The cryptozoological creature Bigfoot has made its mark over the past several decades in many low-budgeted films, often combining urban legends and folklore in various forms. In fact, it’s not limited to just one species of Bigfoot family which can often include a Sasquatch or Yeti, in the horror genre tallying over 105 movies that has Willow Creek (2013) and Exists (2014) among its notable entries. As many know here at The Horror Times, have covered many of these flicks, yet somehow, we overlook this 2018 production, which make-up and special effects artist Patrick Magee, decided to make his directorial debut, and also staking his first claim to a screenwriting credit. However, he did co-write with Jay Lee who is known for his films Zombie Strippers (2008) and Alyce Kills (2011), which they used a Native American aspect of the cryptid to portray it as a defender of his vast territory, in the Pacific Northwest but using nature itself for camouflage and tree bark as self-made armor. One needs to note that this film has no connection to either writer Umberto Lenzi’s Primal Rage (1988) nor the video game of the same name from 1984. Magee successfully achieved distribution through Blue Fox Entertainment in first United States.
When Max Carr (Andrew Joseph Montgomery) gets out of prison after serving a year for drunken vehicular idiocy, his wife Ashley (Casey Gagliardi) picks him up at the gate to drive him home to their young son the relationship thoroughly stressed. The dialogue between them realistic and Max jokes about how he learned to make ‘shiv’ as they stop at a convince store and later Max drinks a beer in the car, obviously learned nothing from serving time. Sadly, things for them go horribly wrong, as they hit a wounded man running from his own peril of danger, they find themselves under attack from a large creature forcing them from their vehicle into the woods. The next day they meet a group of clichéd redneck hunting party that story hints as part of the Deliverance (1972) extras meets I Spit on Your Grave (1978) gang that is led by B.D. (Marshal Hilton (The Raking [2017]). Meanwhile, the sheriff (Eloy Casados) has a growing concern of an increasing number of hikers, travelers becoming missing persons, however his deputy (Justin Rain) hinted to more of naturist view man must balance himself with nature. Sadly this subplot never truly molds properly and takes far too long to evolve for a beneficial aspect to the overall film. When the Bigfoot creature arrives, its referred to as Oh-Mah, a Native American version that brings ferrous carnage to all by stomping of victims and tearing limbs from their pathetic bodies, and all important jaw ripping scene, likely to rival that inverse bear-trap in Saw flicks. Now there’s one minor but brutal twist that recently Bigfoot: Blood Trap (2017) did in almost comical form, that Magee delivers in savagery display, an interspecies rape that shows enough without becoming too exploitative.
Let’s start with the positives, the elements of the special effects really mov the film forward, which after all is Magee’s craft, That started Progeny (1998). Hence fine display with some jaw dropping visual scenes, which include kills, the main beast and nearly mirror matched of EC Comics’ old witch known as the Whispering Woman (Shannon Malone (House with 100 Eyes [2013])). As for the downside, overlooking the stereotypical cliché characters, some the dialogue lags but enough to truly wear down the overall film, but it’s that movie contain too many elements, a common error for debut filmmakers, often unsure if they’ll get another shot they throw everything into the mix, and herein it makes the film appear sluggish, as if the viewers need to trudge through the mud to finish the flick.
A curious aspect that’s often buried in the fields of cryptozoology and Bigfoot lore, is that filmmakers, and writers can discover new avenues to proceed to tell interesting stories. However for some strange reason it appears a few have included the interspecies forceable rape scenes or scenarios, perhaps they saw Jurassic Park too many times to quote “life finds a way”; nonetheless it just makes for more horror to thrill or disgust viewers.
TAGLINE:
- If you thought you knew the Bigfoot legend, think again…
https://www.bluefoxentertainment.com/films/primal-rage
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5688868/
IMDb Rating: 4.8/10
Baron’s Rating: 4.5/10