TheCaptureofBigfoot

The Capture of Bigfoot (1979)

This movie opens with a couple of trackers trying to haul back a creature to civilization. The movie tries to be mysterious, but it is pretty obvious that there is a Bigfoot in the cage that they are transporting. That is made even more obvious when another creature shows up to break it out and do some damage to the men. Later the one survivor rolls into town, barely alive, and lets is slip what they had. The local bigwig businessman smells a license to print money if he can capture the creature and sets out to do so. On the flip side the local game warden is informed that he is an Indian tribe that is charged with defending the creature. Can you see what is coming next? After much mayhem the Bigfoot is set free and waves goodbye and it heads home.

One of my favorite drive-in director’s Bill Rebane directed a Bigfoot movie? Oh yes I so needed to check this one out, in spite of some of the terrible things that I had heard about it. I have to say I wasn’t disappointed. Is the story silly and over the top? Sure it is and I loved it because of that. As a kid growing up on Bigfoot movies I learned never to take them seriously. I mean at some point before the end of the movie you are going to be treated to a guy in a furry suit, so how seriously should you take a movie like that? Now unlike some of the better Bigfoot movies like The Legend of Boggy Creek or The Legend of Bigfoot this one does drag a bit. There seems to be far too much time spent watching characters stroll around the woods or ride their snowmobiles around, which kills the pacing of the movie. But in the end I still found the movie entertaining and overall a good way to kill an hour and a half.

The performances are, well sort of terrible. It ranges from wooden acting and monotone line delivery (most of the cast) to a have to see to believe performance from the villain of the piece. Really Richard Kennedy (Illsa She Wolf of the S.S.) really out does himself here as Olson, the maniacal businessman that is obsessed with capturing the Bigfoot and exhibiting it for big money! I’ve never seen a performance that was so awfully bad that I had to go back a couple times and watch his scenes again. He is a gleeful and cackling maniac and makes for a good watch. If that weren’t appealing enough the actor that plays the sheriff is always mugging for the camera and doing impersonations of John Wayne and Humphrey Bogart! Just doesn’t get better than that.

You know we can’t review a Bigfoot movie without spending some time on the look of the creature. For a low budget movie the creature actually looks pretty good. I mean yes it is just a guy in a furry suit, but that is the sort of goofiness that I expect and the suit looks fine. Plus we get a baby sized Bigfoot as well!

This might be one of the best Bill Rebane movies that I’ve ever seen. Not only that but it is a Bigfoot movie to boot! This movie can be had on several compilation DVDs for a very reasonable price. I recommend picking it up and kicking back for a great time.

2 ½ out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer