Willow Creek (2013)

As an investigator in the field of Cryptozoology, Bigfoot has been one of my favorite creatures to research. That being said, the legendary cryptid also finds his way onto my must watch list, as I cannot get enough of Sasquatch themed movies and documentaries. While those movies can never compare to field research, they at least hold me in check until I can get back out into the field. The next movie in the genre for me to review is the 2013 indie flick Willow Creek.

Plot/ Jim and his girlfriend Kelly are visiting the infamous Willow Creek, the alleged home of the original Bigfoot legend and footage (the Patterson-Gimlin film) - the tale of huge ape like creatures that roam the forests of North America. Deep in the dark and silent woods, isolated and hours from human contact, neither Kelly or Jim are prepared for what is hidden between the trees, and what happens when the cameras start rolling...

As with every review of found-footage flicks, I understand that you will either love or hate the genre. Personally, I am somewhere in the middle, as if done correctly, they can make a realistic impact on the viewer. This movie is one of those. While it is far from perfect, there is a lot to like. The acting is solid, the scripting believable, the atmosphere works and more importantly, the 80-minute runtime is about right for this style of film. With those positives in place, writer/director Bobcat Goldthwait cannot get past some of the cliché moments that plague this type of film and has some uneven pacing throughout, which knocks it down a notch. In the end, this is one of the better found-footage flicks to come out in some time and a movie that effectively captures some of the real elements experience when in the field. Sure, more action would have been awesome, but what is here is awesome. If you love Bigfoot and found-footage flicks, this one is for you. Check it out!