SHADOWS OF BIGFOOT (2024)

Streaming on Tubi!
Directed by Brendan Rudnicki.
Written by Brendan Rudnicki, Kellan Rudnicki, Andrew Thomas.
Check out the trailer here!!

A pair of investigators and their cameraman venture into the Blackwoods Forest as there have been recent disappearances and rumors of a large bipedal cryptid known commonly known as Bigfoot on the loose. As they venture through the forest alone and against the local authorities warnings, they run into various colorful characters and a ferocious beast in this found footage film.

Let’s get the found footage faux pas out of the way first. If you’ve clicked on my Found Footage 101 reviews, you know authenticity is something I find to be the most important factor in all of the best found footagers, meaning that the footage captured in the camera are free of additional production and feel like it is something filmed first hand and there has been nothing done to the footage between the time it was taken and when you as the viewer are watching it. Any music or strange cuts or scenes that are filmed from multiple angles shatter that suspension of disbelief and takes me out of the film. SHADOWS OF BIGFOOT commit these sins numerous times throughout the film as additional loud sound beats and music are all up in this one. At the beginning of the film, it says the footage was edited by professional filmmakers with enhanced sound for clarity. That’s all well and good, but it’s doubtful, if this footage were found, the filmmakers would dishonor those who have died with added music and jump scare beats. Additionally, unless the bigfoot hunters are accompanied by a keyboardist in their crew, there shouldn’t be any music, but in SHADOWS OF BIGFOOT there is. To the detriment of the authenticity of the film.

This one also swipes a lot of scenes from more popular and better Bigfoot and camping horror films. There are a few scenes where the two investigators are in a tent and hear sounds outside that are a little too much like the prolonged ending of WILLOW CREEK. This leads to a tent attack scene that actually was orchestrated quite well which reminded me of a low fi version of the bear attack scene in BACKWOODS. There are also some less than original scenes, including a drag-away swiped right from [REC] and an over-dramatic confessional from BLAIR WITCH PROJECT that should have been edited out as they are extremely cliché at this point.

On the plus side, SHADOWS OF BIGFOOT offers up some very gruesome effects. Blood and intestines are strewn about the woods. This Bigfoot is angry and tears its victims to pieces. There are also a few story beats I liked a whole hell of a lot. The reason this Bigfoot is so pissed harkens back to a local legend that it witnessed its family slaughtered by hunters and is now out for gory revenge. I liked this Jason Voorhees-esque motivation. There are also some nice references to eye-shine, which is a common factor in Bigfoot sightings, that I appreciated. The Bigfoot itself is only shown in blurry images and rarely is seen clearly, but the fact that you get a decent closeup in the opening reel shows some work has been done to make this guy look like the real deal.

I’ll give this one Two Solid Feets.
While the acting is rough, the two leads are ok and they do have a cast of colorful characters that helps up the body count. But the Voorhees-like origin, decent costume, and solid attack scenes make SHADOWS OF BIGFOOT, a cut above most in this genre.