The Legend of Boggy Creek

*1/2 (out of 4 stars)

The Legend of Boggy Creek is a documentary style drama about a Bigfoot monster in Fouke, Arkansas. The film's director, Charles B. Pierce, apparently raised the funding for this movie from borrowed cash supplied by an Arkansas trucking company. For a guy who never directed a film before this, he must have been sly to round up 160,000 bucks to make a film about a big, hairy beast.

The film's narrator (Vern Stierman) gives us little snippets of detail before each scene. I kept thinking that this film reminded me of Unsolved Mysteries or In Search of, because that's what it felt like. The film itself has very minimal dialogue and thankfully so, as the acting isn't the greatest. The worst part of the film has got to be that dreadful folk song called, "Travis Crabtree", which was also sung by director, Charles B. Pierce. Wow! That song is so bad it takes away any realistic scares that the film tried to convey.

The cast consists of actual eye witnesses that had encountered the Bigfoot in real life. The film has a lot of interviews, including a funny one with a toothless hillbilly who doesn't believe in "no Bigfoot". Quite frankly, you can't understand what the hell he's saying anyway.

There is very little acting and most of it is when the towns folk are being terrorized by the Bigfoot. In many scenes the Bigfoot sticks his massive hairy arm through a window, causing a screaming uproar. In one particular scene, a poor guy is trying to take a dump, when an ugly, hairy hand reaches in the bathroom window. He's scared off the crapper and doesn't even get to wipe. Poor bastard!

They did a good job keeping the Bigfoot out of sight. There isn't much we see of him and that part of the film is effective. To show him would just prove to be a man in a gorilla suit. It would look fake and leave no redeeming quality left to the film. But, like in many actual cases, people only get a glimpse of the creature. Never will it stand there; waving and posing for a picture. When the Bigfoot actually does cause mischief it's only punching through windows, messing with the garbage, scaring a cat to death and sending a guy to the hospital because of "shock". Other than that, he's just seen stalking which helps with the mystery and atmosphere of the film.

Surprisingly enough, this film made its money back and then some. When it opened in drive-ins it brought in an impressive 22 million. Being the first of its kind, the film's success paved the way for future "Bigfoot" movies.

If you're a Bigfoot enthusiast, then give it a shot. If you're not, don't waste your time, chances are you probably won't be into it.

Directed by: Charles B. Pierce

Written by: Earl E. Smith

Starring: Chuck Pierce Jr., William Stumpp

Running time: 87 mins

1972