Exists demonstrates the stupidity of humans
Addy Fong checks out the latest flick from Blair Witch Project co-director Eduardo Sanchez:
Legendary creatures are mysterious and rarely seen, so upon hearing about a film that portrayed a Sasquatch, or Bigfoot as some may know him, I knew I had to check it out.
Senses prepared, I immersed myself in the viewing of Exists, a film starring Dora Madison Burge (Friday Night Lights), Brian Steele (Hell Boy), Samuel Davis (Machete Kills), Roger Edwards, Chris Osborn and Denise Williamson, a group of friends who sneak out to an abandoned cabin in the woods for a party on the weekend only to find themselves hunted by a Sasquatch.
In a setting that is stereotypical of horror, i.e. a group of friends stuck in an abandoned cabin in the woods, it was predictable as to what was about to happen from a mile away.
I eagerly awaited Sasquee (my endearing name for the mysterious Sasquatch beast, the hero of the film who haunts the cast) to devour the cast in some sort of horrific onscreen death.
The characters of the story cannot escape the cabin in the woods in an area with no mobile phone reception, how convenient, as each one of them were taken care of, so to speak. In all honesty, I was slightly disappointed I didn’t get to see much of Sasquee because I felt that he was a misunderstood creature throughout the film. I mean, I would be pretty pissed off if an annoying group of teenagers came onto my turf and started having a party and not inviting me.
Beyond the story, I found myself exploring the elements of fear whilst watching Exists. I have learnt that fear drives us to do crazy things. Fear holds us hostage until we cannot control our own actions anymore. Fear tells us that when people are scared, Isolated, and alone they tend to misunderstand certain situations. Exists is a film that explains this through its use of horror film cliques which effectively demonstrate the stupidity of humans (sorry) they just shoot things in complete darkness unaware of the consequences they may leave.
Perhaps it’s a cultural thing, but I never seemed to relate to the characters in the film and found myself emphasising with the monster, good ol’ Sasquee rather hard the teens from Texas.
There is no doubt that the composition of this film on a technical level is done well, assembled with the use of shaky handheld amateur gopro and handy cam footage, sound design that is well done and only glimpses of the beast are shown to keep the audience on their feet. The use of darkness and night vision camera meant that the audience is left in the dark (literally) unaware of when the sasquach will attack next.
Exists, really is a film you need to watch with friends in a darkened room, even perhaps in an abandoned cabin in the woods somewhere. Just keep watch in case a Sasquatch comes and you’re being extremely annoying.
Words by Addy Fong.
