Snow Beast

"Snowbeast" is a 2011 TV remake of the 1977 TV film of the same name. This one stars John Schneider.

The titular monster is a yeti, basically a bigfoot that lives high in the snowy mountains. In the original film the snowbeast was hanging around Crested Butte ski resort, Colorado, which is where the film was shot; this remake largely takes place around a posh cabin in the Canadian Rockies. A ski resort is nearby but you'll barely see it. The original movie ripped-off the plot of "Jaws" verbatim and just relocated it to a ski resort while this remake throws out most of the "Jaws" similarities.

The yeti in the original looked quite good for a TV film from 1977, nice and malevolent. I suppose it helped that you hardly got to see the creature. Less is more, as they say.

Which brings us to the main problem with this remake: The yeti is fully seen early on and continues to appear throughout the rest of the film. This wouldn't be a problem if the monster costume was convincing, but that's not the case. The head and face look good, especially the eyes and mouth - very monstrous - but the rest of the costume looks really fake. The body of fur just doesn't look real or lived-in. In fact, it looks like the beast just came from the dry cleaners. Couldn't the producers have spent another grand on the title creature's appearance?

But the cast is good and likable. John Schneider plays a scientist studying lynx in Canada. He brings two colleagues and his daughter from Florida. Meanwhile, the local police department investigates a couple cases of missing persons that, of course, lead to the beast.

For some reason, Schneider is perfect for these types of roles. He's just an all-around quality protagonist. Jason London is also on hand as one of the policeman.

Another big plus are the two women: Danielle Chuchran, who plays Schneider's teen daughter Emmy, and Kari Hawker, who plays Schneider's young brunette colleague, Marci, with whom he seems to have a (mutual) interest. Each is totally gorgeous in different ways.

The snowy Rocky Mountain locations are another plus; very scenic.

CONCLUSION: Both films are about the same quality, although the original version loses points for being a wholesale rip-off of "Jaws." Each were made as traditional monster movies and are therefore pleasantly derivative. In other words, don't look for originality or cutting edge cinema, just enjoy them for what they are. The only major flaw of this remake is the fake-looking fur suit of the creature, which engenders laughs more than frights (although, again, the head & face look good). The plot is much thinner than the original, but the story is somehow less boring, which indicates solid storytelling or maybe they hooked me in with the likable cast. Probably both.

GRADE: C+ or B-

In the Canadian wilderness, furry white "Snow Beast" attacks a young man while snow-boarding. Unaware of the precise danger, animal researcher John Schneider (as Jim Harwood) arrives to investigate. When the next attack occurs, you'll know before it happens. Also predictable is the subplot involving Mr. Schneider and his ungrateful teenage daughter Danielle Chuchran (as Emmy)...

Schneider handles the acting assignment well. However, all is lost when he appears to forget all about his friend Paul D. Hunt (as Rob) and leaves him in a cave. Making this particular scene even worse is the fact that Schneider momentarily wants to save a dead woman over his living friend. In a serious story-telling error, the hatred for Mr. Hunt's very likable character is never explained.

** Snow Beast (10/4/11) Brian Borough ~ John Schneider, Danielle Chuchran, Paul D. Hunt, Jason London

People disappear every year out in the Canadian wilderness -- however, this year is different. This year something is increasing the body count...

Jason London is the reason I wanted to watch this film. And sadly, he was probably the best actor in the movie. (And without the weird personal baggage of his brother Jeremy... though I prefer Jeremy.) Too bad his role is so small.

The father is bit melodramatic and has an acting style that would probably work better on the ABC Family channel than in a cheesy horror film.

I have to give credit to the special effects, because there really are not any. And that makes me happy, because I would rather see a cheesy suit than a cheesy computer effect. And, even better, the suit is on screen a minimum amount of time.

Since the original film was released back in the 1970s major advances in special effects have bought some truly brilliant films.

Unfortunately the man in a furry coat does not advertise these said advances.

The slow motion sequences do add to the feel of the film - slow.

I am torn as to why this film fails to deliver - maybe it is the wooden acting, a script so predictably awful that is borders on the comic or the attempt to bring horror with monster slippers? Whatever the reason I just regret not using the hour and a half to do something more enjoyable - such as filling in my tax return.

Given the overall rating that "Snow Beast" had received here on IMDb, it was with some hesitation that I decided to watch this movie. And the sole purpose of purchasing it was simply because after having seen Danielle Chuchran in "SAGA: Curse of the Shadow" then I wanted to watch some of her previous work.

Well, with "Snow Beast", then you know exactly what you are in for. And true enough, the movie delivers exactly that, and does so without even a single surprise along the way. But despite its predictability, then "Snow Beast" was still an enjoyable movie to watch. It is one of those cheesy and campy pseudo-horror movies that we all indulge in once in a while and most of us don't admit to.

The story is about a group of scientists who trek deep into the Canadian mountains to study lynxes in the wild. However, when they arrive there, the lynxes are gone, and the scientists come face to face with a ferocious man-like beast, reminiscent of the mythical Yeti.

Campy, cheesy and dim-witted, yes, the movie delivers on every account. But still, it managed to captivate me and hold me all the way to the very end.

There were some mistakes here and there, sure. Such as the feet of the snow beast were painstakingly molded latex in the shape of feet fitted upon shoes. The toes were not even parted or moving separately. And the avalanche scene, well that has to be seen to be believe. It was just bad. And something puzzled me beyond mortal comprehension; why would a scientist venture out into the frozen mountains alone, knowing very well that a deadly creature was lurking out there, and arming herself with a camera and a tranquilizer gun - which was conveniently left behind in the car. It was stupidity on a level where even the most of stupid people would go "wait, what did she just do?"

The characters in the movie were detailed and nicely portrayed, and the people hired for the various roles were doing good jobs in acting.

If you enjoy campy horror, then "Snow Beast" is most definitely worth a watch.