John Richard

A great psychological study on the pitfalls of following your dreams disguised as a bigfoot found footage film. Already unconventional because of the found footage format, this gem practices 'holding a gun to your head until you order the bigfoot burger' approach to suspense. Tense, taught, tendons snapped & she didn't say yes to his marriage proposal. Both characters were looking to attain a wild dream. He, bigfoot, and her, an acting career in Hollywood. We're only shown Jim's efforts at achieving his dream, which he sort of does(?)...find his bigfoot. It isn't revealed if its the town's folk, pot farmers, mountain lions, bears, a real bigfoot or a combination (though all possibilities are alluded to in interviews during the first half of the film). Whatever truth that is, is up for the audience's debate. The old, naked lady at the end might be symbolic of 'the ugly truth' of bigfoot merely being a giant hoax to scare off tourists or to protect cannabis operations. I think we can imagine a parallel between Jim's & Kelly's journeys towards their respective dreams and the potential to crash and burn seeking them out. During the quiet anxiety of the 'tent scene' Kelly does not accept Jim's marriage proposal on account of it being 'too early'. She instead insists she wants to be with him and to show mutual interest in keeping the relationship, she invites him to move in with her in LA -where she wants to 'venture into a wilderness' in search of her own 'sasquatch'. Jim accepts & feeling romantic by the validation of their connection they start to make out. The camera is still rolling, she asked for it to be turned off. Jim jokes that filming themselves might be good for her career. She responds playfully "you want me to be that kind of actress?" This interaction make me imagine what Kelly's hike to the 'famous filming site' would've looked like. She'd have been prone to the same pitfalls at reaching her dream. Such as not finding stardom, in any way, shape or form. The hoax of hollywood's opportunities are revealed to be less glamorous ways of selling your body. Sometimes its not the acting gig you hoped for, but you found what you were looking for...

Robert Eggers could direct a wishbone episode and it'd be nominated for so many prestigious awards

An eloquent love letter to Italian Gialli. Not as gory or sleazy as say, TORSO, but still a must watch for genre fans.