Shadow in the Trees (2007)

A young boy from the small town of Prospect, Oregon is plagued by the mysterious disappearance of his father. In a desperate search for answers, he finds himself on the trail of a fabled creature and closer to the horrific truth.

Director:

Chris W. Smith

Writer:

Chris W. Smith

Stars:

Madeline Alexander, Tresa Bell, Travis Cabral

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Madeline Alexander	...	Church Memorial
Tresa Bell	...	Courtney Davidson
Travis Cabral	...	The Shadow
Travis Cabral	...	Hospital Doctor
Chaz Carlson	...	Juice Boy
Megan Carlson	...	Curious Girl
Sarah Carlson	...	Curious Girl
Andrea Cleroux	...	Bury Mother
Molly Cocking	...	Hospital Doctor
Jack Coe	...	K-SPT Radio Announcer
Brian Collins	...	Classroom Student
Roger Collins	...	Steven Adams
Phil Daddario	...	Radio Caller
Ali Dauscher	...	Church Memorial
Kristen Dore	...	Classroom Student

Storyline

The Fantasai Comet passes the night sky once every six years, and with it, local legend says, certain mythological beasts stir from their hiding. Sure enough, misfortune strikes the small town of Prospect, Oregon when a local stargazing adventurer mysteriously disappears while backpacking in the wilderness on a quest to see the comet. Joseph, his only son, is suddenly left without a family or a clue to the fate of his father. Six years later, following the return of the mystifying comet, Jo finds himself once again in the midst of tragedy. A series of violent attacks and mysterious markings leaves little doubt that the mythological beast is back, forcing Jo to relive the grief of his past. Though he tries to warn the community, his words fall on deaf ears. Jo has no choice but to take matters into his own hands, not only to save the people of Prospect, but also gain closure to the mystery surrounding his father's disappearance. Armed with little more than his obsessive drive for ...

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Plot Keywords:

psycho thriller | juggler | woods | shadow | phil smith

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Genres:

Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 January 2007 (USA)

Filming Locations:

South Lake Tahoe, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$750,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (NTSC Color)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Some things to consider before watching

Though I am, admittedly, biased in reviewing this movie (I was raised in the same town as the people involved in this film and knew a number of them personally), I still believe that there is some backstory that one should know before watching this movie. I understand and respect the issues that the reviewers before me raise, but knowing the backstory of the film does help. I promise.

Previous reviewers had issues with the direction, acting, and lighting of the film, amongst other things, and largely struggled with how the film wreaked of amateurism. Maybe it would help viewers to know that this is the work of an amateur filmmaker! As far as I know, the budget was virtually nonexistent. Chris Smith was still extremely young when this was shot and did it, largely, in memory of his late father. Knowing that this film comes from someone with little to no formal education in filmmaking makes the feat much more impressive. It is also important to note that this was not actually made in 2007. The film was written and filmed a few years before it's official 2007 release. And for a young teenage filmmaker, a few years does make a great difference.

As for the acting: the cast was made up of friends of Chris Smith (many of whom, as one can tell by viewing the actor's IMDb profiles, did not pursue a career in acting). Again, the budget did not allow the filmmaker to hire any professional actors, pay for high tech lighting/equipment, or allow for lengthy post-production changes. He worked with what he had in order to make this film; this was a group of teenagers who got together in the middle of the forest and shot a feature-length film.

Considering that this is Chris Smith's first work, made while still a teenager, it makes me look forward to what else he has in store (If you need more proof of his capability watch his highly entertaining show, Dorm Life). This is a great starting point for an immensely dedicated filmmaker. I am not saying that this film will change your life or deserves any awards, I am simply saying that it is impressive given the means of those involved. Their dedication, hard work, and determination is evident, and knowing the backstory before watching the film makes a world of difference.