Willow Creek (2013)
October 5, 2023 9:24 AM - Subscribe
Looking to make a splash online with his research videos into the existence of Bigfoot, Jim and his girlfriend Kelly take a camping trip to the small town of Willow Creek, California, and the surrounding mountains where the infamous footage of the supposed sasquatch was filmed.
Written and directed by Bobcat Goldthwait (yes, you read that right), this was actually really good. It's effectively creepy, appropriately infuriating with its not uncommon relationship dynamic (ladies, we have all dated this dude or had a friend who did), and honestly, for the barebones budget, it did make me yelp a few times. Is it polished? Nope. But I don't think it needs to be. It does an excellent job, imho, of telling a story with showing, not telling. And at 79 minutes, it's a fast watch. It has also confirmed I will never ever camp. Ever.
This was Shepherd and I's choice for the cryptid theme of our 31 Days of Horror.
Written and directed by Bobcat Goldthwait (yes, you read that right), this was actually really good. It's effectively creepy, appropriately infuriating with its not uncommon relationship dynamic (ladies, we have all dated this dude or had a friend who did), and honestly, for the barebones budget, it did make me yelp a few times. Is it polished? Nope. But I don't think it needs to be. It does an excellent job, imho, of telling a story with showing, not telling. And at 79 minutes, it's a fast watch. It has also confirmed I will never ever camp. Ever.
This was Shepherd and I's choice for the cryptid theme of our 31 Days of Horror.
Agree with the above. It's surprisingly compelling, creepy when it needs to be, and doesn't outstay its welcome. We enjoyed it.
posted by mrphancy at 6:14 PM on October 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by mrphancy at 6:14 PM on October 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
This movie had to have been inspired by the documentary Grizzly Man. Jim has a similar kind of enthusiasm and naivete of Timothy Treadwell, just much less likeable.
What I found really interesting were the scenes of the two in the tent. The scene at night when they are huddled together, terrified of the sounds outside, lasted ten minutes with no camera cut. I'm at the point where that discipline in movies is more amazing to me than any CGI.
posted by riruro at 1:28 PM on October 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
What I found really interesting were the scenes of the two in the tent. The scene at night when they are huddled together, terrified of the sounds outside, lasted ten minutes with no camera cut. I'm at the point where that discipline in movies is more amazing to me than any CGI.
posted by riruro at 1:28 PM on October 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
Absolutely, riruro! I was on the edge of my set with that scene. Again, what my brain is imagining so so much scarier than me seeing it. I was like, "FUCKING HELL nope nope nope."
posted by Kitteh at 1:36 PM on October 6, 2023
posted by Kitteh at 1:36 PM on October 6, 2023
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Bobcat's growth from 80s Novelty Weirdo into a pretty significant off-beat creative force has been fun watch happen. There's always more range and creativity in his movies than I go in expecting based on the trailers and, you know, One Crazy Summer or whatever.
posted by Phobos the Space Potato at 12:27 PM on October 5, 2023 [2 favorites]