Abominable

Abominable (2006)

This is a very simple and effective story. A man named Preston returns, with his nurse, to his home on a remote mountain for the first time since a terrible accident. An accident that left his wife dead and him in a wheelchair, paralyzed from the waist down. The only thing around for miles is his cabin and the one next door. The peace and quiet is shattered by a group of young women that show up at the neighbor’s cabin. Through a strange series of twists no one but Preston sees on of the young women get taken into the woods by someone or something. With the phone lines down and his nurse thinking he is just stressed out Preston watches helpless as what turns out to be a Bigfoot stalks the women next door. Eventually everyone else figures out what is going on, but is it too late?

This is hands down one of the best newer horror movies that I’ve had the chance to see in a long time. The story is a unique blend of Hitchcock’s Rear Window and a standard creature feature. The movie goes out of it’s way to create atmosphere and build tension. Not only is there one of the best jump scares ever in this movie, but it also manages to maintain a creepy feeling through out. This makes for a film that is never slow and keeps you on the edge of your seat. This is hands down on of the best-written horror films I’ve seen in years and I loved it! In addition to the great writing the movie has an excellent cast. Matt McCoy is not only asked to carry the movie, but to do so from a wheelchair and he does a great job. I actually was yelling at the screen and sharing his frustrations early on as he tried to get someone to pay attention. I hardly ever get that into a movie anymore, but this one got me. That is a credit to both the script and the actor. Speaking of reactions to an actor I also wanted to mention Christien Tinsley who plays Otis the nurse. Not since old Ratchet (please tell me you guys get this mention….) herself have I wanted to deck nurse so badly. Tinsley, who is an effects guy most of the time, gives a surprisingly effective performance and is an excellent foil to McCoy’s Preston. So that was the good, but there is some bad. It is pretty clear that the girls next door are only there to be stalked and killed by Bigfoot. That in itself is all right, but I found the actresses that portrayed them to be really annoying. Luckily the movie spends most of it’s time with Preston, which is a much better story.

There are a couple of good kills in this movie, including one of the girls getting folded in half which is pretty cool looking. But most of the effects work really focuses on the Bigfoot, which I think looks pretty damn cool. It is all practical effects with a guy in the suit stomping around. I’ve heard some people complain about the goofy looking face, but this is a Bigfoot movie for crying out loud. I expect some silliness. I also wanted to mention how well the movie was shot. The atmosphere of tension is really helped by the camera work and the incredible lighting. Overall a very well made movie.

This movie is a blast and I recommend that everyone go out and buy it now. It can be had pretty cheap (I picked mine up in the $5 bin at Wal-Mart) and is worth every penny. So what are you waiting for?

3 ½ out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer