gore, it’s got a bit of sleaze, and it’s got a cool as hell monster.
Rear Window meets Bigfoot is this film’s foundation. Our protagonist, Preston (Max McCoy) is still reeling from the tragic death of his wife during a mountain climbing excursion. Not only did he lose his wife, he also lost the use of his legs.
On the recommendation of his therapist, Preston is driven back to his cabin in Flatwood where the tragedy happened, his asshole nurse Otis in tow as his caretaker. Meanwhile a group of young women move into the cabin next door for a bit of partying. Both the girls and Preston will soon become the target of something monstrous lurking in the woods.
Much of what makes Abominable work is that we like and care about Preston. McCoy gives a very sympathetic and vulnerable performance that bolsters the material above being just fun schlock. The rest of the cast is stacked with fun supporting roles from genre favorites ranging from Dee Wallace to Lance Henriksen to Jeffrey Combs. B-movie Queen Tiffany Shepis is also on hand to provide an added dose of genre cred to the proceedings.
The titular beastie is “guy in a suit” perfection. He’s big, he’s hulking, and he rocks one gnarly set of crooked chompers in his puss. He’s one ugly ‘squatch that can distend his jaw like a snake to bite the face off of his prey if he so desires.
Abominable is the kind of monster movie I greatly miss. It utilizes a meager budget to give the audience as much fun as it can deliver. The cast is game and treat the material as seriously as it needs to be treated to make it a step above just another goofy monster movie – although it still scratches that goofy monster movie itch, make no mistake.
Sometimes, that’s exactly what you’re looking for.
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