Never has a movie been more appropriately titled; everything about this flop is dreadfully dismal.
Dismal acting? Check.
Dismal plot/story? Check.
Dismal pacing? Check.
Dismal action? Check.
Dismal special effects? Check.
Almost nothing happens for the first 40 to 45 minutes or so, and when something does finally happen, the "action" lasts all of about 5 seconds.
The basic premise is that a college student, Jeff, accompanies a naturalist/woodsman, Ted, who is investigating reports of a mysterious Bigfoot-like creature. The naturalist/woodsman is skeptical, and doesn't believe that there is any mysterious creature, but the plan is to hike into the woods and to set up a series of trail cams. On the first night in the woods, the college student hears noises outside of their tent, but the woodsman reassures that it's likely only a deer.
The next morning, Ted finds something on the trail cam. But doesn't tell Jeff. They continue to hike and set additional trail cams. Eventually, Jeff and Ted run into the creature, and Ted is attacked.
Jeff runs off in a panic, and runs into some hermit who looks like Charles Manson's long lost twin brother. The hermit has an old "A" frame camper in the woods, and he offers Jeff shelter. After a very short while, Jeff discovers that the hermit is mentally unstable. The hermit claims that he only wants to be left alone, but he won't tell Jeff how to leave.
Jeff discovers that the hermit is the monster. The hermit has a sort of Gillie suit that he uses as a costume to scare people away. Jeff discovers the costume, and he also finds that the hermit has Ted's handgun. The two argue and fight over the handgun, and Jeff shoots the hermit.
Somehow, despite not knowing wherr he is, or which direction to go in, Jeff makes his way home, and the local news runs the story about the hermit, and Ted's murder. Jeff's editor calls and asks how Jeff is doing. He also announces his intent to run the article and story that Jeff was working on.
Jeff heads back out into the woods with his uncle, who raised Jeff after his parents died. As they start hiking, they hear animal noises, and turn around to run away.
The end.
I've seen old "ABC After School Specials" that were more frightening and compelling than utter crapfest was, and anyone who has rated this as more than one star had something to do with the production of the movie.
In a post credits scene, the hermit is identified as "Ben Marshall", and a short vignette tells how "Ben" came to be a backwoods hermit. "Ben's" backstory is about as powerful and as potent as a popcorn fart in a tornado. Why the film makers decided to prolong the agony of subjecting the viewer to this back story is the real mystery here. It adds absolutely nothing of value to a terrible film.
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