The Sasquatch, also known as The Bigfoot, and not to be confused with the Yeti, also known as the Abominable Snowman. Here, in the Forests of Northern California, we find four of them living their lives. Let's call them Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Mu. Alpha is, in human equivalence, a grumpy old man; Beta is the meeker male; Gamma is the lone female and Mu is the cub. All they have to do is to survive. So, let's follow them over a year in Sasquatch Sunset and see what happens.
I've been told that the Sasquatches are actually humans in disguise. Beta and Gamma allegedly go by the "real names" of Jesse Eisenberg and Riley Keough. I have been told that Mu is really Christophe Zajac-Denek. Alpha's alleged alias is Nathan Zellner, a filmmaker who frequently collaborates with his brother, David. If this is true, then the makeup team should be commended with the highest honors. It is difficult, if not impossible, to recognize them underneath their extensive makeup. I for one, choose to believe that this is a real cryptozoological family, and ...
Skip this nature documentary voice.
But, yeah, the film commits itself to a nature documentary aesthetic. It's a stunning travelogue of the California wilderness as photographed by Michael Gioulakis and accompanied by a score from The Octopus Project. Whether it's a serene misty morning in the redwoods or the town of Willow Creek, its scenery never ceases to amaze. The Zellners keep up their concept even as the film gets sillier and sillier. The Sasquatches are bewildered by fellow forest creatures; they even pass a turtle around like a telephone. The Sasquatches' first encounter with a road is treated like they just encountered a monster in a horror movie. It revels in its gross-out humor, and I wouldn't blame you if you averted your eyes during these protracted scenes.
Its relatively simple story gives its actors a lot to work with. In addition to the makeup, the actors have to communicate without the benefit of human dialogue. They instead communicate with grunts, roars, hollers and body language. So, rather than exposit about their loneliness, they whack trees with big branches and stare forlornly when they don't get a response. You can easily understand their listless lives even if you don't know what they're saying. Its premise may seem bizarre to some viewers, but you'll feel for these bigfeet when they're put into mortal danger. Indeed, not all of them will make it out alive, and some come dangerously close. A few viewings may be necessary to understand the nuances. But overall, I that the cast did well to get their points across.
Sasquatch Sunset isn't an easy film to describe. I wrote and rewrote this review several times before I got to this paragraph. But I think it's still an interesting film. It has a bizarre sense of humor, but an ultimately universal story of a family trying to survive hard times. Who knows if it will resonate with the Oscars as much as Everything, Everywhere, All at Once did, but its makeup designs are worth a look. See it if you want on your favorite streaming services. These not-Yeti will be ready if you do.
Onwards to the next review.
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