Talking about the movie Lost Woods, 2012 co directed by Nathan Eilering and Phillip Ellering. Phillip also co wrote it with Joey Brown, who also stars in it. Spoiler Alert; I will be talking about plot details, If you can see it first do so, then come back and see if I'm close. My initial reaction is leaning toward the positive, It was redeemed by a number of factors. However before it was redeemed, it came very close to loosing it. It's premise at first resembles a grand cliché. Five friends go out into the wilderness, out of contact with anyone, and meet a Sasquatch. The undying monster. They are picked off one by one.
Here the five friends are Darrin, played by Joey Brown, who wrote this story. the vulnerable member of the group. Garrett Vander Leun plays Warren, the intellectual one, dark rim glasses. The congenial Lucy is played by Nina Brissey, She's the only girl on this trip. Phillip Ellering who co directed this plays Rey, the leader, outdoors-man, and survivalist. Lastly, the Comic book, zoned out, long blond haired and most outrageous of character goes to Nathan Ellering as George who again co wrote this story, . Throw in a pair of country boys, and a beast with glowing eyes, and you got the elements in play. How can such a setup succeed? First film it beautifully with pristine wilderness backdrops. This Cinematographer Lance Kuhns does very well, There is care in the color palette used here. the sign of some thought in the production values, Here the typical "Kids running through the woods in panic" seem less typical, even though almost every character has a chance to run, they are all filmed to cinematic effect, and are interesting to watch, the percussive score by Cody James and Jayden Lewis punctuate the action. Well done,
The Actors obviously have a lot invested here, as they were all co writers or directors, The closeness in a working situation, is reflected in the camaraderie displayed by the characters they play. Friends of many years. Friends with issues. This lifts the players out of the "stock" role they are assuming. This is a difficult relationship to convey, yet it comes off well, most of the time. Then there is the monster. The first shots of the man beast are unsettling, The viewers are given the usual shadowy figure in the brush, but even when the beast is full frontal, it is somewhat convincing, It has a ape like face, but is built like a woolly Hercules. A movie like this can stand or fall on the credibility of the creature, does it look convincing, does it act convincing. Yes and No, A big guy in a suit, Not alien enough to be a Predator type creature, but big with glowing eyes, and an invulnerability to bullets as well as an ability to leap through the wooded terrain. Did I mention that it was also seemingly invulnerable to any attempts on its life. On the other hand, it does not hesitate to brawl fist to fist with one of the leads. It hunts all humans, but has poor vision. Nor does this beast smell nice. When I discovered that the beast was indestructible, I figured the movie lost any credibility it gained with the fine acting. Likewise was my feeling when I contemplated the "ten little,Indian" plot, I was not eager to see these guys get knocked off. and yet even in the inevitable plot line, they were able to make it interesting.
To be sure there were some major flubs. One male bonding scene for example, would not have rung true even if Shakespeare wrote it, and worse, it was out of place, nearly killing the pacing, Even the stalwart of horror films convention, the, celebration after killing the beast, followed by the revelation that the beast is not really dead. is put in play, For some reason, it works. allowing the final victory conclusion. There are more than a few questionable plot holes, How did the one who got carried off survive? How did the dog survive? What the heck was the issue with the kid and his Pop? What are they target practicing with full bottles of beer? Big mistake. All manner of goofs, yet somehow it all pulls together and the ending is convincing bordering on satisfying. It is easier do give up the notion of the creature as a ape man type entity, and start to recognize it as a malevolent alien, empowered by negative forces and black smoke. Then it starts to make sense. And the conclusion is satisfying redeeming. Four out of Five" Indie does Sasquatch", Stars.
Here the five friends are Darrin, played by Joey Brown, who wrote this story. the vulnerable member of the group. Garrett Vander Leun plays Warren, the intellectual one, dark rim glasses. The congenial Lucy is played by Nina Brissey, She's the only girl on this trip. Phillip Ellering who co directed this plays Rey, the leader, outdoors-man, and survivalist. Lastly, the Comic book, zoned out, long blond haired and most outrageous of character goes to Nathan Ellering as George who again co wrote this story, . Throw in a pair of country boys, and a beast with glowing eyes, and you got the elements in play. How can such a setup succeed? First film it beautifully with pristine wilderness backdrops. This Cinematographer Lance Kuhns does very well, There is care in the color palette used here. the sign of some thought in the production values, Here the typical "Kids running through the woods in panic" seem less typical, even though almost every character has a chance to run, they are all filmed to cinematic effect, and are interesting to watch, the percussive score by Cody James and Jayden Lewis punctuate the action. Well done,
The Actors obviously have a lot invested here, as they were all co writers or directors, The closeness in a working situation, is reflected in the camaraderie displayed by the characters they play. Friends of many years. Friends with issues. This lifts the players out of the "stock" role they are assuming. This is a difficult relationship to convey, yet it comes off well, most of the time. Then there is the monster. The first shots of the man beast are unsettling, The viewers are given the usual shadowy figure in the brush, but even when the beast is full frontal, it is somewhat convincing, It has a ape like face, but is built like a woolly Hercules. A movie like this can stand or fall on the credibility of the creature, does it look convincing, does it act convincing. Yes and No, A big guy in a suit, Not alien enough to be a Predator type creature, but big with glowing eyes, and an invulnerability to bullets as well as an ability to leap through the wooded terrain. Did I mention that it was also seemingly invulnerable to any attempts on its life. On the other hand, it does not hesitate to brawl fist to fist with one of the leads. It hunts all humans, but has poor vision. Nor does this beast smell nice. When I discovered that the beast was indestructible, I figured the movie lost any credibility it gained with the fine acting. Likewise was my feeling when I contemplated the "ten little,Indian" plot, I was not eager to see these guys get knocked off. and yet even in the inevitable plot line, they were able to make it interesting.
To be sure there were some major flubs. One male bonding scene for example, would not have rung true even if Shakespeare wrote it, and worse, it was out of place, nearly killing the pacing, Even the stalwart of horror films convention, the, celebration after killing the beast, followed by the revelation that the beast is not really dead. is put in play, For some reason, it works. allowing the final victory conclusion. There are more than a few questionable plot holes, How did the one who got carried off survive? How did the dog survive? What the heck was the issue with the kid and his Pop? What are they target practicing with full bottles of beer? Big mistake. All manner of goofs, yet somehow it all pulls together and the ending is convincing bordering on satisfying. It is easier do give up the notion of the creature as a ape man type entity, and start to recognize it as a malevolent alien, empowered by negative forces and black smoke. Then it starts to make sense. And the conclusion is satisfying redeeming. Four out of Five" Indie does Sasquatch", Stars.