I'm not sure I ever expected to review a film weaving together a cinematic tapestry of heartfelt humor and Bigfoot, but that's exactly what's happened with The Bigfoot Club from writer/director Steven Tsapelas.
The Bigfoot Club is a family friendly, nostalgic film centered around one Dorothy "Dot" March. Dot found a bit of acclaim in her tween days as the de facto leader of, you guessed it, The Bigfoot Club. She and her friends united in exploring a variety of mysteries including Bigfoot. They were eventually the subject of a PBS series, however, life changes and The Bigfoot Club was largely set aside.
Until now.
It's 20 years later. A new clue needs to old connections uniting once again, new connections being formed, and Dot once again searching for that elusive Bigfoot.
The Bigfoot Club comes out of the In the Garage Productions banner, an indie outfit out of New York that I covered earlier this year with How I Spent My Summer Vacation. While I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes to their work, I've greatly enjoyed both motion pictures with their engaging combination of heartfelt storytelling and strong character development. This is a film that just plain feels good, an entertaining motion picture with characters you enjoy getting to know and a story that draws you in.
At the center of it all is Kathryn Mayer's Dot, a lovely young woman you can't help but adore. As we meet Dot, she's disconnected from the world and herself and her village. I wouldn't say that Mayer underplays here. I'd say that she plays naturally. This is the kind of performance that is so winning that were you to meet Mayer on the street you'd likely expect her to be just like Dot.
In fact, you'd probably want her to be just like Dot.
This is not to say the ensemble here is shabby. Far from it. Samantha Sayah shines as Willow alongside the likes of Kevin Wolfring's Einstein Funicello (AMAZING character name), Jerry Colpitts's Dr. Greenport, and Olivia Hellman's Esme among others.
Lensing by Kenneth R. Frank is vibrant and welcoming with an atmosphere created here that captures both the nostalgia put on display and the wonder of it all.
The Bigfoot Club had its world premiere at the Long Island International Film Expo followed quickly by the Chain NYC Film Festival. It continues on its indie fest journey and with its unique storytelling and humorous heart, this feels like a film that deserves a lengthy indie fest run. Watch for it at a fest near you and, for sure, once it lands with an indie distributor.
Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic
