‘You’ll wish he kept hiding’
Cherokee Creek is a 2018 American horror film written, edited, co-produced and directed by Todd Jenkins (actor in Howlers; Ghost Note; Body Harvest; et al). The movie stars Billy Blair, Todd Jenkins, and Justin Armstrong.
Review:
The prologue, in which two ski-masked and armed figures either thank the viewer for buying/renting the film or drop various homophobic insults on them for pirating it gives the viewer a good idea what to expect from Cherokee Creek. It’s a crass, crude, and very non-PC horror comedy.
The plot is exceptionally basic, two friends, (the masked guys from the prologue), kidnap a soon to be married buddy and drag him out into the woods for a bachelor party. A party complete with exotic dancers and a guy in a Bigfoot costume. But the real Bigfoot puts in an appearance and he isn’t in a mood to party.
The problem is after a pretty good start with two would be Sasquatch hunters meeting a nasty end and the fake kidnapping that keeps going hysterically wrong the film bogs down. It’s not until nearly forty minutes in that a park ranger shows up to interrupt the not very funny guy talk. Shortly after that, the strippers show up and we get some boobs and lame partying. But it’s not until an hour and fifteen minutes into Cherokee Creek, (the film runs just under two hours!), that Bigfoot reappears.
When he does things pick up dramatically and the film lays on the blood and gore quite heavily. If you’ve seen Primal Rage that’s a good comparison. There’s also plenty of fairly graphic coupling.
Todd Jenkins (Knucklebones, Howlers) who wrote/directed and stars as Jinx has some funny moments as does Billy Blair (The Harrowing) as action movie star Vinny Blades. The kills are brutal and the effects are done without CGI which is always a plus. One in particular will have folk thinking of another Bigfoot bloodbath Night of the Demon. Also of note is the film’s score by Jonathan Padilla and John Massari who composed the score for Killer Klowns from Outer Space among many others.
Which leaves me with this question. Why bother with the lame ass buddy dialogue and not just move right to the goods? The film’s publicity plays on the fact that it’s raunchy, bloody and doesn’t give a damn about good taste. Those drawn by it are not going to enjoy sitting through a load of talking to get to what they were promised. Cherokee Creek could, and should, have been a much shorter film.
Jim Morazzini, guest reviewer via Voices from the Balcony
Other reviews:
“Overall I would heartily recommend Cherokee Creek – if you like you horror with a good few slices of humour and gore then this is for you. The filmmakers intention was to make a film that people would enjoy for what it is, there are no pretensions or allusions of grandeur here.” 5D.
“Cherokee Creek is a creature feature unlike any other. From beginning to end, it delivers a humorous, blood-splattered treat that doesn’t hold back. Perfect casting, old school special effects, and a wickedly fun atmosphere will have you keep coming back for more.” Pop Horror
“This is a good time but it’s definitely not a gore fest. It has some cool effects in the last half […] it really needed to be edited down […] There is some great comedy in this and the characters are very likable but the idea of the party in the woods, the Bigfoot etc is nothing new or original.” Twisted Minds
“Cherokee Creek is a wild, gory, hairy horror film that is jaw-droppingly fun. While there were a few pacing issues in the second act, overall I think this is a solid entry into the Bigfoot horror genre…” We Live Entertainment
“Actor Todd Jenkins bares all as he directs his first feature that’s co-written by Billy Blair. It’s these two actors playing off each other and the dialogue between them that make this Bigfoot movie a success. They have a chemistry that keeps it entertaining even when some of the later comedy in death becomes a little too corny for my tastes.” Without Your Head
Main cast:
- Billy Blair … Vinny Blades – The Possessed; Body Harvest; The Harrowing; Dead Awake
- Todd Jenkins … Jinx – Howlers; Ghost Note; Body Harvest; Knucklebones; Daylight’s End
- Justin Armstrong … Pat – Ghost Note; The Ouija Experiment
- Olivia Sabini … Caroline
- Justin Duncan … Jarrett
- Terry Dale Parks … Rowdy
- Ray Nicholas Hosack … Cletus
- Nellie Sciutto … Park Ranger
- Jeff Swearingen … Chad
- Jason P. Kendall … Drew
- James Yeager … LaBare Owner
- Anthony Phoenix … Brick
- Steve Mokate … Sheriff
- Natasha Richards … Bambi
- Ashley Moore … Lacie
- Natalie Jones … Cameron
- CG Lewis … Dusty
- Jason Duffy Klemm … Deputy Sheriff Perry
- Elizabeth Jenkins … Handicap Woman
- Teresa Mark … Trinity
- Colin Bradley Lewis … Paramedic
- Xlcr Moon … Party Girl
- Jinx Jenkins … Cat
- Cynthia Renteria … Cyn
- Jean Tuite … Drunk lady
Filming locations:
McKinney, Texas
Running time:
112 minutes | aspect ratio: 1.78: 1
