Mystery, friendship, and the excitement of the unknown come together in The Wild Man of Shaggy Creek, a film that proves that some legends are more than just stories, and that fear is meant to be overcome, not avoided.
The Wild Man of Shaggy Creek is a family-friendly monster adventure film reminiscent of 1980s children's movies, reminiscent of E.T., The Goonies, and Stand By Me. Based on the first book in R.H. Grimly's FRIGHTLAND series, this nostalgia is complemented by beautiful cinematography evoking beloved coming-of-age fantasy films and an air of small-town mystery.
Director: Jesse Edwards
Writers: Jesse Edwards, Scott Baird, Rob York
Stars: Hudson Hensley, Allee Sutton Hethcoat, Josh Futcher
Jesse Edwards brings the story to the big screen in his second feature film following 2022's The Stolen Valley. From its opening moments, The Wild Man creates excellent tension and a sense of insidious unease. There's always a quiet sense that something is lurking in the woods, watching from afar. This is aided by the decision to use distant camera angles when characters speak or explore, subtly suggesting another presence in the background. Edwards takes full advantage of this atmosphere, keeping the viewer on edge and constantly questioning what is real and what might simply be the kind of red herrings that these films often employ, whether through imagination or jokes.
The story centers on a young boy named Scott (or Scotty, as his mother, played by Hudson Hensley, affectionately calls him), whose family has recently moved. He deals with the fear and isolation that comes with moving to a new neighborhood, and the local legend about Bigfoot lurking in the woods next to the house doesn't help matters. At its core, it's a coming-of-age story, with the main character, Wildman, serving as a metaphor for everything Scott is afraid to face, both internally and externally.
The supporting child cast brings great energy to the film. It's refreshing that the group of bike-riding neighborhood kids aren't your typical movie bullies. Instead, they're somewhat goofy, with a friendly, provocative dynamic that feels more realistic. One, Zach (Brycen Patterson), borders on cliché, but even he feels a bit more developed than many of his movie bully counterparts. The kids aren't overly refined or stereotypical either: one wears glasses, another has messy hair, which gives them a more believable feel.
As for the performances, the kids (which also include David Dupre as Brent, Ella Kaminski as Emily, and Pierson Mashburn as Cole) are solid across the board, with genuinely funny dialogue that adds a lot of charm. The star of the film is Hailey, played by Ayla Bullington, who won Best Young Actress at the Los Angeles Film Awards. At first, she seems like a classic Hermione Granger-esque "smart girl," but she quickly proves to have much more depth, and her wit makes her the most entertaining character to watch.
Allee Sutton Hethcoat and Josh Futcher play Scott's parents. In many genre films like this, the parents come across as either aggressively skeptical or cartoonishly indifferent. Here, they come across as understanding, rational, and genuinely willing to help. They don't ignore their son's fear completely; they address it with logic, patience, and care. This portrayal is refreshing, though the father (Charlie) can come across as a bit cold at times, particularly when they discover his son has run off into the woods to confront the "Savage," and their response is basically, "Well, he'll have to do it alone." His more casual demeanor, however, provides a nice counterpoint to the mother (Charlotte), who seems to be the only character with any consistent concern.
Speaking of ease, there's also a small subplot: Scott ignores his old friends, too scared to tell them he's moved away, and similarly, when he finally contacts them, their reaction is oddly relaxed. "That's great! What have you been doing?" So there's a lack of urgency or emotional charge in moments that seem more impactful.
When the Wild Man finally appears, it's quite brief, but it certainly serves its purpose in a meaningful way. The costumes seem practical, which evokes real nostalgia. It gives it that classic Universal Monsters feel, a nice nod to old-school monster movies. Just don't expect a monster movie.
The Wild Man of Shaggy Creek is a tender, emotional, and very well-made film, with a lot of charm and care. In theaters August 1.
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