It was the social media hypothetical that launched a million think-pieces and an endless cycle of discourse: If you were alone in the woods, would you rather encounter a man or a bear? That viral question has now been transformed into a survival thriller titled, fittingly enough, Man or Bear. And it is heading to Cannes this week to launch sales.
The “Final Girl” vs. The Great Outdoors
Leading the film is Lauren LaVera, who has rapidly become a genre icon as Sienna Shaw in the Terrifier franchise. Swapping Art the Clown’s supernatural sadism for a more grounded (but equally terrifying) wilderness nightmare, LaVera stars as Alex.
Alex meets a male hiker conspicuously missing gear (a red flag). He insists on tagging along; however, his behavior shifts from “awkward” to “erratic.” Alex is forced to choose between her social conditioning and her survival instincts. All while a literal apex predator looms in the shadows.
A Pedigree of Pure Horror
The film isn’t just riding a viral trend; it’s backed by serious genre talent:
Teresa Sutherland, who made waves with her debut Lovely, Dark and Deep, sharpened her blades as a staff writer on Mike Flanagan’s “Midnight Mass,” which she is directing.
Jaime Saginor penned the script based on her own short film, Black Creek Trail, which was inspired by a real-life “terrifying” solo backpacking experience.
Joanne Rubino (Be Brave Media) and David Clark (Mazo Partners) are producing.
“At heart, this psychological thriller explores intuition,” says Saginor, “and why a woman might be so quick to abandon hers, even when her life is at stake.”
Man or Bear?
The release date hasn’t been announced, and a trailer hasn’t been released. But you can watch the short film Black Creek Trail below. We’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, stay safe.
