Be on the lookout for the new Bigfoot film, STOMPING GROUND!

  I recently received a press release about a new Bigfoot film called, STOMPING GROUND.  I am a huge fan of the Bigfoot folklore and love films dealing with this subject.  So, I am always excited when I hear of a new film coming out based on this topic.   This film is from director Dan Riesser who directed the fun short film NIGHT OF THE PUNKS, which I reviewed back in October, 2012.  You can see that review here.  That was a great short film, so I really look forward to this feature film debut from Mr. Riesser!  Here is the basic plot of the film from the press release:

  Stomping Ground can best be described as a “scary relationship comedy about love and Bigfoot hunting.” It tells the story of Ben and Annie, a couple living in Chicago, on a weekend trip to Annie's small North Carolina hometown. At the local bar they run into Paul, an old friend of Annie's, and Ben learns something he never knew about his girlfriend: She believes in Bigfoot. In fact, she and her friends used to "hunt" for the creature when they were kids. Before Ben knows it, he's off on an impromptu Squatchin' trip deep in the Carolina backwoods. Amidst the Squatch calls, campfire stories and beers, Ben quickly realizes that Paul may have an ulterior motive in bringing Annie to the woods. And something else out here seems to be after her as well. Everyone but Ben thinks its Bigfoot. But it can't be, can it? After all, Bigfoot isn't real...

  The film is in post production now.  If you want to help support the film, you can make a Paypal donation over on the film's official website.   Also, for the latest news about the film, follow STOMPING GROUND on facebook and Twitter using the links below.  Look for the film sometime in 2014!


CLICK HERE to visit the film's official website
CLICK HERE to visit the film's official facebook page
CLICK HERE to follow the film's Twitter page
CLICK HERE to visit the official website of director Dan Riesser

DVD Review: SEXSQUATCH: THE LEGEND OF BLOOD STOOL CREEK (2012)

SEXSQUATCH:  THE LEGEND OF BLOOD STOOL CREEK
Directed by  Chris Seaver
Distributed by SRS Cinema / MVD Entertainment

Yes, you read that correctly.  I am actually reviewing a movie called SEXSQUATCH: THE LEGEND OF BLOOD STOOL CREEK.  I had a feeling from the title that this was going to be an awful movie, and while I really wanted to dislike this film, I have to admit....I kinda liked it!
Here is the basic plot of the film from the MVD website:

Joey Jeremiah's friends have gathered near Blood Stool Creek for a party weekend to throw their ambitious friend a "get laid" party. Teens... woods... beer... sex... what could possibly go wrong? Well the wooded area that plays host to their good times houses a sinister beast. He's bloodthirsty, intelligent, eloquent, covered in hair, and HORNY as hell... it's SEXSQUATCH!

Now don't get me wrong....this is not a good movie by any means.  But what makes it fun is that it is not supposed to be a good movie.   The acting is horrible, but it is supposed to be.  If they were trying to make a serious movie here, then it would be awful....but this is a comedy more than anything.  It is made to be campy and corny and it succeeds. 

The humor is pretty crude, but what do you expect going into a movie with this title.  If you aren't easily offended, then you will probably get some enjoyment out of this one.   I don't know what it was about this film, but it had a certain charm to it.  It looked like a group of friend just got together to make a movie, and the result was SEXSQUATCH.  It is low budget....really, low budget, but it works.  If you are looking for a silly, crazy, goofy, cheesy, gross, immature, funny movie, then SEXSQUATCH is for you! 

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

DVD Review: THE BLOODY RAGE OF BIGFOOT (2010)

-------------Review by contributing writer Scott Baker------------------

THE BLOODY RAGE OF BIGFOOT
Directed by:  James Baack
Distributed by:  Cheezy Flicks

THE BLOODY RAGE OF BIGFOOT is one of those movies that defies all logical convention: it is a two-hour-and-forty-five minute travesty that somehow found distribution. And although the film sucks almost three hours of your life away, my review in turn will be much shorter.

This movie officially replaces my Worst Movie of 2011 selection (see Bikini Vampire Babes review here). Not only does this movie suck, it sucks for ALMOST THREE HOURS. Wow. I didn't know something could piss me off that long but THE BLOODY RAGE OF BIGFOOT proves that it can.

The subject matter alone is something that will not interest most people. I've seen several Bigfoot movies and NONE of them have been able to hold my attention. I mean, if you want to make a movie about something cryptozological, then pick a creature that no one has done a movie on before. Or hell, even make one up. And if you absolutely must make one on Bigfoot, at least try to make it interesting.

Aside from the ho-hum subject matter, the title is extremely inappropriate, not to mention misleading. There is no rage to speak of, let alone much blood. And the blood we do get to see is nothing more than water with pink dye in it...or something similar. I am more disappointed in these special effects than I was with Zombies by Design (see review here). I kept yelling at the screen, "Come on, guys...at least TRY to make it look real!"

The acting in this film is beyond horrible, with most of the cast fumbling through a poorly written script and then glancing at the camera every few minutes, I guess to make sure they were still in the shot or something. And when they're not bumbling their lines, they're improvising something lame that doesn't make much sense to the movie. Bad acting I can overlook, IF the story and/or action is good...THE BLOODY RAGE OF BIGFOOT unfortunately fails at all three.

Now for the editing. Damn...I wish the guy(s) that cut the film would have stayed awake while working on it. I mean, falling asleep is the only excuse I can come up with for all of the errors that were allowed in to the final cut. There's one scene in particular that sticks out in my head: towards the beginning of the movie, Satantha and Lucy-fur are running to get into a stolen car...but both girls run to the driver's side. Satantha stops at the driver's side door, turns back to the camera, and then says with a giggle, "Oops...I went to the wrong side." The scene then cuts away. I rolled my eyes and tried to keep from kicking my MacBook across the room. Like I said: "Come on, guys...at least TRY!"

The main reason this film pisses me off so badly is because of its length. It would have been one thing if it were an hour and a half long and sucked...but almost three hours? I can't believe I wasted so much time on this piece of trash. I want that time back and so does my laptop.

To sum up, THE BLOODY RAGE OF BIGFOOT is the worst movie I've seen so far this year, and will be tough to beat out for that title. I'm not sure if the producers were setting out to make a comedy or a true-to-form horror movie, but it failed miserably on both fronts. It's almost cliche to say, but THE BLOODY RAGE OF BIGFOOT almost sent me into a rage-blackout. Don't bother to give this one a look.


CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD
CLICK HERE to visit the official website and watch the trailer

DVD Review: BLOOD FOREST (2009)

---------Review by contributing writer Scott Baker---------

BLOOD FOREST
Directed by Bill Barton
Distributed by Midnight Releasing

BLOOD FOREST is a low budget film set in Jasper, AR, a town located about 85 miles away from where I live. Although I’ve never visited Jasper, I would swear that the film was actually shot there; the town in the movie looks exactly like one you would find in this area. Unfortunately, a good filming location does not make up for a bad film.

If you’ve never heard of BLOOD FOREST, here’s the synopsis courtesy of director Bill Barton (via imdb.com):

Virgil Williams, an alcoholic down and out tabloid reporter from the UK is sent to Arkansas to investigate a Big Foot sighting and is caught between the town Sheriff and the last remaining brave from Arkansas's "Cave Tribe" and Vietnam vet, James Levi Wiley.

Here’s my biggest problem with BLOOD FOREST: even though it tries really hard to be a good film (and it ALMOST makes it there), its problems greatly outweigh its positives. As I have mentioned before, I find it difficult to butcher an indy filmmaker’s work. Most of them put their hearts and souls into their films. But although I am sympathetic, I feel it is my duty to be honest in my reviews and tell horror fans my candid, unfiltered opinions about what I watch.

As much as I want to like it, BLOOD FOREST fails on many levels. First and foremost is the acting. Again, I understand that low budget films have to make do with the best they can get. It’s just a shame that every person in this film lacks any sort of acting talent. When the extras aren’t flubbing their lines or rambling off-track, the main cast is trying to regurgitate their lines while showing some semblance of emotion. The acting is so bad that it makes some high school productions look like Oscar material.

The story, although semi-interesting in premise, is dull and lifeless. A British journalist is sent to little ol’ Jasper Arkansas to report on Bigfoot sightings. Really? Um…no. There is no way in hell that a company in the U.S. would send someone to Arkansas to follow up on Sasquatch, let alone a company from ACROSS THE ATLANTIC. Maybe a ‘creature of unknown origin’, sure…but not Bigfoot. No way.

And the whole thing about the last remaining brave from Arkansas’s Cave Tribe? I still have no clue what that is all about. It’s hinted around several times in the film and, from what I can tell, it’s supposed to be an integral part of the plot. But it’s never explained, never fleshed out, and just downright confusing.

The special effects are weak, with no gore gracing the screen and only a few traces of crimson here and there to indicate blood. A good horror film doesn’t have to have gore, but it sure would help in a case like this. It would at least have been something entertaining to watch.

Instead, all we have is a slow-paced, no-intensity movie that I can’t even label a thriller. There are no thrills, no suspense, and certainly no terror anywhere in it. When I say lifeless, I mean this film is about as animated as Pauly Shore’s career. In short, it’s dead and rotting.

And when the end comes, there’s no resolution either. Instead of at least seeing the terrifying creature that’s been killing people…we get a fade-to-black shot and a narrator saying something about how we have to draw our own conclusions and blah-blah-blah. I can certainly understand budgetary constraints that might prohibit the construction of a legitimate Bigfoot costume…but c’mon…I’d rather see a guy in a monkey suit than have to watch a cop-out ending like this.

The only positive comment I can make for BLOOD FOREST is that it truly highlights the beauty of Arkansas, with many of its scenes taking place in the woods. The scenery alone cannot save the film, though. BLOOD FOREST would better be served as a promotional reel to encourage tourism here in the Natural State.

-MSB

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD


CLICK HERE to visit the official website
of Midnight Releasing