Bigfoot Unleashed, Part VII is a movie within a movie called, The Haunting of Prince Dom Pedro. A story of how a group of high school Latin American history students learn to regret their decision to not fully appreciate the Liberator of Brazil. Oh Dom Pedro, no matter how that plays out, this Don Swanson short is kind of a silly movie. Obviously by design, Bigfoot makes no attempt to take itself seriously, and so unpretentious, you can’t help but kind of like the seven minute farce.
The opening tells us that a construction company is infringing into the deep Appalachian habitat of the storied creature, and he doesn’t like it. “Bigfoot unleashes an all-out assault on everything and everyone at the construction site,” says the captioning.
In fact, the secretary (Valena Zitello) has survived six previous attacks and the poor woman can’t get a break. We know for sure, because one, two, three, four, five, six – she runs across the screen and extolls the exact same screech on each occasion. A feat that defies the possible, the wail still makes her more a scream-lady-in-waiting than scream-queen.
As such, Zitello resets whatever expectations we had, and in a likelihood, campiness reigns here as king. In keeping, her scurry to safety emanates from the same location, but she does at least have on a different outfit each time.
The budget apparently obliging, we pick up where leaving off. Zitello is navigating another escape through the wilderness, and panic accompanying her labored pant, we could actually be convinced that a large furry beast is chasing her.
The old school Sensurround-ing of the encompassing score only adds to our self-delusion, and why not believe the three claw marks on her face pass the forensics. On the run nonetheless, we get our first glimpse.
Bigfoot’s (Joe Fishel) claw protrudes the frame, and the inclusion of an opposable thumb has us wondering what Swanson is up to. Yes, this could be the real deal.
Thankfully, Fishel’s writing and Swanson’s direction lets our fear off the hook when the chase has Bigfoot release his chortle. A mix between a pig and a barely alert cow, the effect is supremely pleasing.
So at this point Mr. DeMille, the handsome lead is ready for his closeup. The camera closes in on the secretary, and on the other side, we see the star of the show in all his glory.
Of course, he’s furry, the low budget ape suit is on point and so is Bigfoot’s traverse. Seriousness would try to figure out how a Bigfoot might execute locomotion. Instead, Fishel moves exactly like a man in an ape suit would, and the off-kilter games continue.
Thus, the seventh encounter must come due, and when Bigfoot makes his throated entrance, the juxtaposed silliness fills the screen and his roar has you do the same with laughter. The big guy’s motives not so straightforward anyway, the climax features a pair of cops (John Iwanonkiw and Gregory Begg) who are trying to make sense of the events.
