Here’s the fantastic trailer:

Who made this movie?

The film is directed by Seth Breedlove and produced by the Small Town Monsters crew. Just last year they released Beast of Whitehall, a documentary about the 1976 series of Bigfoot sightings in Whitehall, New York. Sightings persist to this day, and Whitehall is even considered the “Bigfoot Capitol of the East Coast” by many.

Joining the Small Town Monsters squad is Fouke Monster expert, author, and musician Lyle Blackburn. Lyle is a foremost authority on all things Boggy Creek Monster. For years he researched the monster and interviewed witnesses.

So what is the Fouke Monster?

The Fouke Monster, or Boggy Creek Monster, is one of the more famous representative ‘wild men’ of southern Bigfoot lore. This seven-foot black phantom caused a serious stir in the small community of Fouke Arkansas in the 1960s. Passive encounters dating back to the late 1800s led the Fouke folk (see what I did there?) to believe the monsters were generally peaceful and just wanted to be left alone, despite the occasional livestock massacre. A 1971 pair of aggressive encounters reported by the Ford and Turner families changed the perception of these beings, and more-or-less sparked the original The Legend of Boggy Creek film by Charles B. Pierce.

The Ford family encounter

On the night of Saturday May 1st, 1971 two seven-foot tall, hairy apes attacked the Ford home, literally. Scratches were found on the house itself.

The monsters then boldly moved towards the windows.

One of the two giants stuck its hairy arm through the window (as dramatized in the The Legend of Boggy Creek) towards one of the young Ford girls inside. She awoke, terrified. As she leapt from bed, she said the creature leered into the room with red eyes. Chased off by shotgun fire, the creatures retreated to the swamp.

The sheriff was called in and investigated the area for the frightened families. Hours after he left, the monsters returned. When the men went outside to shoot away the invaders once more, young Bobby Ford was attacked in the darkness. A shadowy being allegedly grabbed Bobby on the porch and threw him to the ground. He survived the assault and was treated for scratches and mild shock later that night at the hospital. The monsters never returned to the Ford home.

A famous shot from ‘The Legend of Boggy Creek’ (1972)

Are there present day sightings of the Fouke Monster?

Absolutely. The film presents a rising amount of cross-the-road sightings and several creepy encounters through the eighties, nineties, and into the 21st century. The Boggy Creek Monster didn’t just exist in the sixties and seventies. The most compelling chapters of Boggy Creek lore may have been written long after the Ford family encounter.

And other than the consistent stream of sightings leading up to this very day, I am most intrigued by the 1971 14″ long, three-toed trackway found in a local bean field. The only three-toed mammal that looks and acts anything like an ape is the sloth. But, sloths are quadrapeds. Interestingly though, the extinct giant ground-dwelling sloth used bipedal locomotion. Hmmm…. A theory post for another day no doubt.

Where can I find this movie?

Normally I’d urge you to go buy this on Amazon since Bigfoot Base is an Amazon Associates Affiliate (meaning I get a small piece o’ the pie), but if you have ANY interest in this flick, please head to the Small Town Monsters online shop, buy the movie from there, and support your independent filmmakers.

I haven’t devoted an honest sitting to the Small Town Monsters trilogy, but I just sat down for my first viewing of Boggy Creek Monster and I was very impressed. I will put a full review on the table before long.

The post ‘Boggy Creek Monster’ Documentary Available Now appeared first on Bigfoot Base.

In the least, we need to appreciate well made Bigfoot movies when we can, so have a watch.

Click below to watch on Amazon and let me know what you think in the comments! I included my thoughts on the movie below the image.

Watch ‘Stomping Ground’ on Amazon Video Now >>

Did you watch it? Alright, let’s talk about it:

Stomping Ground is a competently directed, well-acted story of male inadequacy and trust in relationships. And there is a Bigfoot in it too. He lurks from a distance a couple times.

The Good

Stomping Ground is put together really well. I was expecting this to be a true dud, with poorly-recorded, cringe-worthy dialogue; boring, stock camera shots; and camcorder-level resolution. But fear not. Director Dan Riesser cooked up a quality meal right here. The screenplay is solid and funny as hell. I watched this movie a week ago and a few choice lines, namely from the character Jed (Justin Giddings), admiringly float into conversations. No one knows what the hell I’m saying, but it’s all good.

I also enjoyed the significant attention paid to atmosphere. Stomping Ground is ripe with BEAUTIFUL vista shots of North Carolina. You can immediately tell that Riesser lovingly photographed this picture. And in the background we have a soft rambling country guitar score that accents the landscape with perfection. Ahhhh to sleep in a sunny Carolina leaf pile!

The Bad

Alright, so I did like this movie, but I don’t think I would watch it again. It works on a dramatic level enough, but constantly pushes Ben’s growing insecurities while taking really weak steps to build actual suspense. There’s no horror payoff for any of it until the final 10ish minutes. By that point, my attention withered to a nub. I appreciate the minutes spent to establish characters and setting, but Jesus I’m sitting there at an hour in and a sliver of the creature hasn’t even been revealed. A large foot finally appears at 1 hour 7 minutes, or when 88% of the film has passed.

I assume most viewers discovered this movie through a horror website, or cycling through the horror section on Amazon. Judging by the cover art and screen captures of the great creature makeup, the production company wanted to promote it as something of a monster movie. So give us the god damn monster. Showing an on-screen run-in with the two victims midway through the film would have been enough to lasso me back in. The creature design is so cool. I would have loved to see it utilized for longer than a few seconds. And honestly there’s only so much love-triangle banter and big city/redneck drama I can take in a fuckin’ Bigfoot movie.

Don’t let my rant frighten you child. Bigfoot horror started as trashy drive in. Nowadays we’ve expanded into just about three other sub-categories: found footage, Syfy channel action, and independent snoozers. Stomping Ground leans snoozer, but it’s better than just about any other I have seen so far. Unlike Snowbeast, this movie might actually be worth your minutes.

— AJ

The post ‘Stomping Ground’ (2014) Horror Review appeared first on Bigfoot Base.

Filming is underway in majestic Colorado (photo courtesy of the Rum River Productions Facebook page) *

I appreciate the frequency of Bigfoot horror movies in recent years. I haven’t had the pleasure of dissecting all of them yet, but they seem to be rising in popularity, and thankfully, quality. In the past four years alone we’ve had strong Sasquatch-flavored features like The Lost Coast Tapes (2012), Willow Creek (2013), and Exists (2014). Our newest Bigfoot horror movie breaks free of the found footage sub-genre and features a truly superb foundation of actors, creature effects, and sound. The survival horror thriller Hoax is filming right now in Hinsdale County, Colorado.

What is ‘Hoax’ about?

Set to debut in 2017 at some point, Hoax appears to be a stranded-in-the-wilderness group survival tale. Here is a synopsis from the ‘Hoax’ official website:

“An investigation into a camping trip gone wrong turns into a fight for survival when a team, including a brilliant primate specialist and led by a ruthless television producer, must come to grips with the possible existence of Bigfoot.”

And the tagline: The truth……….. CAN KILL!

AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who is making this movie?

A veteran of TV commercial directing and producing, Hoax director Matt Allen transitioned into film with a well-received zombie-western short called Aces & Eights (2008). He wrote and is currently directing Hoax, his first Bigfoot-sized step into full length films. He is producing the film under Rum River Productions, his Colorado-based company that supports local filmmakers.

Before the first frame was even shot, Allen’s screenplay for Hoax reached the finals of over 15 screenplay competition. What does this mean? People seem to love his dialogue and story: two refreshing check marks for a horror, let alone Bigfoot, film.

Actor Brian Thompson (photo courtesy of the Rum River Productions Facebook page)*

Who’s acting in the movie?

Allen assembled an exciting, more-than-competent cast for this creature feature. Trust me folks, this doesn’t happen everyday.

Ok, in the lead role is handsome white dude Ben Browder, a true sci-fi pillar from the shows Farscape and Stargate, among many many others. Listed second in ye olde IMDB lineup is Brian Thompson. You may know this giant man from action gems like Cobra (1986), Terminator (1984), and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997, he played Shao Kahn). Appearing to be the lead female, Cheryl Texiera rounds out the top billed troupe. Notably, she appeared in TV shows Girl Meets World and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Who else is involved?

Alright let’s put the boring actors on the shelf for a second. I’m sure they’ll all do JUST FINE (especially Brian Thompson, who plays frustrated psychopaths so well). Alright, check out these two amazing behind-the-scenes players nobody seems to be talking about:

Bill Munns (Return of the Living Dead, 1985), a level 100 Bigfooter in his own right, is on board as the special effects and makeup man. He will essentially be the monster maker. You die-hards may know him for his analysis of the Patterson/Gimlin footage AND for crafting a robotic Gigantopithecus. He even wrote a book about Patt/Gim, fondly titled “When Roger Met Patty.”

Bill Munns grooming his Bigfoot (photo courtesy of the Rum River Productions Facebook page)*

Alright get ready for this. This massively under the radar detail could very well shoulder Hoax to the top of the Bigfoot film ranks. Sound design and ORIGINAL SCORE will be composed by John Carpenter-collaborator Alan Howarth. Yea he did sound design on a few forgettable independent features like Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Total Recall (1990), and Poltergeist (1982); but he is also co-responsible for helping define the sound of horror for an entire decade with one of the greatest horror directors of all time. His collaborations with John Carpenter erupted into legendary themes for classics like They Live (1988), Big Trouble in Little China (1986), Escape from New York (1981), Christine (1983), Prince of Darkness (1987), and Halloween (1978).

Yes, way.

The force seems strong with this picture. Allen no doubt recognizes talent and it will be exciting to see his direction, especially since it will be his first foray. Solid actors, great effects, beautiful locations, music to die for, and an award-winning screenplay seem to scream success, right? Stranger things have happened, but this look like it’s shaping up well. Stay tuned to BFB for more news about Hoax!

* For images and daily updates for ‘Hoax’ visit the Rum River Productions Facebook page

The post Bigfoot Horror Movie ‘Hoax’ Filming Now appeared first on Bigfoot Base.

With limited hard-evidence and the tendency to attract hoaxers like hungry mosquitoes, foundations of the Bigfoot field often feel flimsy. Regardless, some things are undeniable: thousands of people have discovered giant tracks far in the wilderness; thousands have encountered a large, hairy, ape-man; and thousands know in their hearts that they did not see a bear or a man in a costume. Could this many people be wrong? A very exciting, new Bigfoot docudrama hopes to strengthen the public’s belief in Sasquatch, while, of-course, scaring the shit out of them. Lone wolf filmmaker Christopher Garetano will place the sturdiest encounters and most legitimate evidence into the open, finally pulling back the curtain on our beloved beasts.

Who is making this Bigfoot docudrama?

The docudrama titled Bigfoot is the passion project of filmmaker Christopher Garetano. Widely known for 2014’s Montauk Chronicles – a deep dive into the darkness and controversy surrounding a U.S. airforce base in Long Island, New York – Christopher also directed the short films Inside (2004) & Cottonmouth (2009), and the documentary Horror Business (2005) about low budget, horror-genre film makers. Motivated by lifelong passion and a perfectionist spirit, Christopher wants to create the greatest Bigfoot movie of all time.

‘Bigfoot’ creator Christopher Garetano at work
© Christopher Garetano

What inspired Christopher to create this film?

Christopher is no stranger to the arcane and mysterious. He grew up fascinated with Bigfoot sightings and the idea of something lurking in the same forests he often played in. Ever the imagination booster, the idea of Bigfoot propelled creativity and wonderment throughout his younger years. Like many modern day cryptid enthusiasts, he was particularly struck by Leonard Nimoy’s hypnotic presentation of Sasquatch on the TV show In Search Of… Drive-in flicks like the campy The Creature from Black Lake and docudrama The Legend of Boggy Creek cemented his interest. In fact, it appears Christopher’s Bigfoot docudrama will follow a similar structure to Boggy Creek: a blend of history, interviews, and dramatized encounters.

It’s just titled Bigfoot… Why so simple?

Rather than adopt a familiar Bigfoot movie name like the “blank monster” of the “blank place”, Christopher is sticking to the basic core. Either that or he’s paying serious homage to the cult classic Bigfoot of 1970. No, I’m joking. But Christopher feels that this is the most comprehensive way to label his film:

“It is appropriately titled “Bigfoot” because I realize there’s no singular movie in existence that seriously and properly covers the rich history as well as the modern science that surrounds the mystery of the Sasquatch.”

Will the film take a scientific look at Bigfoot?

Youthful daydreams of a giant, hairy beast stalking the outskirts of town no doubt flooded a lot of our young brains. Well, maybe just for the cool kids. But when you finally arrive at that intersection of reality do you really sink your teeth into the topic. Like many crypto-hounds, Christopher is inspired by the work of notable academics and their serious involvement in the field. Foot morphology and primate locomotion expert Dr. Jeffrey Meldrum headlines the list of professionals who believe that this species could truly exist. Christopher wants to present the first film that seriously details modern academic involvement in the subject.

Concept art drawing for ‘Bigfoot’
©2015 Christoper Garetano

So, what is Bigfoot really about?

No joke folks, Christopher wants to start at the beginning of life on earth. Taking an evolutionary approach, he hopes to detail ice age survival and the species’ rise parallel to man. He will follow that line all the way to modern civilization. Native American involvement is critical to the history of these creatures. Tribes like the Iroquois shaped the dark wild man of the woods as they told tales and experiences around the fire. Stories kept the legend alive, and, in my opinion, kept Native’s safe.

This Bigfoot docudrama will also feature horror sequences dramatizing legendary encounters. Throughout the film, Christopher will recreate the most infamous and dramatic Bigfoot run-ins: the 1924 Ape Canyon incident, Teddy Roosevelt’s frightening “Bauman” story, and, most notably, the Patterson/Gimlin encounter in 1967.

This sounds amazing. As they say, Christoper is going all in with this picture. Judging from everything I have read about him, I wouldn’t expect anything less than The Godfather of Bigfoot films. Don’t expect a teen-slasher, found-footage film or a surface-level reality TV show either. Christopher aims to make a picture that will not only bubble our adrenaline, but stir us on levels that haven’t been touched since we were cave dwellers.

To help this amazing project along, please check out Christopher’s Indiegogo page for donation information. Currently he is 25% complete with the film, but any amount would strengthen his vision: creature effects, period costumes, pyrotechnics, and a Tony Todd voiceover (awesome!). Check out the teaser above!! — AJ

The post Comprehensive Bigfoot Docudrama Could be Best Cryptid Movie Ever appeared first on Bigfoot Base.

‘Small Town Monsters’ documents the beast of Abair Road (1976)

Small town legends live forever. Especially those with Bigfoot sightings. Many of these legends haunt the communities long enough and pervasively enough to even garner their own feature film. Such is the case in Whitehall New York where a string of bizarre Bigfoot sightings almost 40 years ago inspired an independent documentary: The Beast of Whitehall.
Directed by Seth Breedlove, The Beast of Whitehall analyzes a flaring of up-state New York Bigfoot sightings in 1976. Since this swell of Adirondack encounters, Bigfoot sightings around Whitehall persist to this very day. Whitehall is called “The Bigfoot Capitol of the East Coast” by many.

What exactly happened in 1976?

A press release for the film:

“August, 1976: Three teens driving on an isolated stretch of road somewhere in the Adirondacks of upstate New York have a brush with a bizarre creature. Standing over 7 feet tall and covered in hair, they referred to it as a ‘beast.’ Hours later, Abair Road was crawling with local and state police. Many of them recounted seeing the creature as well.
As the weeks and months passed, more individuals came forward with their own sightings. The Abair incident became the impetus for a rash of sightings around the town of Whitehall that continue to this day. Today, Whitehall is frequently referred to as the Bigfoot Capitol of the East Coast.”

Who Made this Movie?

The Beast of Whitehall is the second film in a series of documentaries from production company ‘Small Town Monsters.’ The team’s previous release Minerva Monster, about a large bipedal creature menacing a family in Eastern Ohio, received positive reviews. Their next production will reportedly cover the infamous Foulke Monster from Foulke Arkansas, inspiration for the cult-classic Legend of Boggy Creek. Keep your eyes peeled for that production. Swamp Ape stories are particularly compelling.

Directed by Seth Breedlove and produced/composed by Brandon Dalo, the trailer for the Beast of Whitehall looks fantastic and quite spooky. I’m looking forward to checking out the final product:

The post New York State Bigfoot Documentary Set to Premiere in April appeared first on Bigfoot Base.