[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Exists (2014)

Blair Witch Project director Eduardo Sanchez returns to the found footage genre with some style in this enjoyable Bigfoot romp. The plot is nothing new - a group of friends go out into some remote Texan woods for a weekend of camping and partying. However following an accident they end up in a run down cottage and as night falls they realise something else is in the woods with them.

Everything Sanchez brought to the table with his classic first film, the film that spawned the found footage horror phenomenon, he uses here to great effect. He captures a fine atmosphere of dread during the first third with the blood curdling cries in the night, shattering the otherwise silent darkness with 5:1 fear. This worked brilliantly and was delightfully creepy.

The film isn't perfect by any means. Some of the characters are a little too non descript and a few scenes seem rather cliched. In fact the whole middle third sags following the first night nervousness. The final third really kicks into gear though. Bigfoot is no longer hidden away, he's a true threat to the group and as becomes apparent also has motivation as to his actions. Unlike so many low budget Bigfoot films Sanchez leaves us with a lasting impression of the classic urban legend. Not only do we get to see glimpses of him in the trees, the final scenes give us a glorious look at him and the film definitely does not disappoint with probably the best looking creature i've seen in any Bigfoot / Yeti movie to date.

Obviously if you are one of those who detests the found footage genre then i'd say steer clear of this (although the camera work is often pretty good and you don't spend the entire film staring at the ground), but to those still willing to take a gamble on what should be a dead genre then you shouldn't be disappointed with Exists.