The Wild Man of the Navidad

Last updated
The Wild Man of the Navidad
Directed by
Written by
Produced by Kim Henkel
Starring
  • Justin Meeks
  • Alex Garcia
  • Tony Wolford
  • Charlie Hurtin
  • Bob Wood
  • Edmond Geyer
  • Mac McBride
  • James Bargsley
  • Stacy Meeks
  • Patrick Hewlett
Cinematography Duane Graves
Edited by
Music by
  • James McCrea
  • James Brand
  • Charlie Hurtin
  • Marshall Jones
  • Ben Buchanan
Distributed by MPI Media Group (North America)
Release date
  • April 24, 2008 (2008-04-24)(Tribeca Film Festival)
Running time
86 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Wild Man of the Navidad is a 2008 Bigfoot horror film written and directed by Duane Graves and Justin Meeks. It was picked up by IFC Films shortly after its world premiere at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, and re-released in 2021 by MPI Media Group. [1] [2] [3] Dread Central named it one of the "Top 10 Bigfoot Movies of the 21st Century." [4]

Contents

Plot

This film is allegedly based on the real-life journals of Dale S. Rogers, a man who, in the 1970s, lived along the banks of the Navidad River in Sublime, Texas - the same area where the original legend of the Wild Man of the Navidad surfaced in the late 1800s. [5] [6] The film follows Dale, his wheelchair-using wife Jean, and her oft-shirtless, lazy-eyed caretaker Mario. Though their ranch sits on vast acres prime for paying hunters, Dale has resisted opening up the land because of the strange, Bigfoot-like creatures supposedly inhabiting it, but after the prodding of some of the rifle-loving townsfolk and the loss of his welding job, Dale gives in and opens the gate to his compound. Then, the hunters become the hunted. [7]

Cast

Production

The film is a throwback to drive-in Sasquatch films of the 1970s like The Legend of Boggy Creek , and is known for its recreation of their specific vintage style, pacing and feel—from the real-life characters down to the period production design and music. [8] The film was co-produced by Kim Henkel, co-writer of the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre with Tobe Hooper in 1974 and was written, directed and edited by two of Henkel's screenwriting/production students, Justin Meeks and Duane Graves. [9]

Reception

Ain't It Cool News described it as "about as perfect a Bigfoot film I've seen so far." [10] Scott Foy of Dread Central describes the film as "a creepy, southern-fried creature feature." [11] IFC Films' Alison Willmore states that it is "a welcome palate cleanser" for the horror genre. [12] Scott Weinberg of Cinematical calls it "enthusiastically splattery...a rather spirited little terror tale...that actually feels like it has been hidden in a vault." [13] Daily Variety critic John Anderson writes "cult status is already achieved...Wild Man mixes homage with horror for a pretty potent dose of movie moonshine." [14] Merle Bertrand of Film Threat relates it as "wonderfully retro...it's time to go back to the drive-in." [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bigfoot</span> Mythical creature

Bigfoot, also commonly referred to as Sasquatch, is a large and hairy human-like mythical creature said to inhabit forests in North America, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. Bigfoot is featured in both American and Canadian folklore, and since the mid-20th century has grown into a cultural icon, permeating popular culture and becoming the subject of its own distinct subculture.

<i>The Texas Chain Saw Massacre</i> 1974 film by Tobe Hooper

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a 1974 American independent horror film produced, co-composed, and directed by Tobe Hooper, who co-wrote it with Kim Henkel. The film stars Marilyn Burns, Paul A. Partain, Edwin Neal, Jim Siedow, and Gunnar Hansen. The plot follows a group of friends who fall victim to a family of cannibals while on their way to visit an old homestead. The film was marketed as being based on true events to attract a wider audience and to act as a subtle commentary on the era's political climate. Although the character of Leatherface and minor story details were inspired by the crimes of murderer Ed Gein, its plot is largely fictional.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Navidad River</span> River in the Texas Gulf Coastal Plain

The Navidad River is a 90-mile (140 km)-long coastal river in the U.S. state of Texas that runs roughly parallel to its sister river, the Lavaca River. It is not spring fed, and all of its volume is runoff, which eventually provides for much of the water in Lake Texana.

Kim David Henkel is an American screenwriter, director, producer, and actor. He is best known as the co-writer of Tobe Hooper's horror film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

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<i>Boggy Creek</i> 2011 American film

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<i>Kill or Be Killed</i> (2015 film) 2015 film

Kill or Be Killed is a 2015 American Western film written and directed by Duane Graves and Justin Meeks. Meeks stars as a notorious Texas criminal whose gang is slowly picked off one-by-one by an unknown killer. It premiered at the ninth Dallas International Film Festival and was released in the US on March 1, 2016.

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References

  1. ↑ "AMC Networks Inc". Rainbow-media.com. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  2. ↑ "IndieWIRE: TRIBECA '08 | Tribeca Unveils Discovery, Midnight Slates for '08 Fest". Archived from the original on March 14, 2008. Retrieved March 14, 2008. Tribeca Unveils Discovery, Midnight Slates for '08 Fest
  3. ↑ "TEXAS TERROR "THE WILD MAN OF THE NAVIDAD" RETURNS ON DVD; NEW TRAILER & ART". rue-morgue.com. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  4. ↑ "Top 10 Bigfoot Movies of the 21st Century". rue-morgue.com. 6 May 2015.
  5. ↑ "Wild Woman of the Navidad". Texasescapes.com. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  6. ↑ "The Wild Man of the Navidad". Wildmanofthenavidad.com. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  7. ↑ "Tribeca Director Interview: Justin Meeks, the Wild Man of the Navidad…". Archived from the original on 2 January 2013.
  8. ↑ O'Connell, Joe. "Beware: Bigfoot Ahead". The Austin Chronicle . Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  9. ↑ O'Connell, Joe (2016-02-26). "A White-Knuckle Western". The Austin Chronicle . Retrieved 2016-10-06.
  10. ↑ "AICN HORROR goes Bigfootin'! Bug chats with the Zellner Brothers about SASQUATCH BIRTH JOURNAL 2!..." Aintitcool.com. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  11. ↑ "Wild Man of the Navidad, the (DVD) | Horror Movie, DVD, & Book Reviews, News, Interviews at Dread Central". Archived from the original on 2010-10-29. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  12. ↑ "Tribeca '08: Rednexploitation! "Tennessee," "From Within," "The Wild Man of Natividad." | Indie Eye | Film | IFC.com". Archived from the original on September 8, 2008. Retrieved May 18, 2009. IFC Film's Review
  13. ↑ "Entertainment, Movie & TV News - Moviefone.com". Moviefone. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  14. ↑ "The Wild Man of the Navidad Review - Read Variety's Analysis of the Movie the Wild Man of the Navidad". Archived from the original on 2010-08-27. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  15. ↑ "Film Threat". Film Threat. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
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