Plot: What’s it about?
Harlan Knowles (Lance Henriksen) is the president of Bio-Comp Industries, so he is a billionaire and could have a life of complete splendor & comfort. But when a company plane goes down in a remote wooded location, he leaves the office behind and heads out to the Pacific Northwest. He even goes himself, along with a few crew members, to find the plane, rescue any survivors, and find out what happened. Although some might find it odd that Knowles himself is involved in the search, his daughter Tara (Erica Parker) was a passenger and so he has become obsessed, totally determined to locate the plane. With a local guide, a wilderness expert, and a hot chick in his team, Knowles sets out to uncover the truth about the plane’s disappearance. After some time passes, his own team members begin to question Knowles’ true interests in the situation, as he seems more worried about the plane’s other cargo at times, instead of his daughter. A DNA testing machine prototype was on the plane, a device that took years and cost millions to design, so when the team finds shredded wreckage, the machine comes in quite handy. As per the device’s readouts, the DNA at the site belongs to a hideous beast, the kind mankind has only heard about in myths. But is the sasquatch real and if so, can any team members survive its wrath?
If you’re like me, then you’ve been waiting to see Lance Henriksen do battle with Sasquatch for a while now. Ok, so none of us knew such a blockbuster conflict would happen until this release, but come on, doesn’t it sound like a terrific premise? Also known as The Untold, this movie has just the combination of elements I spoke of and while produced on a slender budget, it turns to offer a solid, enjoyable experience. I do think it could have been much, much better with additional funds for creature effects and larger set pieces, but like I said, the filmmakers have done some good work here. A real plus for this movie is the realistic storyline, or at least as realistic as possible, since it involves a mythical beast. A lot of these monster movies have over the top plots, but Sasquatch is based on a more reliable foundation. So its more like we’re watching a thriller, instead of a B movie with an out of this world storyline. The cast isn’t too deep past Henriksen, with mostly a bunch of unknowns, but Henriksen is his usual self and in the end, his presence makes for the less than memorable supporting turns. I wouldn’t call this a masterpiece of cryptozoology, but it is fun at times and is worth a look. So if you’re interested, Sasquatch is more than recommended and Columbia’s treatment is above average.
If you’re a fan of these kind of movies, then without question, the mere presence of Lance Henriksen gives Sasquatch some credibility. After all, we’ve seen him in countless movies and he’s more than earned his reputation. Henriksen has been in numerous horror movies, sci/fi pictures, and offbeat cinema, with some great mainstream movie and even television success, so he knows his way around the business. I won’t even try to pretend that he always chooses good projects to be involved with, but I do think he adds a lot to any movie. So while the elements around him aren’t always remarkable, Henriksen delivers on a consistent basis. As such, some folks seek out his pictures just to see his performances and if the movie happens to be good, then that’s a bonus to the experience. With Henriksen sharing screen time with a sasquatch, there is immense potential here and of course, he more than delivers. His cold stare and scowl are on full showcase here, so fans of his can rest assured he is in top form. Other films with Henriksen include Stone Cold, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Near Dark, Jagged Edge, and Aliens. The cast also includes Andrea Roth (The Stepdaughter, Red Meat), Russell Ferrier (Crying Freeman, Cabin by the Lake), and Philip Granger (The Shipment, Masterminds).
Video: How does it look?
Sasquatch is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. This might be a direct to video release of a low budget monster movie, but Columbia’s work on the transfer is excellent, so the movie looks awesome. The image is very clean and shows no real flaws, even the print is totally devoid of grain or other debris. The dark scenes have stark contrast and superb detail level, while daytime sequences are bright and just as impressive. I suppose we should have expected a clean presentation, since the movie moved right to home video, but I had some doubts about how good Sasquatch would look here. But Columbia has proven those doubts to be wrong, as this movie looks terrific in this release.
Audio: How does it sound?
The main track here is a Dolby Digital 5.1 option, but it isn’t the kind of knockout soundtrack some might expect. The sasquatch factor allows some rustles, roars, and assortment beast sound effects, which are well implemented, but this is mostly a basic, unremarkable soundtrack. A few scenes spark up the speakers, with some decent “in the woods” atmosphere, though not enough to warrant any special mentions. The track is solid and covers all the bases, it simply doesn’t move much beyond the expected basics. I found dialogue to be well handled also, as vocals are clear and never muffled in the least. This disc also includes 2.0 surround option, as well as subtitles in English and Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The supplement here is an informative audio commentary track, which features director Jonas Quastel, producer Rob Clark, and stars Philip Granger & Jeremy Radick. The group talks about how the film was renamed, its journey to distribution, and of course, working with Henriksen. I found this to be a solid overall session, but I do wish Henriksen could have been involved. This disc also includes some talent files, as well as the film’s trailer.
