When I think of Sasquatch, also commonly known as Bigfoot, I think of controversy immediately, which is why this new documentary, On the Trail of Bigfoot: Land of the Missing, caught my eye. 

Despite numerous reported sightings over the years along with alleged evidence (footprints, photographs, videos, etc.), there has been no conclusive scientific evidence to prove the existence of Sasquatch. This has created skepticism among scientists, researchers, and the general public. The popularity of Sasquatch in pop culture has led to a proliferation of hoaxes, pranks, and fabricated evidence. This has contributed to a general perception that the topic is more about entertainment and sensationalism than genuine scientific inquiry. In some cases, individuals who claim to have encountered Sasquatch may be genuinely convinced of their experiences. Dismissing or debunking these claims without sensitivity can lead to ethical concerns regarding mental health and personal beliefs.

The documentary showcases the vast, endless wilderness that encompasses Alaska, and it presents almost something mystical, adding to the stories of the locals and making the viewer genuinely wonder if the disappearances of people are from Sasquatch. For the skeptics, we do have local wildlife and the crazy terrain that could easily be responsible for these types of disappearances.  

This Small Town Monsters documentary shows off the different possibilities regarding the disappearances of people, and I respect all of the possibilities (UFOs and phantoms) the documentary discussed, even the government conspiracies. The drone footage was beautiful; if you aren’t a fan of this type of work along with Sasquatch, you could watch this documentary for its beauty. The music also very much complimented the footage throughout the documentary. I am now a fan of the work that director Seth Breedlove and his crew have brought to the table; I have heard that his other documentaries are made well, and everyone grows over time. I’m pleased that Breedlove delivered many possibilities for why people disappear; it makes for a good talk. 

This documentary is recommended. Breedlove skillfully avoids sensationalism by adopting a grounded approach to the subject. He navigates the topic with realism, offering a balanced perspective. For instance, he weaves a narrative about a mysterious disappearance potentially linked to Bigfoot while also delving into more plausible explanations. This documentary serves as an excellent introduction to Small Town Monsters’ work for newcomers.

On the Trail of Bigfoot: Land of the Missing is now on major streaming platforms from 1091 Pictures – iTunes, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, and FandangoNOW.  It’s also available on Blu-ray and DVD from the Small Town Monsters website.

Synopsis

Centuries of reports of hair-covered creatures roaming Alaska have been uncovered. Yet, beyond the mysterious apelike animals that haunt the forests of the 49th state, there exist numerous legends of horrific beings that blur the line between Bigfoot and something else. Something with a far darker agenda. Now, eyewitnesses and experts alike recount stories that will chill you to your bone. Stories that tie Bigfoot-like creatures to tales of mountain giants and even missing people.

Different cultures often have different religions, different superstitions, as well as different demons. Discover what is hiding in It Lives Inside which made its Quebec premiere at Fantasia Festival.

Samidha (Megan Suri) is an Indian-American teenager who has trouble fitting in at school, in addition to feeling oppressed by her ultra-traditional mother (Neeru Bajwa). Just as she begins to create connections with new friends as well as develop romance with a boy at school, an old friend, Tamira (Mohana Krishnan), with whom she has distanced herself, begins to approach her in alarming fashion. Her hair covers most of her face, her eyes are sunken in, and she constantly carries around a dark jar. She warns Samidha of a devastating evil that lives inside the glass jar and asks for her help, but when Samidha overreacts and breaks the container, she unknowingly releases a malicious entity that is set on terrorizing her and her loved ones.

Co-writer and director, Bishal Dutta, presents his first feature film project in It Lives Inside, releasing Indian culture into the world of horror. He does a great job at piecing together a script involving a cultural, demonic entity that flows smoothly. His intriguing camera shots and tension build-ups demonstrate great potential for his future in the feature film industry after directing numerous short films. 

Megan Suri brings forth a strong performance as the film’s lead actress, carrying the film on her shoulders. She portrays an introvert attempting to reach out to the world around her and possessing a strong courage within. Her reactions are those of a genuine teenager and viewers rapidly get attached to her.

She is well surrounded with a solid cast including her traditionally passionate, yet caring mother in Neeru Bajwa, her down-to-Earth and understanding father, played by seasoned actor Vik Sahay (2013’s werewolf film, Wer), as well as the always-excellent Betty Gabriel (Get Out, Unfriended: Dark Web, and The Purge: Election Year) who portrays Samidha’s compassionate and caring teacher.

The issue with It Lives Inside is that it is riddled with clichés throughout its storyline and its style of jumpscares. Despite stemming from Indian roots, the entity, its container (which obviously doesn’t contain for too long) as well as its cultural representation will remind many viewers of 2012’s The Possession, starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and its Jewish folklore-related demon, the Dybbuk.  

The jumpscares are typical, yet, at times, effective for a teenage audience, cranking the volume way up to add to a visual surprise, despite the audio not having any contextual connection to the scene. One scene involving a children’s backyard swing is visually interesting and original, yet is the only standout horror scene of the film. Most of It Lives Inside is déjà vu horror that will please teenagers in general and make die-hard horror fans stare on with their arms crossed.

Bishal Dutta’s feature film directorial debut takes him off to a decent start, releasing a teenage-focused, entity-riddled horror film like most have seen many times before and leaves a bunch of “scare” potential on the table. Nonetheless, it is always interesting to be introduced to the demonic folklore of different cultures. It Lives Inside receives the score of 3 eyes out of 5 and is set to have a theatrical release on September 22^nd of this year.

RKSS (Roadkill Superstars), the filmmakers behind “Turbo Kid” (2015) and “Summer of 84” (2018), were back at Fantasia Festival for the world premiere of their third feature film and latest horror-comedy: “We Are Zombies”! And boy was it a blast.

The living dead have risen up from their graves. Don’t worry, though; they’re not out to eat you alive as you watch your own guts spill out. They just want their part in society, to co-exist with the living, and prefer being called the “living-impaired”. Freddy (Derek Johns; TV series “The Boys”), Karl (Alexandre Nachi) and his half-sister Maggie (Megan Peta Hill) run a small, crooked operation where they intercept calls to the Coleman Corporation (who take care of removing families’ living-impaired when they have passed a certain stage of decomposition) so that they may sell them on their own. Just when they think their plan is still running smoothly, the siblings’ grandmother is kidnapped. To pay for the ransom, they will have to embark on a zombie-retrieving adventure like never before.

François Simard, Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell, the three creative minds of RKSS, wrote and directed a zomedy for the ages. With an inventive and side-splitting script, endearing main characters, laugh-out-loud dialogue, as well as impressive make-up  and practical effects, the fan favorites of Fantasia (for whom Fantasia’s city, Montreal, is their hometown) have whipped up one Hell of an entertaining feature film that is sure to satisfy horror fans of all types.

After dwelling in the post-apocalyptic sands of the sci-fi/action “Turbo Kid” and dealing with a shady neighbor in the retro-homage thriller “Summer of 84”, the Simard-Whissell connection dove head first into the common horror-comedy zombie subgenre. Luckily for their RKSS die-hard fans, they didn’t approach this subgenre like any other writer/director team would. The inventiveness and hilarity regarding the “living-impaired” in “We Are Zombies” could often remind viewers of the zomedy masterpiece “Shaun of the Dead”; in addition to the fact that zombies can speak in RKSS’ new film.

The lead actors will quickly be adored for their characters’ incredible personalities as well as their uproarious onscreen chemistry, notably Derek Johns and Alexandre Nachi, who portray Freddy and Karl, respectively. The authenticity oozing from their performances truly exemplifies why these two actors were perfectly casted for their roles. No regrets, here.

Not only was there innovation in the script in regards to the undead’s role in society, but RKSS manage to impress in the way zombies are presented as well. In the midst of an art show, orchestrated by a rich, eccentric and fashionable artist, an immense (literally, the actor is towering) zombie is the center of the spectacle. However, the creature seems to have body parts coming from other members of the living-impaired community surgically attached to it, creating a grotesque sight that viewers just won’t be able to take their eyes off.

After being presented before an audience for the very first time at Fantasia, it would be no surprise if RKSS took their latest project around the world for a superbly successful festival tour, so don’t expect to be able to see it anywhere else any time soon. That being said, as soon as you see the title “We Are Zombies” is available for you to view, cancel all plans and do so, as the Roadkill Superstars’ newest film receives the solid score of 4 eyes out of 5.