"Grizzly Night" Falls Short of Its Full Potential Amidst Graphic Bear Attacks
The latest creature feature, "Grizzly Night", teeters precariously between delivering a thought-provoking thriller and succumbing to campy clichés. Director Burke Doeren's debut tackles the real-life 1967 tragedy in Montana's Glacier National Park, where two women were brutally mauled by grizzlies. While it successfully conveys the immediacy and terror of being attacked by a wild animal, the film stumbles when it comes to crafting believable characters.
The story centers around a group of visitors who are unaware that rogue bears have taken up residence at the campsite. As tensions escalate, rookie Joan must navigate her way through the wilderness, leading a tour group to safety while also confronting her own demons. The film's strongest aspect is its unflinching portrayal of bear attacks, which is both harrowing and realistic.
However, the human interest element is woefully underdeveloped, with characters feeling more like cardboard cutouts than fully fleshed-out people. The romance between Paul and Michele serves only to further distract from the main plot, while Julie's predicament feels like a contrived attempt to tug at the heartstrings.
Visually, the film has its moments, particularly in its depiction of the wilderness setting and the sheer ferocity of the bear attacks. However, the cinematography also takes cues from streaming-era horror tropes, resulting in an overlit aesthetic that detracts from the overall experience.
In spite of these shortcomings, "Grizzly Night" does manage to strike a chord on one key issue: conservation awareness. Doeren's framing of the film's themes is clear and well-intentioned, even if it feels somewhat heavy-handed at times.
Ultimately, while "Grizzly Night" shows flashes of promise, its inability to balance graphic bear attacks with believable character development holds it back from reaching its full potential as a creature feature thriller.
The latest creature feature, "Grizzly Night", teeters precariously between delivering a thought-provoking thriller and succumbing to campy clichés. Director Burke Doeren's debut tackles the real-life 1967 tragedy in Montana's Glacier National Park, where two women were brutally mauled by grizzlies. While it successfully conveys the immediacy and terror of being attacked by a wild animal, the film stumbles when it comes to crafting believable characters.
The story centers around a group of visitors who are unaware that rogue bears have taken up residence at the campsite. As tensions escalate, rookie Joan must navigate her way through the wilderness, leading a tour group to safety while also confronting her own demons. The film's strongest aspect is its unflinching portrayal of bear attacks, which is both harrowing and realistic.
However, the human interest element is woefully underdeveloped, with characters feeling more like cardboard cutouts than fully fleshed-out people. The romance between Paul and Michele serves only to further distract from the main plot, while Julie's predicament feels like a contrived attempt to tug at the heartstrings.
Visually, the film has its moments, particularly in its depiction of the wilderness setting and the sheer ferocity of the bear attacks. However, the cinematography also takes cues from streaming-era horror tropes, resulting in an overlit aesthetic that detracts from the overall experience.
In spite of these shortcomings, "Grizzly Night" does manage to strike a chord on one key issue: conservation awareness. Doeren's framing of the film's themes is clear and well-intentioned, even if it feels somewhat heavy-handed at times.
Ultimately, while "Grizzly Night" shows flashes of promise, its inability to balance graphic bear attacks with believable character development holds it back from reaching its full potential as a creature feature thriller.