“Nothing good ever happened to people who stayed on trails” is the ominous boast from one of a group filming their deep woods outing in 1995. Their trip is soon cut short when they are attacked by something unseen. Flash forward to the modern day, and another quartet of youngsters are on their way for a camping trip in the wilds. While they may think the worst they have to put up with is their in-fighting, something lurking in amongst the trees has other ideas. Well, let’s be honest, it’d be a pretty lame Sasquatch film if they didn’t get terrorised by the big man, wouldn’t it?
The titular creature isn’t the only threat to our foursome, as their bickering and inexperience puts them at risk from each other, with some shocking consequences. Despite the seen-it-all-before premise, Bigfoot Country isn’t afraid to do something different with its premise, and it’s all the better for it. The opening found footage segment sets the tone perfectly, and when the camera is later discovered, it’s refreshing that the reality of the situation is addressed and it doesn’t work (although it would surely be a little more weather-beaten).
Director Jason Mills (3 Hours till Dead) makes the most of the low budget by filling the screen with shots of the luscious woodland. And while we don’t really get a good look at the titular creature, its presence is certainly felt in the sound design and some inventive visual flourishes. Although some might consider this somewhat of a copout, it actually proves to be a blessing since the budget may not have stretched to anything remotely impressive creature-wise, unfortunately.
While we’re on the subject of budget constraints, they do become evident in some scenes, particularly the obvious car interior shot with superimposed backgrounds, but the fabulous footage of the souped-up Trans-Am just about makes up for it. It’s a small detail, though, and doesn’t distract too much as once we’re in the wilds, there are no such faults. Mills applies a ‘less is more’ to what we see out there in the woods, and while it doesn’t go the full-on Blair Witch route and deliver nothing, the glimpses we do get and the unsettling sounds help build up a feeling of dread and allows the film to certainly punch above its weight.
It’s certainly worth your time if you have a penchant for crypto movies and undemanding thrills.
BIGFOOT COUNTRY / CERT: TBC / DIRECTOR & SCREENPLAY: JASON MILLS / STARRING: DARREN ANDRICHUK, KIANA PASSMORE, HANS POTTER, MICHAEL STRICKLAND, BROOKE WALKER / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
