The Legend of Boggy Creek

With Charles Pierce's passing, it seemed appropriate that I finally check out his debut feature. And what a slog through the bog it is. Done up as a documentary, the film centers on a Bigfoot lurking in the woods of Fouke, Arkansas. The first scene has a kid running around and catching a glimpse of the monster. A narrator (who is supposed to be the kid grown up) comes on and tells the story of the Fouke monster. The next scene has someone running around and catching a glimpse of the monster. The scene after that has someone else running around and catching a glimpse of the monster. See where this is heading? Repeat for 85 minutes.

This is really pointless but interesting to see for how it paved the way for the the faux horror documentaries years later. Also, the production uses real folks in a majority of the roles, so the documentary quality in regard to the small town is somewhat real with lots of great "Hollywood couldn't make this" real production value. Of course, you can't really see much of it as the DVD is one of the worst transfers I've ever seen. The soundtrack is scratchy and the pan-and-scan (actually, more like lock-and-watch) is awful, which is a shame as Pierce seems to have made an effort to get some great looking shots in there. Perhaps the best thing I can say about it is that if there were no THE LEGEND OF BOGGY CREEK, we would never have gotten Aldo Ray in BOG (1983).

As a youngster growing up in Arkansas this was very much a real experience for me, while we lived about three hours from the area where this is supposed to have happened it was a very exciting time. I can still remember reading the newspaper and watching the local news each night to hear the latest on the "Fouke Creek Monster" as it was called. It was particulary exciting when they reported on the incident where the monster reached through the window. I really enjoyed this movie because of it's homespun quality not in spite of it.

One of my brothers took a girl he really liked to see "The Legend of Boggy Creek" on their first date in 1972. She never went out with him again. Word to the wise.

This is basically a pseudo-documentary with incredibly cheesy music ("Hey there, Travis Crabtree," a local lad is serenaded as he travels to the home of a slackjawed yokel whose name escapes me, but not the fact that he shot off his own foot). As for the "Creature Theme," my brother and I took great delight in parodizing the lyrics:

This is where the creature goes / when he needs to blow his nose

etc. etc. etc. and other preteen humor (?).

But for your basic seventies celebration of Middle American white trash culture, it just doesn't get any better than this. Young girls in curlers, alone in the trailer with a big hairy creature stalking around outside! Cats meeting horrible fates just from espying said creature! Corn-pone accents galore! NOW how much would you pay?

I will go ahead and say I realize that the songs featured in this movie are absolute cheese. This really takes away from an otherwise realistic documentary like film.

It's really moody and atmospheric, you really come to believe that the things you are seeing in the film are real.

There are also some very funny moments like toothless old men talking about the creature. The songs I mentioned before are a real hoot. But overall, this isn't a film I watch for a few giggles. It's quite an interesting film. I've never seen the sequels, but hope to some day.

It's not for all tastes, but for the fan of 70's horror nostalgia, it can't be missed.

This classic 1970's drive-in film is a must for all Bigfoot and cryptozoology fans! If you don't like 1970's films, low low budget films then stay clear from this. Go watch Harry Potter instead. The creepy swamp scenery at the start of the picture, lack of a budget, non-existant acting, and glimpses of a man in an ape suit makes this late night gem a real joy to watch!! Good for viewing in the dark. Much better than Sasquatch: The Untold. UGH!