I liked the makers' attempt at keeping almost everything meta, but this found-footage film takes a tad too long in its setup, whereas the payoff is pretty minimal. The acting by the kid was pretty terrible, and they didn't do much with the third character Shane. He is presented as a storehouse of information, but the protagonists never question his sources or intentions. Why would he decisively get drunk when he knows the area is dangerous? It's obvious that all the FF horror movies on Tubi only feature scares (if any) in the final 10-15 minutes, and that's the case here too. The creature effects are not bad, but the stakes felt low. Make a part 2 maybe, with these guys (+ additional crew) returning to the forest to prove a point to the world that they weren't staging it. This felt kind of incomplete.
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TAHOE JOE's title refers to a large humanoid creature which supposedly roams in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and dispatches people who have the misfortune of crossing its path. The film tells the story of two filmmakers who try to find it because the friend of one of them who was looking for Joe disappeared there, and they wish to ascertain what happened.
Despite the fact that this is a bargain basement budget production of a found footage concept that has been done many times, it still manages to squeeze some fun into it. It also breaks a few genre conventions, especially at the end, but what struck me the most was the meta-modernistic approach it took to its subject.
Meta-modernism is a relatively recently identified trend in the arts and in philosophy which can be viewed as the successor to post-modernism and modernism. Its main feature is that it combines elements from these two, sometimes by jumping from one approach to the other in short succession.
The main characters use their real names and elements of their real lives in this film. This has been done in found footage horror before (for example, DASHCAM (2021), SHADOW OF THE MISSING (2018), BE MY CAT (2015), DIGGING UP THE MARROW (2014) ) in order to make the fiction seem more real, and enhance the impact of the horror when it eventually happens. Nevertheless, annihilating the boundary between fiction and reality can also be regarded as a post-modernist technique.
Another such technique pertains to the in-movie found footage of the missing friend, which the director character describes as "exactly how he would set up a horror movie". Since we are actually watching a horror movie, this can be regarded not just as the movie poking fun at itself but also as a deconstruction of a horror trope.
On the other hand, much of the film and especially the chase scenes are played straight, and there is a definite story arc which is more in line with a modernist narrative.
I don't believe that the film-makers set out to make a movie with such theoretical ideas in mind; rather these ideas are meant to summarize certain aspects of cultural trends in the past and the present which inevitably imprint themselves in the output of the times. In short, the movie has these features because the Zeitgeist of a movie like TAHOE JOE reflects the last decade or so, as of this writing.
The movie is entertaining and does the most with its budget. It is not the best example of this particular found-footage sub-genre (that honor goes, in my opinion to EMBEDDED (2012)) but it is decent enough for fans of Sasquatch, found footage or even horror movies in general. -
serinaluna-291-26690230 December 2022I generally do not write movie reviews. In fact, this is the first review I've posted on IMDB. The obviously biased 10/10s prompted me to leave a real review.
I love found footage movies and was pretty excited to see that Tahoe Joe had good ratings so I decided to give it a shot.
The acting is not great. Most of the actors are obviously acting with poorly executed emotions. The first footage of bigfoot looks like footage of a man wearing a ghillie suit. Not animal like at all. The footage that prompts the filmmakers to go looking for Bigfoot is laughable.
I wish I was watching this with friends so we could riff on it. I recommend that's how you experience this one. -
tmccull5228 December 2022... nearly put me into a coma. Wow. A film made by a bunch of amateurs that looks like a film made by a bunch of amateurs. If that's not earth-shattering cinema, I don't know what is.
The premise of this flop is that some guy named "Toma Smith" goes into the mountains in Nevada... all by himself and unarmed... to look for a supposedly aggressive Sasquatch named "Tahoe Joe" by local residents familiar with the area. Now, this area is reputed to be dense with actual predators like bears and mountain lions... not to mention Tahoe Joe... and Toma brings with him absolutely no way to defend himself. Anyhoo, after several days of tracking Tahoe Joe, Toma is attacked and apparently killed by Tahoe Joe on his last night in the woods. His murder is allegedly captured on video.
Toma's son, Jay Lincoln, comes by this video and goes to the authorities, but no one will believe him, or help him search for his father. Jaylin reaches out to an ex-Green Beret, Mike Rock, to help him find his father. Mike reviews the footage sent by Jaylin and agrees to help. Mike, in turn, reaches out to his film maker friend, Dillon Brown. Dillon agrees, intrigued by the prospect of actually capturing a Sasquatch on film.
Jaylin asks to come along with the search, and Mike and Dillon agree. The problem here is that Jaylin ends up not going, even though his quest to find his missing father is so all-consuming. Why doesn't he go on this life-changing, epic quest? He'll, I don't know; this movie is so "riveting" that I fell asleep.
When I woke up again, Mike and Dillon are in the woods with some game that had supposedly encountered Tahoe Joe. This is where we meet Shane. Shane is anti-social, and a drunk, and even though he insists that no one brings a gun with them, he is covertly carrying a pistol himself. As this epic quest progresses, Dillon antagonizes Shane, and is soon joined in this by Mike. Shane pulls his pistol, and Mike puffs his chest out and tells Shane to.go ahead and use the gun, but warns Shane that if he doesn't drop Mike with the first shot, he (Mike) is going to take that pistol away and beat Shane to death with it.
Shortly thereafter, our intrepid band sets up camp, and the feared and fearsome Tahoe Joe shows up and trashes their campsite. This blitz attack scatters our heroes, each of whom runs in a different direction. As for Tahoe Joe himself, he looks like a basketball player wearing a dime store gorilla mask and someone's mother's fur coat.
Tahoe Joe, feared Sasquatch of the Nevada wilderness, is such a capable predator that he can't seem to find Dillon, even when Dillon is literally less than three feet away from him... twice. Dillon, who admits himself that he has zero bushcraft skills, successfully eludes Tahoe Joe by turning his back and hiding behind a tree stump, and then shortly later by hiding in a bush. At that point in this farce, Tahoe Joe is so close to Dillon that you can literally see and count ol' Joe's Sasquatch teeth, but Joe can't seem to find Dillon. That's some killer Sasquatch there.
Mike and Dillon proceed to run around the woods in the dark, screaming each the other's name, and that lethal killer, Tahoe Joe, just can't seem to catch up with either of them. Our surviving heroes make it back to Mike's Jeep, and they beat feet out of there. As they speed away, they crow exultantly about having the footage and proof that Tahoe Joe actually exists.
What happened to Shane, the anti-social drunk with the pistol and the attitude? I guess that Tahoe Joe did catch up with him and killed him. Mike and Dillon don't seem particularly concerned about that as they drive away, eager to show the world that Tahoe Joe is real, and dangerous.
I would be remiss if I did not mention that this molten popcorn fart of a movie didn't include overt mention of the government's secret conspiracy and agenda to keep Tahoe Joe's existence a secret. We are also treated to the age old tropes of, "Hey, none of our electronic gear seems to be working out here!", and static interference and buzz every time that Tahoe Joe is nearby. Apparently, either the government has jammed the Nevada wilderness chocked full of electronic-jamming apparatus, or Sasquatches have a natural, innate ability to mess up said gear just by getting close to it.
I had thought that the utterly insipid "White Fangs" was hands down THE worst killer Bigfoot movie ever made. Now, there is a new contender for that honorific: "Tahoe Joe". This rancid turd of a movie isn't just bad, it is galactically so. -
kannibalcorpsegrinder28 January 2023After hearing strange animal reports, a documentary filmmaker and his partner head to the area where the sightings have come from in a remote section of the woods near Lake Tahoe hoping to spot an elusive creature, but they soon discover the tales might be true and try to leave the woods alive.
This was a generally fun genre effort. One of the better features here is the enjoyable setup that features quite a lot to like as it moves through several fine storylines. Starting with the backstage footage of their collaborations together leads to the decision to start the project on a fine note as the scenes looking at the series of video footage they see to change focus on the spate of recent sightings. This all creates a strong starting point as it spells out the various stages necessary here with the starting point of the filmmakers' relationship with each other and the general introduction of the search for the creature that is the overall point here. The other big positive to this one is the final half where the group, out alone in the woods filming, is finally given the space they need for a great time. The simple-minded scenes out wandering around looking for a campsite or dealing with personal issues is a fine way to start this and the escalating issues get brought out even further with the big confrontation in the woods as the switch from the noises in the background to plenty of evidence that the creature is out there featuring the discovery of the dead body, the series of night-vision encounters that are quite chilling as the creature effects are kept brief but effective. These make the film quite enjoyable overall while there are some flaws to be had with this one. The biggest factor here is the general lack of action in the second half which it focuses on a lot of investigating at the expense of creature action. The group going through the community talking with eyewitnesses and survivors or looking into the wilderness expert they eventually bring along slows the pace of this one considerably taking these elements into the forefront rather than getting more confrontations with the creature. The other slight issue here is the general lack of traditional creature action which leaves this one without much in the way of expected gore or attacks which is enough to hold this down.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Mild Violence. -
phillyeagles-329619 November 2022One thing that the horror genre lacks in, is the inclusion of cryptozoology. But not to worry, Tahoe Joe fills that need to a T! Best of all, this is a horror film that even a younger audience can watch, but not to young! This clever mockumentary is a wild ride and full of twists that will have you on the edge of your seat and pointing at the tv screen. The real life chemistry and friendship between the film's creator, Dillon Brown and actor, Michael Rock really shows and helps build a foundation of the fictional versions of themselves that they play. But it is the legendary Sasquatch known as Tahoe Joe that steals the spotlight in this one. The creature is displayed beautifully terrifying and has a unique look made up of unspeakable monster and natural animal. As an avid horror fan and a believer, I definitely recommend checking this one out.
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Movie Review : Tahoe Joe
Now here's an interesting little number.
Made on a literal shoestring budget of $800.00, Tahoe Joe is an entry in the mockumentary/bigfoot horror genre that may not be the best killer Sasquatch flick out there but is probably the best written.
The film stars director Dillon Brown and actor Michael Rock (both worked together on Brown's previous independent film The Flock) as themselves.
Rock - a former Green Beret - is contacted by a teenager whose father served alongside him and tells him his father went missing in Nevada while searching for Bigfoot (Tahoe Joe of the title). The kid includes terrifying footage of what appears to be an unknown beast attacking his father. Rock informs Brown and, as it happens, Brown himself has footage of Tahoe Joe to share with Rock. After comparing notes, the duo decide to take the teenager and head to the area where his dad vanished and, with the help of a local guide, try to find the missing man, all the while filming the expedition as a documentary. Both men are initially skeptical about the thing captured on the tape being an actual Bigfoot, but they do feel committed to helping the boy get closure regarding his father.
When they arrive in the area, the teenager finds himself too traumatized to proceed as originally planned, so the filmmakers and their guide Shane - a local they know little to nothing about - head out anyway to try and uncover the mystery of the disappearance...and, perhaps, capture evidence of the existence of Bigfoot.
What I found most fascinating about Tahoe Joe is how expertly the film captures the feel of a legitimate documentary. It really boils down to both the performances and the writing. Whether it's random talking head interviews of people who claimed to have seen the creature or the scene where Brown explains some of the footage they saw of the boy's father has him increasingly skeptical because it seems potentially staged, everything these characters say or do has a ring of accuracy. I found myself thinking repeatedly throughout the movie both that certain character types were immediately recognizable ( I defy viewers to watch Shane the guide and think to themselves at some point "Oh, yeah, I've dealt with guys like this a**hole before") and what people were saying or doing is likely how someone would actually respond in a given situation.
This is the result of a screenplay that has a sharp ear for the rhythm of actual conversations, combined with a cast who all seem perfectly natural in front of the camera. No one here surrenders to needless melodrama or overacting. It always feels as if we're watching actual people and not characters in a movie. That adds a level of plausibility underscoring the proceedings as the film incrementally adopts an increasingly darker tone.
The pacing is solid and if the movie is a bit talky in the early passages, it's more than balanced by the escalating sense of something being very wrong that becomes ever more prevalent as the film unfolds. One really interesting direction the film adopts is to cultivate an unsettled atmosphere by having the two men quickly realize there's something off with their guide. This movie begins building tension long before they reach the site where Tahoe Joe purportedly has been most active.
As to Tahoe Joe himself, the creature effects are handled well enough. For the budget, the costume works fine. It helps that we never get a particularly clear look at the creature, but what we do glimpse is enough to suggest a being it would be absolutely terrifying to encounter in the deep forest. There's a sense of primal other about this particular Sasquatch. Never is he presented as something any person would (or should) deliberately attempt to approach up close. Moreover, the final half hour or so of the film is essentially one long, sustained sequence set at night that startled me with how effectively suspenseful it was. There are some genuinely creepy moments in this film.
The film looks amazing as well. It boats the veneer of something made for substantially more than $800 bucks, which is a credit to the skill of the filmmakers.
Every so often an independent movie pops up unexpectedly on my radar proving to be a hidden treasure, something that does what it sets out to do in a way and on a level that's better than I have any right to expect. Movies like that are testament to the vision and hard work of independent filmmakers who prove heart, intelligence and talent can take even the most limited resources and turn them into something wonderful.
Tahoe Joe is one such film. Dillon Brown and Michael Rock are on my radar, and I'll be looking to see what they do next with great interest.
**** out of ***** times I was really hoping a belligerent drunk would get his ass kicked by a Green Beret. Highly recommended. -
fernpeso15 October 2022This was such a great movie. It has a tiny (super tiny) budget, but you can tell that Michael and Dillon put a lot of thought and work into it. Lots of tiny details and boxes were checked. Like, if it doesn't make sense to us, then it doesn't make sense to Michael, and he'll pretty much call it out during the movie 😄.
You can really tell that the two main stars enjoy working with each other, and some of the other characters, man...they're fun. Some are odd, but in a good way(if that makes sense).
It's listed as horror, but I'd consider this more of suspense. There are some pretty eerie parts, a coupe scares, and some tension to it for sure, but if your kid watches it(mine did), you won't have to worry about nightmares.
I hope there's a part two! -
maubejr3 November 2022We really enjoyed everything about this film. The story is captivating and it keeps you engaged wondering what is going to happen. The Sierra Nevada Mountains setting is absolutely stunning and the woods scenes are creepy as hell. It totally had a Blair Witch Project feel to it as they were walking through the woods. The acting was really good in this and totally believable! Dillon & Mike really hit it out of the ballpark on this one! We HIGHLY recommend this film. We would love to say more but it would contain spoilers. You'll just have to watch for yourself! TRUST US......you will enjoy the amazing ride!!!
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faithevans-166-3924831 December 2022I had the pleasure of working on this movie's trailer and the movie is abosutely amazing and the crew behind it is equally as fantastic! One hundred percent give this one a watch. Amazing horror mock-umentary that feels so real and terrifying! It also has a lot of heart.
You can really feel while watching this movie that the crew had a lot of fun working together. The sheer amount of hard work, dedication and creativity that has gone into 'Tahoe Joe' is impressive.
I cannot wait to see what Horror Nerd Productions and Horror Dadz Productions do in the future and I'm sure they'll be as fun and fantastic as this! -
stockdalefb28 December 2022I just saw this movie on Tubi on a recommendation from a friend. Bigfoot isn't really my thing, but I figured I'd give it a shot, because he told me it isn't really like I probably think it is.
The characters were all pretty likable people, especially Michael and Dillon. This is in a documentary style of a movie, and although you can tell the budget isn't big, that fact doesn't really take away from anything. The conversations seem real, and the Tahoe area is beautiful.
A few minutes could have been shaved off of a couple of parts, but maybe that's just me. That's pretty much the only negative, and it's a tiny negative.
Everything is set up great, and if something doesn't make sense, they actually bring it up! Made me think that they're thinking what everyone else would be thinking. Little details like that go a long way to me. -
DanTheButler14 February 2023The Blair Witch Project with Bigfoot was done well for what was put into it. The acting was mostly good and the way it was set up was believable. My favorite parts were the early Bigfoot sightings caught on tape. They did an excellent job making it appear as if there was a creature lurking in the area.
What I didn't love about the movie was, as always with independent films, the length. It's really hard to hold my attention beyond 75 minutes, especially when it's a mockumentary style with almost only handheld footage. I think this film would've been better around 60 minutes just to keep it at typical documentary length.
The actor who played the missing dad wasn't that great, in part because his stuff went on for too long, and the situation of him vlogging and being alone wasn't really great storytelling. Towards the end, when things get chaotic, the acting suffers a little because the characters are not being tense as they probably should be in the situation. I also think they showed too much creature, specifically the teeth. There's a cool homage still frame to Jaws & Texas Chainsaw in the credits that totally worked for me, and would've been enough on its own. Less is more. But overall, a great job. Well done. -
feliciacclark-2522622 October 2023I absolutely loved this film! The documentary style kept me engaged and gave me anxiety (in a good way) the whole time. Sometimes I get motion sickness in documentary type films but not with this one. I didn't want to look away in case I missed a sighting and i was constantly looking in the background . Im from that area so it added an extra level of creep factor. I definitely recommend watching. Very eerie and leaves you wondering. I think the filmmakers did an amazing job. It's the kind of movie that gets you wondering "are these true events?" I will absolutely keep this on my list and pray for a sequel.