A group of attractive young folks are fucking around in the woods (literally) when something that appears for all the world to be the legendary Bigfoot rips the gang from asshole to elbow.
Enter: Down on his luck reality TV producer Rick Paxton (Ben Browder) who assembles a crack team, who’s ranks include the great Brian Thompson (Cobra, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation), to schlep out into the woods and prove the murders were committed by the legendary cryptid, all for the sake of high ratings.
Naturally, it doesn’t take long for something to begin hunting our heroes, and as tensions within the group mount, the truth they have to confront is way more than they bargained for.
So what’s good with Hoax? Well, the Colorado countryside is scenic as all fuck, and is put to good use to make the group feel well and truly isolated. Speaking of the group, the acting is strong among our protagonists, with lead Cheryl Texiera (as Dr. Ellen Freese) especially adept at conveying the terror at hand. Also of note in regards to the acting department, the film features a welcome cameo from genre legend Adrienne Barbeau (The Fog, Creepshow, and plenty more).
Of course a picture like this relies on some decent effects work, and Hoax succeeds there as well, with a fun creature suit as well as some solid practical gore, particularly in the third act.
While we are on the subject of that third act mentioned up yonder, I do have to state that there is an eleventh hour revelation that adds another layer to the story that I’m not too sure was needed. Hoax hums along as an effective monster movie, and the adding of that sub-plot (to reveal more would spoil the film) seemed a bit tacked on (though clues to it’s existence do show up here and there throughout the picture).
Additionally this fright flick could have done with a lil’ more screen time from ol’ hairy scary; the more monster the merrier in a creature feature I always say.
At the end of the day, Hoax is a satisfying Bigfoot romp; it’s got it’s share of blood n’ beasts and at the end of the day what more could a horror hound ask for?
