As flawed as it may be and as many times as it has hurt me on a personal level, I still love me some found footage movies. I also find the dog man a fascinating edition to the realm of cryptozoology. Now, what happens when these two things come together? Four young folks head out to the Connecticut wilderness to investigate sightings of a werewolf (not exactly a dog man but oh well). John Bloom pops in for an interview as an attorney who is releasing the footage captured of the missing four to help his clients (the families of the vanished quartet) get some answers that the local authorities appear to be covering up. It’s nice seeing Joe Bob Briggs introduce us to what we’re watching and we get a brief chunk of people talking about the case. In no time at all, we’re traveling along with the doomed team of monster hunters who run a series called “The Cryptid Project”. Irritating Randy documents everything, including the usual useless footage and moments of people talking over each other. Two exhausting female hosts agitate and the sound guy’s sarcasm grows tiresome. The two dudes bicker even before things go to shit. Uh oh. Local interviews and Fairfield County wanderings kill time, awkwardly fleshing out our protagonists (God help me, it kinda works. The interview with the grieving mother really goes a long way in showing these people actually have more to them than manufactured enthusiasm) and introducing some colorful folks and cautious /hostile government officials who populate the small town living under the shadow of a hairy and dangerous legend. John Bloom comes back to let us know that after a certain point in the footage, things shift for the four and things get worrisome. A slimy town rep hooks them up with his magnificently bearded uncle so the old timer can work as a guide for them into the woods. He’s pretty great. He shares some spooky history and personal experiences and then warns them to not go following a loud howl and movement in the woods. They don’t listen and the inevitable encounter with the killer unknown ruins everyone’s day. The opening act may be a drag thanks to it landing firmly into the standard unlikable found footage shenanigans but once it allows the audience to project some sympathy towards our heroes, it gets a lot better. Also… a found footage werewolf film… that’s such a great way to get me rooting for your damn movie right out of the starting gate. The werewolf costume is practical and looks mighty fine which means the movie ain’t afraid of displaying it for the brief time it’s featured. A solid cast works well and it’s a simple enough story to keep it all from dragging too much. A good time that may not reinvigorate the subgenre but shouldn’t piss anyone off if they’re looking for some easy shaky-cam tomfoolery.
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