Last week we posted a review of MVD Rewind’s Abominable Blu-ray, a 2006 film that featured the presence of the iconic Bigfoot/Yeti/Sasquatch/Fouke cryptid. There have been a few movies about these creatures throughout cinema history; however, for the most part the creature is fairly underappreciated in horror. Still, a number of cult films give the Bigfoot monster good representation alongside other cryptid figures like Mothman and sea monsters, and we wanted to take a look at five more Bigfoot-themed films that are worth seeking out if you find yourself interested in pursuing this mythical hairy beast. FYI: this list is in no particular order.
The Legend of Boggy Creek
Honestly The Legend of Boggy Creek is a pretty standard pick but we would be remiss if we didn’t put it on this list. The film is potentially the most definitive Bigfoot film in cinema, a docudrama about the search for the Fouke monster of Arkansas that resembles Bigfoot or Sasquatch but has been named due to its location. Much like The Blair Witch Project, The Legend of Boggy Creek purports that the footage it compiles is real, with local interviews and reenacted footage included as part of the cryptozoological investigation. Some may not appreciate the dryer style and lack of film quality, but this is one of the most important offerings in the Bigfoot subgenre
Shriek of the Mutilated
Listen: Shriek of the Mutilated is a terrible movie. It’s often cited as one of the worst films ever made. But this Yeti picture is unintentionally hilarious, and most viewers will be cackling instead of shrieking at the horrific offering of bad directing, awful acting, and horrendous yeti effects on display. This is a Bigfoot movie to turn on when the party’s going strong and people need a good laugh, and that’s exactly why it’s a cult film to recommend.
The Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas
Here’s a classic in the traditional sense: The Abominable Snowman (with added of the Himalayas for US audiences) was released in 1957 in the UK, starring Peter Cushing as an explorer in the Himalayas who discovers a whole tribe of Yetis; he wants to take on back with him, but he finds that this group of Bigfoot monsters won’t let him get out of the mountains alive. The ideas get a little out there as The Abominable Snowman reveals that Yetis can communicate telepathically and they are also an ancient species waiting for human apocalypse, but this is a fun thriller from the early age of Bigfoot horror.
Harry and the Hendersons
For those looking for something of a lighthearted offering in the Bigfoot canon, Harry and the Hendersons should definitely tickle your fancy. The film is basically E.T. the Extraterrestrial if E.T. had been Bigfoot instead of an alien; the Hendersons bring Harry home with them, unwittingly releasing him into the wilds of Seattle, and they have to protect him from a bad hunter who wants to kill him as a trophy and proof of his existence. There are laughs, sappy moments, and plenty of goofy ’80s cheese, making this one of the most memorable Bigfoot movies ever made.
Willow Creek
Unlikely though it may seem, Bobcat Goldthwaite actually directed a pretty good Bigfoot found footage film with Willow Creek, a riff on The Legend of Boggy Creek we mentioned before with a bigger budget and some flashier style. Those who aren’t fans of these types of films will ultimately see a lot of the same flaws in Willow Creek, but Goldthwaite is able to conjure up a few scares thanks to the Blair Witch Project-esque atmospheric setting, and as an example of a modern Bigfoot film, it’s probably one of the better releases that have come out recently.
Did we miss any of your favorite Bigfoot/Yeti/Fouke/Sasquatch/Abominable Snowman movies? Let us know in the comments.
