Film Review: Wendigo (2001)

Horror films, at least those that don’t rely on shock and similar exploitation cinema tactics, depend on imagination. This is something children usually have in much greater supply than adults, which make them useful as protagonists of said films. One such example can be found in Wendigo, 2001 film written and directed by Larry Fessenden.

The protagonist in question is Miles (played by Erik Per Sullivan), 10-year old boy from New York whose father George (played by Jake Webber) works as photographer working for ad agency. Feeling stressful at job, George decides to take some winter vacation and spend it with his wife Kim (played by Patricia Clarkson) and Miles in a cabin in Catskill Mountains. While travelling, they hit a deer and, while inspecting incident, George is confronted by Otis (played by John Speredakos), angry leader of hunters who claim they were hunting the animal. Following this unpleasant situation, George and his family arrive in cabin, which seems to be dark, foreboding place with traces of violence. During the trip to local store, Miles is given figurine representing Wendigo, shapeshifting part-tree part-animal creature from Native American mythology. Miles later begins to imagine seeing Wendigo, especially after series of disturbing incidents which might be the work of vengeful Otis. All this escalate when George gets shot.

Larry Fessenden is known as character actor, but he also built career with low budget horror films made in different styles and usually with strong environmentalist or social message. Wendigo, which features mythological creature that many interpreted as Native Americans’ explanation of white colonists’ greed and destruction, fits into the same pattern. The film is well-directed, well-written and well-acted and Fessenden, much to his credit, tries to avoid genre cliches and even set audience’s expectations towards other genres, making it look like adventure or thriller classics like Deliverance or Stray Dogs. The film shows events from Miles’ perspective and keeps their true nature ambiguous, making audience wonder whether Wendigo is real or product of boy’s imagination. This approach, unfortunately, falls apart in last thirty minutes where Fessenden gives answer which is predictable and unsatisfying. Wendigo nevertheless deserves recommendation, but only to fans of thinking man’s horror films and those willing to accept certain disappointments while watching their favourite genre.

RATING: 5/10 (++)

_

Blog in Croatian https://draxblog.com
Blog in English https://draxreview.wordpress.com/
InLeo blog https://inleo.io/@drax.leo

InLeo: https://inleo.io/signup?referral=drax.leo
Unstoppable Domains: https://unstoppabledomains.com/?ref=3fc23fc42c1b417
Hiveonboard: https://hiveonboard.com?ref=drax y
Bitcoin Lightning HIVE donations: https://v4v.app/v1/lnurlp/qrcode/drax
Rising Star game: https://www.risingstargame.com?referrer=drax
1Inch: https://1inch.exchange/#/r/0x83823d8CCB74F828148258BB4457642124b1328e

BTC donations: 1EWxiMiP6iiG9rger3NuUSd6HByaxQWafG
ETH donations: 0xB305F144323b99e6f8b1d66f5D7DE78B498C32A7