Indie Film Review “The Bigfoot Club” Cryptid research gets an innocently fun, witty, grass roots treatment
WATCH THE TRAILER BELOW:
First, the Recap:
In pursuit of legendary monsters. Sounds like we’re venturing into the realms of Hercules, Percy Jackson, or the like, delving into myths of creatures beyond our true ability to imagine. Then again, we could perhaps be speaking of those that are more…”grounded”…in contemporary times, hunted by those who absolutely believe they exist…or have even encountered one. However, when you’re immersed in that which has yet to be proven, the stigma that comes with it can be just as monstrous.
As a 12-year old child, Dorothy March (Kathryn Mayer) was the queen of knowledge about arguably one of the most famous critters of all…Bigfoot. With an exclusive club formed out of her passion, along with three friends, the longevity of the team eventually lost its luster in a haze of fame over science. Retreated into her own mind and self-imposed social isolation, it would take a miracle for the now adult “Dot” to come out of “hiding” with a renewed joy for the BF hunt. And that could be precisely what is now afoot.
Next, my Mind:
Personal ostracization, following your fancies, the biting, competitive nature of childhood ambitions and mindsets, and the need to reconnect with all that is present and still relevant in order to be freed of a past that has haunted you all become facets to explore in the midst of modern day monster hunting and initially overzealous superfans thanks to the new indie feature film from writer/director/editor Steven Tsapelas, producer Shawna Brandle, producer/cinematographer Kenneth R. Frank, and executive producer David M. Rheingold. Here we find a prime example of simple, uncomplicated, yet fully entertaining filmmaking that should honestly make us sit back as filmgoers and appreciate not only what it even takes to MAKE a film and put it out there, but that these projects don’t REMOTELY have to be some $100 million+ budgeted efforts to equal QUALITY cinematic viewing for foundational, absolute, unfettered amusement and ease of mind. And to just SMILE! And LAUGH! And RELAX! Just saying.
With this indie film, the narrative centers on a young, now adult woman whose childhood spent as the leading expert (of Queens, NY anyway) on Bigfoot yielded both triumphs and tribulations, with the latter of those causing her to retreat from everything and everyone until a quite random set of circumstances (and people) causes her to re-think and rediscover her longing for the big hairy guy again. Folks, on the surface, yes, it’s completely silly. Oh, wait, THAT’S THE POINT OF GREAT COMEDY! This is a story meant to elicit the chuckles and chortles in the purest, most basic manner possible. And the thing wrong with this is……NOTHING! Lighten up, peeps! But, as with almost every independent feature or short film I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching, there’s MORE to it than baseline goofs and or pointless melodramatic whims being exercised. Quite the opposite, as when you begin to look UNDER the core premise, it’s a character-driven adventure that immerses us in totally applicable life lessons while allowing us the mirthful escape that it does. Told in present day and via effective flashbacks, it fleshes things out perfectly, with great pacing.
Thematic turns addressing fame, how we attain it, fall into obscurity, then come back, facing what we believe but encounter the undue and harsh scrutiny for it from those who don’t choose to even try to understand it or us, living in our “now, now, now” society, the dichotomy of love of science vs. exploitation of discovery for monetary gain, the need to have someone TO believe in us, fond memories of friendships, how we too easily give up on even our most treasured experiences in the face of criticism of it, how we can sometimes misinterpret what others are actually trying to do to HELP us, how doggedly we DO try to chase those things that mean the most, what we sacrifice for it all, what we learn to appreciate anew as we grow, being where we’re meant to be even if we can’t necessarily share it with others the way we wish, rekindling friendships lost, forgiveness, and being willing to take risks all find their place in this narrative. Hence, this is about LIFE, its impacts, its hurdles, its victories, its defeats, and our ability to bounce back from self-imposed, perceived, and real challenges to find ourselves again.
The film’s third act contains a wonderfully original, creative, cleverly surprising, and ultimately affecting reveal and accompanying finale that cements these ideas even more firmly, and it just leaves you with that already (this critic hopes, anyway) existing smile and sense of encompassing lightheartedness the story delivers. Mayer is a charmingly vulnerable, wryly playful, wholly delightful presence to take in through her role as Dorothy (aka: “Dot”), a woman whom we first believe is just someone wishing to stay below the radar for whatever reasons she might have. However, through the mundane-ness of her current existence, it comes to light that it is due to a past she once cherished but was then hurt by. Yet, when an unanticipated (and hilariously abrupt!) encounter with a Bigfoot superfan occurs, it launches Dorothy back into realms she has kept to herself for years, with being in the spotlight seemingly improbable or not wanted. Watching how this all then plays out is wacky and whimsical yet stirring, and Mayer’s ability to create this lovable “loser”-turned-heroine in many respects is so endearing and supportable throughout the film.
Primary supporting, equally engaging comedic/dramatic performances start with Samantha Sayah as Willow, Dot’s former best friend who may have ended up the reason for her going into personally forced seclusion. Her means to reconnect with Dot also appears self-serving, but it could lead to a reconciliation they’ve both needed. Olivia Hellman is Esme, a hysterically over-the-top Dot superfan who is really the one to “out” her idol at a local BF convention and persuade her to re-enter the limelight again. Jerry Colpitts is Dr. Peter Greenport, who is doing an almost documentary-style show about The Bigfoot Club, but who might also be a voice of Dot’s “troubled” conscious as she navigates her re-emerging notoriety. Meghan Palmer plays “Breezy”, another former member of Dot’s childhood circle and the BFC who runs her business in the dark arts but who also chooses to “vibe” with Dot’s freshly renewed pursuits again…whether she wants that or not! Kevin Wolfring is Einstein, the most eccentric member of the group who has quite the jocular ways of making a (hesitant!) entrance and offering his high-functioning brain-centric opinions!
Paolo Kossi appears as an enigmatic, overall fleeting, yet highly integral presence to Dot’s story and does so with a magnificent “everyman” approach that only makes his part to play even more touching as well as amusing. Additional supporting parts come around from Freya Soleng, Stella Afloarei Tsapelas, Patricia LoBue, Linus Afloarei Tsapelas, Shawna Brandle, Brian Finkle, Robert Winters, Vadia Potenza, Shelby Reynolds, Louie Pearlman, Ana Afloarei, Fiona Cox, Dylan Potenza, Alyssa Harvey Dawson, and Victor Lorenzo. So, in total, “The Bigfoot Club” showcases the oft overlooked values, acknowledgements, and steadfast commitments of unabashedly loving what you love, relentlessly defending it, not allowing detractors to steal it, and realizing that old wounds can heal, friendships can be restored, BF is out there (well, okay, MAYBE not, but you know, in the spirit of….), and even if our own dreams might not come completely true, perhaps we can still end up helping others to pursue and recognize theirs. On top of that, it also demonstrates the wonder of grass roots filmmaking done with soul and positive intent. More of that, please!
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
