WINTERBEAST

Written and Directed by Christopher Thies
Produced and Edited by Mike Frizzell
Photographed by Craig B. mathieson and Bob Goodness

Sgt. Bill Whitman - Tim R. Morgan
Stillman - Mike Magri
Dave Sheldon - Bab Harlow
Charlie Perkins - Charles Majka
Barbara - Dore May Kelly

Ouch! This one hurt to watch.

I recently sent a note to J.R. Bookwalter letting him that I would be reviewing many of Tempe's early releases. When asked if there were any specific titles J.R. wanted me to hit on, he replied "I won't aid and abet the review of most of the old titles." With WINTERBEAST, I can understand why. Although Bookwalter had no hand in creating this film, he is responsible for releasing it through his Tempe Video label.

I really have no idea what went on over the course of the movie. Usually I'm down on needless exposition, but this is a film that NEEDED it. There were three times where I was just completely lost.

I promised myself I would never give a negative review to a film due to effects, acting, or other budget limitations. When you have no money to make a film, some things you're allowed to compromise. Bad storytelling isn't one of them.

From what I could tell the movie takes place during the off season at a State Park. I want to say it was somewhere in Ohio, but I can't be sure. Setting was a serious problem. Not only could I not identify the area, I think the season might have been off too. Then again, Autumnbeast doesn't have the same ring.

I'll spare you the plot details, mainly because I can't figure them out. There were clay-mation monsters running around the park. It took me a while, but by the end I was able to figure out that they weren't Winterbeast. He didn't show up until the end. I don't know what purpose the clay dinosaurs held, but they did add a few nice effects to the film.

The fact that the stop-motion effects were amazing for a film of this size doesn't change anything. The old adage still applies, "just because you CAN make a movie, doesn't mean you should." If you've got the resource but don't have a story to tell, then loan your equipment and talent to someone who does. Together you can give birth to something that could possibly work.


Tempe Video