Worth it to See Combs and Henriksen Still It's a Keeper!!!
Added 7/9/2009
Horror film watchers have to enjoy the character played by Jeffrey Combs and the hilarious dialogue with Lance Henriksen. These little nostalgic moments are classic for true monster movie afficianados. Then there's "Otis" played by Christien Tinsley, sometimes I watch it just to see his mannerisms and insensitive expressions, he cracks me up. Schifrin did a wonderful job with this one. This is on par with enjoyable old time drive in movies like "Jeepers Creepers" and "Night of the Living Dead." No don't get me wrong, the movies are not equal artistically in any way shape or form, but the enjoyment level is excellent for an evening of slightly scary monster frolic with gore to boot, for all you bloody guts lovers. There were some wonderful surprise creeper moments, which is why I still watch it late at night occasionally before going to bed, just for the"ambiance!" Since I have been watching it on my DVR, I'm purchasing it for my private DVD collection so I can watch the uncut version (One thing I hate about non-premium channels is all the cuts in dialogue and scenes that aren't even 'R' rated, now I can watch the whole movie like I saw a year ago. If you love horror movies, no worries this will be worth the watch!
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The title says it all.
Added 6/27/2009
Abominable (Ryan Schifrin, 2006)
The best thing about Abominable is that you don't really need to ask anyone how it is; the title tells you all you need to know. Schifrin, son of one of the greatest film composers ever to tickle the ivories, tackles his first (and, to date, last) feature film; he is better-known for his comedy shorts, especially those with co-director Adam Green (The Tiffany Problem et al.). This is probably a good indication of why.
Preston (National Security's Matt McCoy) and his friend/caretaker Otis (special effects guy Christien Tinsley, who won a special Oscar for inventing Tinsley Transfers [look it up], in his first job in front of the camera) come back to Preston's house after, we understand, Preston has spent a good amount of time in the hospital. While it's not explicitly stated until much later, a scene at the beginning should clue you in to why. (I'll still avoid telling you in case it's a spoiler, however.) Preston is looking forward to being back in the peace and quiet of his secluded mountain home, but just after Otis heads off to town to get some forgotten supplies, a group of loud, obnoxious young women, celebrating the impending marriage of C. J. (Drake and Josh Go Hollywood's Karin Anna Cheung), one of their number. (The others are played by Haley Joel, recently of the film version of Tony 'n Tina's Wedding; Life Happens' Natalie Compagno; American Idol contestant Ashley Hartman; and the seemingly ubiquitous Tiffany Shepis, recently of Zombies! Zombies! Zombies!. Given those four resumes, guess which one is wearing a red shirt and gets called "Ensign".) Preston has been filled with a sense of unease ever since coming back, and that night, he gets validation when one of the girls, who has left the house in order to get better cell phone reception, is carried off by the local version of the Abominable Snowman. The rest of the movie consists of Preston trying to convince both the local police and the women across the street that everyone on the mountain, including him, is in grave danger.
Oh, survival horror is a well-worn genre indeed, and Schifrin (who also co-wrote the script with one James Morrison; IMDB says it's the guy from Top Gear, but I'm skeptical) never fails to travel the ruts in the road. Granted, I'm willing to watch anything with Tiffany Shepis in it, and I can now apply that to Karin Anna Cheung as well. When you add in cameos from Lance Henriksen, Jeffrey Combs, and Paul Gleeson (the principal from The Breakfast Club), I'm already sold, even when my kid tells me it's the worst movie ever. It's not that, but it's painfully predictable, boring, and for a movie containing an Oscar-winning special effects guy, the effects here are awful (they reminded me, in fact, of Ogre, which I reviewed recently). Some very beautiful ladies to be found here, some fun cameos, but the bulk of the movie is more like Cast Away, but without any of the actors having Wilson's personality. * ½
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Entertaining but with some goofy elements
Added 2/2/2009
"Abominable" is a Bigfoot/Yeti flick released on the Sci-Fi Channel in 2006.
Matt McCoy plays a paralyzed man who returns to his deep woods home six months after losing his wife in a climbing accident. He slowly becomes aware of a Bigfoot-type creature prowling the area and preying upon the five college girls vacationing in the house next door. Unfortunately no one believes him when he attempts to get help and his house isn't wheelchair-friendly. Horror ensues.
Matt McCoy is best known for his reappearing role in Seinfeld as Lloyd Braun, George's friend from high school who goes looney. He's a bit reminiscent of Anthony Perkins of "Psycho."
The story combines the Bigfoot legend with Hitchcock's "Rear Window" and "Friday the 13th" and works well as it's entertaining throughout.
Bigfoot as presented here is an 8-foot hulk of unadulterated horror. He exists for one reason only -- to terrorize, kill and devour people (and anything else). The film doesn't shoot for anything much deeper than this; it's a deep woods slasher/horror flick in the mold of "Friday the 13th." The main difference being that Bigfoot here doesn't need weapons like Jason, he's got his teeth and overwhelming brawn.
Aside from being consistently entertaining "Abominable" has good locations (Idylwild, California), good production values, Lance Henriksen in a small role and some cute girls.
Unfortunately the film only plays it semi-serious as there are some campy aspects (unlike "Sasquatch Hunters" and "Sasquatch Mountain," both of which took the subject totally seriously). Otis, the male nurse, the hillbillie with a nose tube, the cops, as well as the closing scene with eyes in the night all infect the film with a goofy we're-not-taking-this-very-seriously vibe, not to mention the Jack Elam-like face of the monster, which is more goofy than horrifying.
Regardless, "Abominable" works for what it is.
Runtime: 94 minutes.
PERSONAL GRADE: B
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ABOMINABLE: The "Creature" Not the Movie
Added 1/31/2009
Not many films that regularly appear on the SciFi Channel are worth a watch. ABOMINABLE is the rare happy exception. Much of the film is a Gothic nod to Hitchcock's REAR WINDOW. Here Preston Rogers (Matt McCoy)is a man confined to a wheelchair due to a mountain climbing fall six months earlier that killed his wife. While looking through his binoculars in a mountain resort in the woods of California, he sees a Sasquatch type Bigfoot stalk a trio of attractive young women, whom he knocks off one by one. Once you get past the laughable premise of a hirsute fanged seven foot lumbering gorilloid, you can watch the film with more than passing interest. First, there is Preston himself, a man who has to rely on his brain to survive. In most horror films, there is a tendency for the audience to laugh at the foolish antics of a victim, who, when approaching the Big Thing, often says nothing more intelligent than, "Is anyone there?" Preston is plenty scared but he uses his fear to construct a plan for survival that is believable. Then there are the Pretty Girls. Hollywood monster flicks demand that at least one of them must be seen semi-nude in the shower, and this film obliges. Lance Hendrickson has a bit part as a hunter who winds up as the hunted. ABOMINABLE borrows from nearly every one of its genre in that the Big Thing picks off its screaming victims one by one. But in this case, Preston can do more than passively accept a gruesome fate. We can cheer his efforts to save himself and one of the Pretty Girls (Haley Joel). The Big Thing himself is rather more dopey looking than scary. Still, it is Preston in his wheelchair that draws the audience into a semblance of a willing suspension of disbelief. ABOMINABLE emerges as a successful fright film that is far superior to others that persist in presenting their victims as no more than willing and rather unintelligent and hence uninteresting cattle led to slaughter.
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Keep an open mind
Added 11/24/2008
We'll what can be said that hasn't already been said. This is a half decent bigfoot movie. Yes, it's "teens get slaughtered"! yes it's a little dated but it's still fun' I agree with other reviews that there is too much monster and when you do get a good look it's some what reminisant of a kabookie mask.
It's good value for money and a great way to scare tweenies with the family, though one scene is a little violent it's almost comic book humour in its "over the topness".
It's fun, worth the money and the gag reel is worth a look too.
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Surprisingly entertaining B-movie greatness!
Added 6/2/2009
As a hardcore Bigfoot enthusiast (though not a believer) and a HUGE fan of monster movies for the past 30 something years, I've seen most of the Bigfoot films out there. Some, like "The Curse of Bigfoot" used to be shown on creature features in the '70s and I ate them up as a kiddo. Ditto "The Legend of Boggy Creek" and "Snowbeast." The monsters were blood-thirsty, the actors were fairly amateur at best, and the action was just enough to keep the flick from gettin gboring.
The latest crop of Bigfoot films have been a fairly mixed bag. Some (like "Sasuqtch" and "Yeti") are so bad, that even as a deyed in the wool B-movie afficianado, I simply can't sit through them without a half gallon of cheap whiskey. And even then, I'd rather go put my head in a bread mixer for 90 minutes. Others like "Abominable," "Sasquatch Hunters," and this movie, are damned entertaining in that '70's and '80's bad movie way. Plenty of action, hardcore monsters, and no shortage of blood and guts. "Sasquatch Mountain" starts as a bank heist movie. There's cops, robbers, shooting, and a porn star-looking hostage to boot. From there, it goes on to resemble (to me at least) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Firday the 13th movies. Namely, a group of people is caught in unfamiliar territory, being pursued by a huge, scary, angry, and homicidal monster that simlpy wants them dead. They run, it follows. They hole up in a cabin, it follows. Turns out the guy who owns the cabin is dead on the can "like Elvis" as one of the characters points out. Also just so happens the dead guy has been feeding the monster with horse grain, and the monster's a mom to boot. Seems momma monster's simply been protecting her territory from the intruders. The kills are pretty good (not great) and the characters are prone to incredibly akward and stilted expository dialogue, the likes of which you only ever see in bad WB teeny bopper shows (at least from what I can tell by seeing the previews of them in commercials). BUT, there's action, Lance Henriksen doing his thing as only he can, a leading lady with huge, bouncy silicone boobs, and best of all, at the end of the movie, they play an actual 911 recording of a guy calling to report a "real" Bigfoot encounter. The geek in me jumped for joy and nearly dropped his inhaler.
The "making of" featurette is pretty good as well. I wasn't expecting something like this on a straight to DVD flick, but there's a brief, though informative bit on the makeup fx design of the creature, interviews with the actors, and a set visit. An excellent surprise, and endeared the film even more to me.
All in all, well worth the $2.50 I paid for it. Heck, I'd have paid $10.00 for it since I'll be watching it again for sure. If you're a fan of Bigfoot horror movies and are on the fence about this one, just go ahead and buy it. You'll be really glad you did.
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Reminds me of my Sasquatch hunting days
Added 5/11/2009
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Closing time at the bars, Mack and his bros are liquored up and have been rejected by the hotties on the dance floor. Time to lower the standards.
ROOAARRAAHHAWL!!!
translation:"yes I'll come home with you little man"
Morning comes, Mack is scrambling for some aspirin, excuses, and some raw meat--Sasquatch is looking hungry! Aw geez....
This movie won't give you nightmares or a lifelong itch. It's actually better than expected.
Some bank robbers flee into the forest with a hostage and some bumbling cops on their tail. And you guessed it, in them there woods there's also afugly hairy chick Mack dropped off after a one-nighter.
I know, I'm bad. This flick isn't though. I was expecting a cheesy, over-the-top gorefest with bad acting, dialogue, and special effects. Not the case. This is more of a moderately-paced character study film. A cross between First Blood, Blair Witch, and my hairy butt. J/K, this is not like Blair Witch.
It has a hot chick (no nudity) and a bit of a King Kong-Beauty and the Beast vibe developing at the end. The creature is usually shown in glimpses throughout the movie, but not because the costume was bad. The acting & script are both decent too. Not bad...
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More than just a Bigfoot flick
Added 12/6/2008
Director: Steven Monroe
Writer: Michael Worth
Runtime: 90 minutes
Locations: Williams, Flagstaff and Coconino Nat. Forest, Arizona
Year of TV Release: 2006
THE PLOT: After an unfortunate auto accident, Cerina Vincent is taken captive by a gang of bank robbers who are forced to flee into the Arizona timber by foot. They are followed closely by a posse made up of policemen and old Vietnam vets. The two groups are forced to team-up when they encounter a Bigfoot creature who is picking 'em off one by one.
Although I highly doubt the creature exists, I'm fascinated by the Bigfoot legend and enjoy films on the subject. "Sasquatch Mountain" is one of the best, if not the best. It was originally titled "Devil on the Mountain" and, in fact, that's the title that appears on the dvd.
To be expected, some people smugly laugh at the picture, calling it unintentionally funny and cheesy, but nothing could be further from the truth. This is actually a character study using the Bigfoot legend as a stage. The story and characters are taken seriously and there's no goofiness to be found. The reason some automatically laugh at it is because the idea of Sasquatch has become a big joke, which is understandable.
I should point out that if you're expecting a mindless slasher flick with Bigfoot in the evil Jason role you'll be disappointed. The film "Abominable" (2006) is a film along these lines. It's a good film for what it is and there's nothing wrong with this approach, it's just that "Sasquatch Mountain" shoots for something deeper.
The screenplay was written, believe it or not, by Michael Worth who stars in the picture as one of the bank robbers, Vin. The guy comes off as a 35-year-old adolescent who is more likable than scary, even though he has a slight dangerous edge.
NOTEWORTHY ITEMS:
- Although the film is a low-budget straight-to-video flick it's a very well-made film, unlike "Sasquatch Hunters" (2005) and "Sasquatch" (2002), which both had some amateurish qualities.
- The score is great, sometimes even moving, giving the film a palpable reverent quality.
- Although the set-up is a bit contrived (the way the bank robbers get a hostage and flee on foot), the story starts to pull you in at the half-hour mark when the posse pursues the gang in the woods, both parties ultimately holding-up in a lodge. There are numerous well-written character-defining episodes that successfully capture the viewer's attention.
- For instance, the lead bank robber, played by Craig Wasson, laments how his father never paid him any attention growing up. I know what you're thinking -- aw, poor baby -- but the film successfully shows the correlation between adult wellness and healthy parental relationships, in particularly with the father-figure. Often children from dysfunctional families spend their entire lives trying to make up for the damage done by clueless parents.
- I also like the way Wasson and others are shown not totally poisoned by evil, despite being bank robbers. Wasson saves the life of the Sheriff (Rance Howard) without hesitation later in the film. It's a very good scene. Not to mention (as already noted) Michael Worth comes off as more misguided than malevolent; though Lance Henriksen doesn't give in to his charm one bit.
- To be expected in a character study, the screenplay has some great dialogue and lines. For instance, Wasson states: "No matter how hard you try or how high you get there's always some devil on the mountain waiting to knock you back down" or the Asian girl to Cerina: "Everyone has scars, but not everyone has the option of hiding behind a pretty smile."
- The film features no less than three beautiful women -- a Brunette (Cerina Vincent), a redhead (Lance's daughter in the story, played by Melanie Monroe) and the Asian bank Robber (Karen Kim) who comes off unattractive only because she's so bitter. Both Cerina and Melanie are magnificent. Melanie is the definition of spirituality.
- There's a good subplot about Lance Henriksen being a laughingstock for the past 15 years or so. His wife had recorded a vague video of the creature on the day she was killed by a hit-and-run. The video put the town on the map as a tourist attraction but made him an object of ridicule. The story shows his redemption.
- Although the Sasquatch kills in the story, he is shown in a sympathetic light (unlike "Abominable" and "Sasquatch Hunters") -- a father protecting his mate and newborn.
- The dvd features a worthwhile 20-minute "Making Of" Documentary.
FINAL ANALYSIS: I love "Sasquatch Mountain" and give it a weak 5/5 Stars or A-. It may not be "Apocalypse Now" but for a straight-to-video Bigfoot film it's quite good for all the above reasons. It should be given credit for not being another mindless monster flick; the Bigfoot legend is simply a frame for something deeper. Not everyone can look beyond the Sasquatch trappings; I understand this. I could and found it quite entertaining and even moving.
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