Back to the found footage films now, and this time it isn't set in an asylum! It's a Christmas miracle! But hey, not only that, but this film doesn't concern ghosts or spirits or demons at all!
Here we find a television crew going into the woods to investigate whether or not Bigfoot exists...oh God damn it! It's effectively Grave Encounters/The Paranormal Incident/Episode 50, but
outside! And just replace ghosts with mythical creatures! *Sighs* Okay, let's get on with it.
I suppose looking back at it, okay fine it's the same bloody plot as the last three found footage films I've gone over, though the different surrounding makes a nice change. It certainly plays more like I expected 'Episode 50' to be, as a...making of a television show. There's a few blips, like why spend so much money on proving Bigfoot is a hoax when even the start of the film states that the popular belief is that Bigfoot IS a hoax. Hell, I can do the same thing for free, and in four words. Look; Bigfoot is a hoax. Ta da. Heck, the film even messes up the non-working phones cliche, since Drybeck (Frank Ashmore) says he'll take possession of the crews phones because they won't have signal out in the wilderness. Soooo, why would they have to give you their phones?
I suppose one of the things that drives this film are the characters, as they aren't as bad as you'd expect. Apart from Drybeck being the "expert" and Sean (Drew Rausch) only caring about ratings (Though in all fairness he does care when the extreme happens), the others feel like proper people, you don't feel that they're...fake should I say, they're don't feel like one dimensional characters. Though Kevin's (Noah Weisberg) constant moaning does get on your nerves and it does seem weird that Sean wants to do a television show that debunks myths and the supernatural, and yet a member of his crew, Robyn (Ashley Wood), makes herself out as a psychic. Is Sean saying that Bigfoot is a hoax but psychic
It's not only the characters though, the film is actually quite...creepyish. You see, most found footage films have the person react to...whatever appears, at which point the camera shakes uncontrollably and we the viewer can't see what's going on. This film doesn't do that. Instead, most of the time the person holding the camera does NOT react, it's almost like they're looking in another direction. But it's not like 'Sinister' where (the kids run around in slow motion behind the viewer so) the threat is unknown, since the characters are aware of what is going on, since there are noises and thuds against the cabin towards the start. The threat IS there, but it's more what you see than what actually happens, in a weird way. But since there aren't really any loud noises or anything, then you are generally keeping an eye out for anything that you might miss. In fact I watched this for a second time since the last time I watched this was several days ago and I needed a reminder, and I did notice stuff I missed the first time.
The acting isn't that bad either. In fact I'd say it was really good, which is surprising because I really didn't expect anything great. It's weird, everyone appears to slot into their characters with no problem, they put life into their persona.Even the minor characters at the start who refused to come on the trip (Citing they're black. They apparently knew they were in a horror film) made the most of their screen time.
In all honesty though, this isn't the best film ever, and I think that's mainly down to the flow of the plot. The...main portion (Should I say) of the film doesn't happen for a large part of the runtime, I think we get into the final forty minutes when it does start to go into the plot, but it sort of does "small bit of something happening, now rest" a fair few times, and then it goes into the climax of the film. It just seems a bit broken up. I guess I can admire the film for taking a different approach, but the execution doesn't quite reach the mark. That and the ending just raises so many questions. See Spoiler Section.
In all honesty, this is a pretty good flick. The characters are well thought out, the acting is far better than you'd expect it to be, the effects (For a shoestring budget, at least I assume it's a shoestring budget I can't seem to find any information regarding it) are very well used, and it does make you watch it for anything you might miss. It's certainly one to give a try, but don't expect it to be a brilliant film. It's more...meh.
Before you get to the spoiler section, here's another spot of advertising! Yes I've been asked to post a link to the 'Dead by Midnight Apparel ltd' Facebook page. And no, I won't be reviewing clothing. Though I'm not sure why you'd want to say your clothing will kill you by midnight, but that's beside the point. It's just starting up but the designs for their shirts are truly remarkable. Or rather the two designs they have are remarkable but I'm sure there'll be more. I might get the...dra
gon skull thingy bob one, I do like the looks of that one. I do know Rebecca Sturdgess (Yes the writer of
The Burnwick Series) will be doing a design and she is a remarkable artist. In fact, just for her I'll post the link for her Rainy Day Studios Facebook page. There you'll see some fantastic pieces of work, and she does do commissions so send her a message and see what she can do. She is working on the Burnwick series though, so see what she says.
So yes, here's the link for Death by Midnight Apparel
Now, onto the spoiler section!
Spoiler Section
The ending is the weakest part of this film. It tries to inject something new and surprising, but it comes off as a weird mess. Basically, the cast stumble onto the set for 'The Cabin in the Woods', as we get Bigfoot, invisible enemies, or foes with telekinesis, aliens and what I believe is a minotaur. The film does lead up to this, with Drybeck mentioning a theory that sasquatch have the ability to walk between realms and are protectors, with Robyn saying that she believes Bigfoot was carrying her away to protect her. The sasquatch did a very bad job at it. It was kind of interesting, but it raises so many questions; why didn't Drybeck encounter them before? Why are all these things here? Why didn't Bigfoot do anything? What attacked LaRoche (Rowdy Kelley)? Both times? Why does Robyn keep turning up at different parts of the cabin/s? Why did Drybeck hide a sasquatch corpse in a cave? How did he manage to drag it and a box all the way there? What the Devil is going on?
Maybe it was a prelude to 'The Cabin in the Woods'.
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