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10,000 B.C. Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
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4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies. |
Wendigo
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MPAA RATING: R for a strong sex scene, language and violent images.
Starring Patricia Clarkson, Jake Weber, Erik Per Sullivan, John Speredakos, Christopher Wynkoop, Lloyd Oxendine, Brian Delate, and Daniel Sherman
A fluke accident sets off a chain of events that alters the lives of a family forever and conjures up the ferocious spirit of the Wendigo, a Native American Myth made manifest in an eight-year old boy's imagination. (Magnolia Pictures)
| GENRE(S): | Horror |
| WRITTEN BY: | Larry Fessenden |
| DIRECTED BY: | Larry Fessenden |
| RELEASE DATE: |
DVD: December 17, 2002 Video: December 17, 2002 Theatrical: February 15, 2002 |
| RUNNING TIME: | 91 minutes, Color |
| ORIGIN: | USA |
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
The average user rating for this movie is 5.4 (out of 10) based on 10 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Jack gave it a 10:
Almost perfect little spook movie. Refreshing and fun, despite the odd ending.
Adam B. gave it a 7:
Almost something special. Evokes much of the tension of the Blair Witch, and the low budget special effects actually fit given the suggestions that the monster may be all in the little boy's head. Wonderful cinematography, though sometimes the rapid-fire still photographs feels forced and detracts from the tension. The repetition of a speech about the wendigo made by a mysterious Native American gets a bit annoying the third time around. Worst of all, the ending was very rushed, and although you can see what the filmmaker was trying to do, he didn't quite get it right. However, the creepiness of the setting, the slightly bizarre relationships established between the mom, dad, and son, and credibility of the tension built through much of the movie make it worth watching.
Vince M. gave it a 0:
Only Mystery Science Theater 3000 would give this movie the treatment it deserves. I could almost forgive the hokey deer-suit as an inevitable consequence of a low budget production. In the Making Of special feature on the DVD, the design and engineering crew who made the wendigo costume showed real ingenuity and artfulness. The real downfall of the movie had to be, in rough order: 1 The confused script, alternately preachy, condescending, and inarticulate on the supposedly central matter of myth, nature and spirituality; 2 The characterizations, stereotyped beyond parody (whiney, "intellectual" city dwellers versus Deliverance-style locals). Almost immediately, right from the first scene, I wanted the family to die they were so annoying. The locals looked like they had walked straight out of "Redneck Rampage." 3. The wendigo is a ravenous, all-consuming monster. A deer eats twigs and leaves. Anyone who's seen Godzilla versus Bambi should have that much figured out. My favorite part of the movie had to be the beautiful scenery. I like the wintry bare hillsides, trees and stony streams. Luckily, the cinematographer was able to get a lot of nice footage of the Catskills in winter, which the producers of the movie stuffed into the gaps where the plot failed to hold much interest.
R. Marzolph gave it a 0:
This sad attempt at a horror film is one of the worst movies I have ever seen in my entire life! It has a rediculous uneven plot. Terrible cinematography, non-existant special effects and the least frightening movie monster ever. By the end of the film me and everyone else in the room was laughing uncontrollably at the rediculous climax and resolution to this complete and utter failure of a movie.
Glen M. gave it a 4:
In light of glowing reviews I was looking forward to seeing this, but found it to be confused and pointless. When it gels the tension builds admirably, only to diffuse prematurely. It seems to confuse ambiguity with cleverness, and ultimately fails. Disappointing.
Russ H. gave it a 10:
The movie was a multi-layered view of the new American Civil War. That is to say the battle between urban and rural world views overlaid by the deep Native American magical thinking. The only thing the film lacked was budget, but it was definitely a triumph over the Disney McWorld films we normally are compelled to see.
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