Movie Review: “Shadows of Bigfoot” – an age-old tale with a new touch.

“In the shadowy confines of Blackwood Forest, filmmakers exploring Bigfoot myths face their worst fears when a vengeful monster emerges, turning their project into a chilling fight for survival.” This is how the synopsis of “Shadows of Bigfoot” reads, setting the stage for yet another exploration into the world of cryptid horror.

And yes, this synopsis hints easily that this likely is yet another found footage film, a subgenre of horror that has had its fair share of hits and misses over the years.

“Shadows of Bigfoot” is written and directed by Brendan Rudnicki, a filmmaker who seems to be a huge fan of making found footage films. Just like his last film “A Cold Grave“, this too delves into that foray of storytelling, trying to spin a very familiar tale in his own unique way.

The film follows Drew (played by Andrew Thomas), his girlfriend Grace (played by Tatum Bates), and her brother Jake, the group’s cameraman as they venture into the shadowy confines of Blackwood Forest. Their mission? To find clues about missing hikers and, more intriguingly, to track down a local man accused of killing his wife. Though the case against him was acquitted, he has since vanished into the forest, alleging his wife was killed by a strange creature in the woods. The group are hoping to find him and get an exclusive interview that hopefully provides more details about this cryptid.

Armed with cameras and gear, the trio heads into the woods to find this hermit and the answers they seek. Drew and Grace are introduced to us as independent journalists, exploring urban legends and unsolved mysteries for their online audience. They seem to know what story they want to tell, yet they are completely oblivious to the dangers that lie ahead. Despite warnings of getting arrested and fined by the park’s guard, they stubbornly press on, convinced that they’re on the verge of uncovering the story of the century.

The plot thickens as they encounter locals and strange individuals on their own quests in the woods. A mysterious man even warns them to be wary not just of the forest’s dangers but also of the people they might meet. However, the group remains undeterred, viewing their mission as straightforward; find the local, get their interview, shoot some B-roll, and return home with their story. But as you might expect in a horror film, things quickly spiral out of control. The intensity builds until they have their own encounter with the mythical creature, and the rest of the story unfolds in a way that feels all too familiar.

As is typical of found footage films, much of “Shadows of Bigfoot” consists of Drew and Grace moving around with a camera following them, often in unconventional, weird angles, and framed shots which are mostly handheld. The editing pieces this “found footage” together to tell the story, and while the narrative itself may not break new ground, there are a few elements worth noting.

The sound design, for instance, is quite admirable. You can hear the woods come alive around the characters, and the dialogue is clear enough to follow. Additionally, the sound effects add a layer of intensity and horror that heightens the film’s overall atmosphere.

The special effects used in this film are also decent. They add just enough to the horror elements without going over the top or making the film overly gory. It’s a delicate balance, and Rudnicki seems to have a good grasp on how to maintain it.

Personally, I’ve seen too many of these found footage films, particularly ones dealing with Bigfoot. It’s always interesting to see how each filmmaker tries to make their film unique, whether through storytelling or the general production elements. Yet, despite these efforts, “Shadows of Bigfoot” struggles to stand out in a genre that’s become somewhat oversaturated. Its biggest shortcoming is its lack of urgency in the narrative. Everything moves too slowly and drags, you find yourself checking the time runtime often and expecting something major to happen. I guess it is the curse associated with found footage films that this film suffers from.

“Shadows of Bigfoot” isn’t the best-found footage film I’ve seen, but fortunately, neither is it the worst. It delivers a serviceable story with some notable technical elements, but it fails to break free from the well-worn tropes of the genre.

I will score this film a 5/10. For those who enjoy found footage horror, especially with a cryptid twist, it might be worth a watch. However, if you’re looking for something groundbreaking, this one might not satisfy that itch.