Jim (Bryce Johnson) is really into the Bigfoot legend. He has decided to do his own film with the help of his girlfriend Kelly (Alexie Gilmore). They are heading to the place where the Patterson and Gimlin film took place. It has been Jim's dream to retrace the steps of those two when they managed to film Bigfoot. With camera in hand, Kelly does most of the shooting while Jim hams it up and throws Bigfoot trivia around. He also talks to a few locals and does some interviews before they head deep into the forest. They find they aren't want there though, but by Bigfoot or someone else?
I wasn't really sure what to expect with Goldthwait directing since he is known for comedy. To my surprise, Willow Creek was a straight forward horror movie. This was shot in a found footage style throughout. Of course this bothers some, but it never really bothers me. At some point in the movie, somewhere around the midway point I believe, I realized something. The plot of Willow Creek plays out much the same way as The Blair Witch Project. Think about it, both are making a film about a local legend. Both interview locals before going into the woods. Both get lost in the woods. Both have a long tent scene. Both are being hunted, or whatever, by something we never get to see. Both allow their actors to improvise the majority of their lines. There are plenty of differences as well, but I honestly felt like they just swapped out the Blair Witch for Bigfoot and called it a day. I don't mind a film that lifts stuff from another film, but not so much when it is more or less the entire film. Besides this, the film runs roughly 80 minutes, but it feels much longer at times. Some scenes feel they run for way longer than needed. Like Jim's opening to his film. They do a few takes before finding the one he likes. While I'm sure that is actual film making, but it isn't the most interesting stuff to watch. I got rather annoyed with the tent scene. For one I couldn't always hear much of what was going on, and I refused to turn the volume up simply because I wasn't having a problem hearing anything up until then. The scene also clocks in over 20 minutes. I wouldn't have minded if this took place over a couple of nights but not one long scene.
To be fair, there are some good points to be found. There is a scene where they head out into the woods and get told in a not-so-nice way to turn around. This was a pretty good scene and isn't really explained why the person is being that way. The ending had some weird stuff going on. It is also left completely open for us to decide what happened. It could have been Bigfoot, or maybe it had something to do with the guy that stopped them. Even with this stuff, I can appreciate a good open ending, it wasn't really enough for me to like Willow Creek all that much.
No real effects to be found. While we can hear what is supposed to sound like a Bigfoot very close to Jim and Kelly, they never seem to get it on camera all the same. The acting wasn't too bad. I think most everyone will like our two lead actors well enough. For coming up with their own stuff, they do a good job with it. Apparently Johnson is actually into the whole Bigfoot lore, so was able to add a lot to that for his character.
Something that bothered me late in the film is when we find Jim and Kelly alone in the dark afraid of what is out there. They are filming themselves, which the camera has an obvious light on it. I couldn't help but wonder why they weren't using the camera to help see what was out there better. It wasn't night vision, but I'm sure it would have helped a little bit, That was Willow Creek for me though, frustrating. It could have been that I just didn't care for it since it was so close to The Blair Witch Project and I just couldn't get over that enough to like this film. I tried, like I do any film, to judge it as it's own movie though. I don't want to discourage any of you from watching it, but at least you know what awaits if you do give it a try. It was hardly a waste of time for me to watch it, so there is always that.
2 out of 5 Love the poster art at least
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