PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Jake Robinson’s film, The Wendigo, had a limited release back in 2022, and will release worldwide on August 4, 2023 through Terror Films. Let’s take a look at this creature feature and see if it’s worth your time.
Synopsis:
After a social media star disappears in the woods of North Carolina, his friends are set to figure out what happened to him. Ignoring the legend of the cursed land was only their first mistake.
The Wendigo was directed by Jake Robinson (They Are Here 2023) from a script co-written by himself and James S. ‘Jamie’ Brown (The Dead Files TV series). Along with Robinson, other cast members include Tramping Ground’s Matthias Margraves and Tyler Gene, Taylor-Grace Davis (In The Devil’s Courthouse 2011), and They Are Here’s Laura Rodriguez, Hunter Redfern, Producer Paul Hurley and Austin Pigza as The Wendigo.
The Wendigo is a found footage film that follows the search for a missing social media star after he livestreams his overnight trip into the woods, which ends in what looks like a brutal attack and a frozen buffering image. Two separate groups meet up accidentally at the same place and decide to search the woods together for their fellow influencer. Let’s just say that they don’t get along well, especially once they get lost in the woods themselves.
Everything turns all Blair Witch as anxieties get high and everyone starts swearing at one another. Because The Wendigo is a found footage with more than one camera involved, the angles change, images blur, and people go in and out of the shot, especially once everyone realizes the danger they’re in. This adds to the tension of the film and leaves the viewer feeling unsettled and uneasy, always searching for the danger that no one can see. The viewer is just as lost as the characters.
Speaking of the characters, they were all pretty self-absorbed and annoying. That may have been done on purpose as they’re all social media crusaders who are constantly on the lookout for their next chance to gain followers. T.J. (Robinson) is the only one I didn’t want to see snacked on by the end of the film, but he certainly wasn’t perfect.
The Wendigo is also a creature feature, so there’s a monster here… I love monsters. And I couldn’t wait to see this one. It didn’t show its face until the end, but it’s a pretty gnarly looking visage. Totally worth the wait. I won’t spoil it, but know that you will see a creature you’ve never seen before at the end of this film.
Final Thoughts on The Wendigo
All in all, The Wendigo is a pretty decent found footage film but an even better creature feature. It’s not a big time commitment – I believe the runtime is only 68 minutes, so be sure to give this one a chance. The Wendigo releases worldwide on Friday, August 4, 2023, through Terror Films.
