The Wild Man of the Navidad
Encyclopedia
The Wild Man of the Navidad is a 2008 horror film picked up by IFC Films
shortly after its world premiere at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival
.
in Sublime, Texas
- the same area where the original legend of the Wild Man of the Navidad
surfaced back in the late 1800s. The film follows Dale, his wheelchair-using wife Jean, and her oft-shirtless, lazy-eyed caretaker Mario. Though their ranch sits on vast acres prime for paying hunters, Dale has resisted opening up the land because of the strange, Bigfoot
-like creatures supposedly inhabiting it. But after the prodding of some of the rifle-loving townsfolk and the loss of his welding job, Dale gives in and opens the gate to his compound. Then the hunters become the hunted.
, co-writer of the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
with Tobe Hooper
in 1974 and was written, directed and edited by two of Mr. Henkel's screenwriting/production students, Justin Meeks and Duane Graves.
described it as "about as perfect a Bigfoot film I’ve seen so far." Notable horror film critic Scott Foy of Dread Central describes the movie as "a creepy, southern-fried creature feature." IFC Films
' Alison Willmore states that it is "a welcome palate cleanser" for the horror genre. Notable film critic Scott Weinberg
of Cinematical calls it "enthusiastically splattery...a rather spirited little terror tale...that actually feels like it has been hidden in a vault." Daily Variety critic John Anderson writes "cult status is already achieved...Wild Man mixes homage with horror for a pretty potent dose of movie moonshine." Merle Bertrand of Film Threat
relates it as "wonderfully retro...it's time to go back to the drive-in."
, and is known for its recreation of their specific vintage style, pacing and feel—from the real-life characters down to the period production design and music.
IFC Films
IFC Films is an American film distribution company based in New York, owned by AMC Networks. It distributes independent films and documentaries under the IFC Films, Sundance Selects and IFC Midnight. It operates the IFC Center....
shortly after its world premiere at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival
Tribeca Film Festival
The Tribeca Film Festival is a film festival founded in 2002 by Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro and Craig Hatkoff in a response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the consequent loss of vitality in the TriBeCa neighborhood in Lower Manhattan.The mission of the festival...
.
Plot
This movie is allegedly based on the real-life journals of Dale S. Rogers, a man who, in the 1970s, lived along the banks of the Navidad RiverNavidad River
The Navidad River is a 90 mile long coastal river in the U.S. state of Texas that runs roughly parallel to its sister river, the Lavaca River. It is not spring fed, and all of its volume is runoff which eventually provides for much of the water in Lake Texana.-Course:It begins in two primary...
in Sublime, Texas
Sublime, Texas
Sublime is an unincorporated community in Lavaca County, Texas, United States. Although it is unincorporated, Sublime has a post office, with the ZIP code of 77986.-External links:...
- the same area where the original legend of the Wild Man of the Navidad
Wild Man of the Navidad
The Wild Man of the Navidad is believed to be one of the first sightings of Bigfoot in Texas.- History :...
surfaced back in the late 1800s. The film follows Dale, his wheelchair-using wife Jean, and her oft-shirtless, lazy-eyed caretaker Mario. Though their ranch sits on vast acres prime for paying hunters, Dale has resisted opening up the land because of the strange, Bigfoot
Bigfoot
Bigfoot, also known as sasquatch, is an ape-like cryptid that purportedly inhabits forests, mainly in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Bigfoot is usually described as a large, hairy, bipedal humanoid...
-like creatures supposedly inhabiting it. But after the prodding of some of the rifle-loving townsfolk and the loss of his welding job, Dale gives in and opens the gate to his compound. Then the hunters become the hunted.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Justin Meeks | Dale S. Rogers |
| Alex Garcia Alex Garcia Alex García is a Cuban Nuevo Latino chef who helped popularize a version of Cuban food at several New York City restaurants and on the Food Network. Born in Havana, García attended Northeastern University in Massachusetts where he earned a degree in hotel and restaurant management. García later... |
Mario Jalisco |
| Tony Wolford | The Wild Man |
| Stacy Meeks | Jean Rogers |
| Bob Wood Bob Wood Bob Wood may refer to:* Bob Wood , author of Dodger Dogs to Fenway Franks and Big Ten Country* Bob Wood , Major League Baseball catcher... |
Earl Smith |
| Edmond Geyer | Sheriff Lyle Pierce |
| Mac McBride | Boss Man Jack |
| Charlie Hurtin | Karl Crabtree |
| Patrick Hewlett | Vern Findlay |
| James Bargsley | Melvin Pennell |
Production
The film was co-produced by Kim HenkelKim Henkel
Kim Henkel is an American screenwriter, director and producer.Henkel was born in Virginia and grew up in several small towns in South Texas. He started at the University of Texas at Austin in 1964 majoring in English and graduated in 1969...
, co-writer of the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a 1974 American independent horror film directed and produced by Tobe Hooper, who cowrote it with Kim Henkel. It stars Marilyn Burns, Paul A. Partain, Edwin Neal, Jim Siedow, and Gunnar Hansen, who respectively portray Sally Hardesty, Franklin Hardesty, the...
with Tobe Hooper
Tobe Hooper
Tobe Hooper is an American film director and screenwriter, best known for his work in the horror film genre. His works include the cult classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre , along with its first sequel, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 ; the three-time Emmy-nominated Stephen King film adaptation...
in 1974 and was written, directed and edited by two of Mr. Henkel's screenwriting/production students, Justin Meeks and Duane Graves.
Reactions
Popular movie news site Ain't It Cool NewsAin't It Cool News
Ain't It Cool News is a website founded and run by Harry Knowles, dedicated to news, rumors and reviews of upcoming and currently playing films and television projects, with an emphasis on science fiction, fantasy, horror, comic-book and action genres...
described it as "about as perfect a Bigfoot film I’ve seen so far." Notable horror film critic Scott Foy of Dread Central describes the movie as "a creepy, southern-fried creature feature." IFC Films
IFC Films
IFC Films is an American film distribution company based in New York, owned by AMC Networks. It distributes independent films and documentaries under the IFC Films, Sundance Selects and IFC Midnight. It operates the IFC Center....
' Alison Willmore states that it is "a welcome palate cleanser" for the horror genre. Notable film critic Scott Weinberg
Scott Weinberg
Scott Glenn Weinberg is an American attorney best known for defending high-profile criminal cases in the state of Michigan.-Career:Scott Weinberg began his career as a U.S. Treasury Bond Trader at the Chicago Board of Trade in 1989...
of Cinematical calls it "enthusiastically splattery...a rather spirited little terror tale...that actually feels like it has been hidden in a vault." Daily Variety critic John Anderson writes "cult status is already achieved...Wild Man mixes homage with horror for a pretty potent dose of movie moonshine." Merle Bertrand of Film Threat
Film Threat
Film Threat is a former print magazine and, now, webzine which focuses primarily on independent film, although it also reviews DVDs of mainstream films and Hollywood movies in theaters. It first appeared as a photocopied zine in 1985, created by Wayne State University students Chris Gore and André...
relates it as "wonderfully retro...it's time to go back to the drive-in."
Background
The film is a throwback to drive-in Sasquatch classics of the 1970s like The Legend of Boggy CreekThe Legend of Boggy Creek
The Legend of Boggy Creek is a 1972 horror docudrama about the "Fouke Monster", a Bigfoot-type creature that has been seen in and around Fouke, Arkansas since the 1950s. The film mixes staged interviews with some local residents who claim to have encountered the creature, along with fictitious...
, and is known for its recreation of their specific vintage style, pacing and feel—from the real-life characters down to the period production design and music.
External links
- The legend of the Wild Man in Texas
- Podcast Interview with Co-Directors Duane Graves & Justin Meeks
- The Wild Man of the Navidad Official Movie Website
- Interview with co-director Justin Meeks at Filmmaker MagazineFilmmaker MagazineFilmmaker is a quarterly publication magazine covering issues relating to independent film. The magazine was founded in 1992 by Karol Martesko-Fenster, Scott Macaulay and Holly Willis...
- Interview with co-director Duane Graves at Time Out New York
- Cinematical's Review
- Daily Variety's Review
- IFC Film's Review
- Film Threat's Review
- Dread Central's Review
- 'The Wild Man of the Navidad' DVD Cover Art and Specs