By Melissa Antoinette Garza
I love horror films that delve into cryptozoology and examines legends like Bigfoot, the Skunk Ape, the Yeti, Nessie etc. Some are ruined with bad special effects and lack of story, but those movies that do it correctly show appreciation for these mystical creatures of folklore.
THE SIGHTING (2014) starts off as if it’s going to be a found-footage film. That sub-genre is rarely done well, so I was thankful that the majority is not shot in this style. The few scenes that play off this trend do so well enough as to not take away from the remainder of the movie.
Acting as if it’s found evidence, we witness a blonde douchebag in his late teens setting up a camera to tape himself having sex, before the unwitting girl comes in. Instead of getting laid, we see the boy thrashed against the wall and blood spray everywhere. The assailant is never on camera.
Our main character, Travis (Adam Pitman), is being interviewed by police officers at the station when he starts to recount the events that brought him there. Him and his best friend Nate (Nathaniel Peterson) take a road trip to Canada. While at a convenience store, the clerk tells them about a shortcut to get into the country despite the border being closed at that time of night.
It is there that a family of Bigfoot attack, take hold of Nate. Travis runs for cover and enlists the help of Nate’s brother Chris (Rian Jairell) to find his friend.
It becomes clear that the clerk from the convenience store knows more than what he’s saying and may even know the origins of the beasts, themselves.
I was honestly surprised at how good THE SIGHTING was. Though it isn’t as great as cult classics like SNOW BEAST (1977) and SHRIEK of THE MUTILATED (1974), it still ranks far above any recent entries. To put it in perspective, it is a much more action and horror oriented film than Richard Gere’s THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES (2002).
Typically, in movies with such a modest budget, the acting suffers. In THE SIGHTING, however that isn’t the case. Adam Pitman gives an emotionally charged performance as the man desperate to find his friend and escape the wrath of the Bigfoot family.
I definitely suggest this film. It’s available via Amazon streaming and is well worth the rental.
Scared Stiff Rating: 7/10
