Willow Creek is a step back for
found-footage horror films, choosing realism in characters, plot and dialogue
over spectacle. While recently released found-footage horror movies utilize the
medium to display impressive special effects through the grounded camera work
of home footage, Willow Creek doesn’t
even feel the need to show the horror at the center of the film’s narrative. In
this way, among many other similarities, Willow
Creek feels like a direct descendant to the original found-footage horror
film; The Blair Witch Project. While
this simplicity/subtlety is often more effective in terms of the film’s eerie
build up, the climax simply feels disappointing without a reveal. Even The Jungle at least gave us a glimpse of
the creature in question.
That creature in
Willow Creek is Sasquatch, with the
title referring to the area of wilderness that the infamous grainy Bigfoot
footage was shot. Jim (Bryce Johnson) drags his girlfriend Kelly (Alexie
Gilmore) on a camping trip into the wilderness in an effort to prove the
existence of the legendary ape-man. The film begins with a lot of eerie
interviews with the local population, mixed with mild arguments between the
couple at the center of the story, all building towards an inevitable climax in
the wilderness. There may be nothing but ominous warnings for a majority of the
film, but this switches to foreboding sounds once the couple is unsafely
camping in the middle of the wild.
Writer/director
(and former actor) Bobcat Goldthwait has made a name for himself as an
independent filmmaker, traditionally with films carrying more humor than Willow
Creek. Although there are certainly moments of creepy thrills in the last act
of the movie, it may not be enough to make up for the uneventful hour leading
to the mild conclusion. Some humor may have gone a long way to adding some
entertainment to the film, but it is possible that it also would have deterred
from the only successful thrills that the film has. Even without special
effects or a clear shot of the creature in question, the sound design and
believable performances provide an unsettling atmosphere that is engaging up to
the unsatisfying ending.
The Blu-ray
release includes a commentary track with Goldthwait, Gilmore and Johnson. There
is also a making-of featurette, created by Johnson on set, a trailer, and a handful
of deleted scenes.
Entertainment Value:
6/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 7/10
Historical
Significance: 3.5/10
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