6.3 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A professor and three of his students camp out in the wilderness to find a Bigfoot-type creature.
Starring: Charles B. Pierce, Cindy Butler, Chuck Pierce Jr., Jimmy Clem, Serene HedinHorror | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Director Charles B. Pierce had a dream to make movies, putting in the effort to bring 1972’s “The Legend of Boggy Creek” to life. It was a regional creation intended for a small audience, but the feature managed to capture viewer imagination, with ticket-buyers choosing to believe in the “true” story of the “Foulke Monster,” caught up in a mild horror show created for the drive-in circuit. The docudrama was a hit for Pierce, but he wasn’t interested in jumping right into a sequel, with another creative team eventually leaping on the opportunity with 1977’s “Return to Boggy Creek,” offering the acting services of Dawn Wells and Dana Plato instead of a fierce Bigfoot adventure. After feeling around a helming career throughout the 1970s and early ‘80s (including “The Norseman” and “The Town That Dreaded Sundown”), Pierce finally gave in, returning to the saga with 1984’s “Boggy Creek II: And the Legend Continues,” out to make sure everything goes his way by writing, directing, and starring in the endeavor (joined by his son and wife). “Boggy Creek II” is a homegrown effort, with Pierce trying to solidify himself as a cinema star without paying attention to the realities of acting, letting the picture slowly slide into goofiness, which isn’t entirely unappealing, especially for those aware of the film’s silliness and vanity-driven production goals. Die-hard “Boggy Creek”-ers may find themselves horribly disappointed by this nutty follow-up.
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a 4K scan of "35mm archival positive materials." There's some roughness to the viewing experience, especially in the first reel of the movie, which has plenty of scratches and evidence of damage. It clears up soon after, but wear and tear sustains throughout, including the occasional jumpy frame. Detail is acceptable, providing a passabe view of fibrous outfits and skin surfaces, while Bigfoot particulars are darker, retaining an enigmatic appearance while also dealing with slightly heavier blacks at times. Arkansas tours are dimensional, with the rural playground open for study, and cabin interiors retain depth and disrepair. Colors are successfully managed, offering strong primaries, making red hats bright and period costuming rich. Greenery is lush. Skin tones are natural. Grain is nicely resolved.
The 1.0 DTS-HD MA mix also encounters some first reel damage, but the listening experience improves as it goes. It's a simple track, with dialogue exchanges prioritized, offering intelligibility with a range of performance choices and thick accents. Scoring supports with decent instrumentation. Sound effects register as intended.
"Boggy Creek II" really is the Charles B. Pierce Experience, with the screenplay keeping Brian the smartest man in any room, even when he's clearly not. He's the hero of the story, ultimately assigning himself some heavenly nobility in the benevolent conclusion, which is hilarious to see, and Pierce definitely doesn't have the acting chops to support the feature, joined by other untested actors. The picture isn't a creative achievement, and it may send some viewers to the stop button before the first act is over, but there's a compelling weirdness to the whole thing, from the egos on display to sequences that celebrate local color. "Boggy Creek II" is oddly watchable, definitely ready for any Bad Movie Night selection, with Pierce looking to make himself the star of the brand name, putting Bigfoot in a supporting role. That kind of vanity almost needs to be seen to be believed. Again, this isn't quality filmmaking, but there's a certain charm in the way the production sets out to make a sequel that's more of a home movie for the Pierce Family.
2014
1982
1977
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Warner Archive Collection
1933
2014
1986
Slipcover In Original Pressing
1974
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1982
Standard Edition
1973
2014
2022
Collector's Edition
2023
2023
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2019