Above is the new sales art promoting Willow Creek, the Bigfoot-hunting found footage horror from esteemed subversive director Bobcat Goldthwait. (That is a crazy mouthful of words, isn’t it?) Unfortunately, it’s exactly what the poster would look like if the movie was made by some two-bit hack who assumed film school was beneath him. I mean, big footprints and a slashed-and-bloodied tent combine for notable imagery, especially when seen through the distorted filter of a video camera, but still…
Coming from Bloody Disgusting via the American Film Market, this new poster is nowhere near as interesting as the first one released, seen below, though I can understand how the more generic take is an easier sell to potential distributors. It’s unfortunate though, as a giant monster made out of screaming faces presents the potential for a much more intriguing movie. Hell, it looks like a Mondo poster.
The plot is almost too simple, and will hopefully be full of the society-damning dialogue flourishes that Goldthwait is so good at. Bigfoot enthusiast Jim (Bryce Johnson) and his skeptical girlfriend Kelly (Alexie Gilmore) have taken a trip to Willow Creek, California to follow in the footsteps of Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin, who created the most oft-remembered (and faked) Bigfoot video. Jim wants Bigfoot, and Kelly just wants to be close to Jim. A nice, normal healthy relationship. To be expected, Jim always has his video camera rolling, both while interviewing the crazy ass townsfolk and while walking around the woods. Of course, they were warned not to go in there, so you know something spooky and possibly deadly must be waiting for them. Did you hear that?
I’m a sucker for horror and found footage, so I’d probably be making my way to this film eventually even if it was a basic low budget documentary the main character himself released. But this is one I’d knock down trees for, as Goldthwait is one of the most interesting and refreshing filmmakers out there, a savage pop artist on a Robitussin bender. It helps that the film’s festival run was met with acclaim from both genre fans and average filmgoers, who praised the director’s take on the material as well as the actors, many of whom have worked with Goldthwait before on audacious films like Sleeping Dogs Lie and God Bless America.
Yes, it looks like a ripoff of The Blair Witch Project, but this is a much more calculated affair, with a legitimate cast, director, story and production value. Is it a coincidence that Blair Witch co-director has been developing his own Bigfoot flick? Probably not.
There’s still no release date for Willow Creek, but hopefully that’ll change soon. Hop in the tent for the film’s trailer below.
