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[tab title="Movie Review"]

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Bonafide folklore and then some; that's the result of Bobcat Goldthwait's first forray into horror.

Willow Creek, writer/director Goldthwait’s latest film, sucker punched me right in gut. I guess I am still affected by these found footage flicks. What he has done here isn’t incredible by any means but it is effective. Merging The Blair Witch Project with the Bigfoot legend, Willow Creek is certain to keep you up at night asking yourself what those noises are outside your window.

Goldthwait, a serious Bigfoot fan, has done his homework and presents a knowledgeable attempt to bring the big, hairy beast into the forefront of American terror. Jim (Bryce Johnson) convinces his girlfriend Kelly (Alexie Gilmore) to accompany him into the wilds around Willow Creek for a weekend excursion to hunt Bigfoot. What hunts them; however, is more terrifying than expected and it’s all documented on their camera.

This spin through the dense woods of California is little more than a revisionist’s treatment of The Legend of Boggy Creek. While intense in only two terrifying nighttime scenes, Willow Creek is more effective in establishing how clever the found footage format can be in establishing tone and rewarding audience who seriously want to be chilled to the bone.

Goldthwait, already a keen writer and observer of people, keeps the banter light and airy until the couple enters the woods. There are warnings along the way from locals in the small town. They are ignored (because you would do the same) and the grim reality of their situation becomes all too real for us as we watch sheer terror settle into their tent.

Alone. Afraid. With nothing but the night to keep them warm and one bleak light to guide their steps, this couple is about to come face to face with what they are searching for. Some viewers will be put off by just how simple the film is. Others will see only The Blair Witch Project and wonder what the hell is wrong with Goldthwait. To be fair, he does pattern the movie after that 1999 classic (town run-ins and all) a bit too closely - hence the three stars – but still manages to scare the crap out us in the film’s most intense single-shot 20 minute stretch that dares to terrify with the use of sound effects alone.

You already know how the film ends. No one survives. But, if you are up for a good fix, Willow Creek will meet your need.

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[tab title="Film Details"]

MPAA Rating: Unrated.
Runtime: 77 mins
Director: Bobcat Goldthwaite
Writer: Bobcat Goldthwaite
Cast: Alexie Gilmore, Bryce Johnson, Laura Montagna
Genre: Mystery | Horror
Tagline: Willow Creek.
Memorable Movie Quote: "I said I would come with you on this trip to help you with your film, and it's your birthday."
Distributor: Dark Sky Films
Official Site:
Release Date: No major theatrical release
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: September 9, 2014 (MPI Media Group)
Synopsis: From celebrated Director Bobcat Goldthwait comes this edge of your seat horror that will make you think twice before going into the woods.

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[tab title="Blu-ray Review"]

Blu-ray Details:

Available on Blu-ray - September 9, 2014
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English SDH
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit); English: LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 16-bit)
Discs: 25GB Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Region Encoding: A

It’s found footage, folks. I think you know what to expect. Willow Creek appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 1.78:1 on this Blu-ray Disc. Found footage movies always look mediocre, and that is the case here. A movie that purported to be captured by consumer electronics shouldn’t offer stellar visuals, so the inconsistent sharpness, colors and blacks make sense. Given all the forest footage, colors tend toward the green side and generally look a bit heavy. Daytime town shots are more accurate. The DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack seems mostly monaural but works to build the suspense.

Supplements:

Commentary:

• Writer/director Bobcat Goldthwait and actors Alexie Gilmore and Bryce Johnson provide the dialogue for this screen-specific commentary. Together, they look at the project’s origins and development, cast, characters and performances, settings and locations, camerawork and the movie’s format, and related subjects.

Special Features:

There’s not much in the way of supplementals on the Blu-Ray/DVD, aside from an understandably deleted scene and a short, somewhat humorous featurette showing the crew and director trying to lay out some Bigfoot tracks.

• Deleted Scene (4 min)
• Bryce Johnson’s The Making of Willow Creek (5 min)
• Trailer (2 min)

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