ABOMINABLE

ABOMINABLE
By Aine

First I should clear up some confusion: many people were first introduced to Abominable through the Sci Fi Channel premiere. This is NOT a Sci Fi Channel movie. It’s much better, MUCH MUCH better, and I’d advise those who saw it there to check out the DVD release (coming in September through Anchor Bay) and see what they missed, including a great deal more hilarious swearing, gore and nudity, not to mention better pacing and no commercial breaks.

Abominable is the little movie that could and would-be filmmakers would be wise to take note of how a movie SHOULD look. Of course it helps that director Ryan Schifrin is the son of composer Lalo Schifrin of Mission Impossible fame, among others, and managed to bring him on board to score the film. Amazing music aside, Abominable is seriously one of the first movies I’ve been excited about in a great number of years.

Did I mention the cast? It’s like someone decided to raid my brain and pick my favorite actors and put them all together to see what happens. And what happens is magic. Right away we’re thrown into the action when we meet the Hoss family (Rex Linn and Dee Wallace Stone). They’re ripped awake by bad goings on down on their farm. Some definite scary suspense ensues, yet they are somehow spared as the audience is treated to a wonderful giant foot print and a mind-blowing set up.

Next we meet Preston Rogers and his scummy orderly Otis, played by Matt McCoy and Christien Tinsley respectively. Most would probably think of Matt McCoy’s well-known part in L.A. Confidential, but to me he will always be the cute daddy from The Hand That Rocks the Cradle. That’s right, he’s cute cute CUTE! Sorry Tiffany. Alright, ending girly moment now. Christien Tinsley makes his acting debut in Abominable and does a bang up job, not only as the snarky Otis but as the creature effects coordinator as well. Check out his huge and impressive list of credits on IMDB.

Preston Rogers is in a wheelchair after a traumatic mountain climbing accident, where his wife also died. His doctor seems to think it will be a good idea for Preston to return to his old house close to where it happened, under the supervision of Otis of course. Enjoy this pleasant breather as this is pretty much the only slow moment you’ll have. Somewhere along the way to the house we’re introduced to a quirky gas station attendant (Jeffrey Combs) who likes to chain smoke while plugged into his oxygen tank.

Now on to the isolated cabin/house in the woods. Preston settles in while Otis runs off to search for some elusive soy milk. In the meantime, an SUV full of hot young ladies come to rent the cabin next door for a weekend of partying. Unfortunately it is around this time that Preston and his conveniently placed binoculars spy more than they bargain for: a set of glowing eyes lurking in the trees. Of course our lovely ladies are big foot fodder for the most part, but they sure put up a sassy fight. Look for genre favorite Tiffany Shepis among them, providing the eye candy.

Also of note is a wonderful scene that plays out it’s own version of the Darwin Awards, thanks to Lance Henriksen for one: being in this movie, and two: being so funny. Once again I have to return to the casting on this because it is beyond perfect. Last but not least I’d like to mention that this was the last film role for the late Paul Gleason, the infamous principal in The Breakfast Club. His performance in Abominable stands up to and alongside all of his past greats and he was delightful (in his special way) in every scene.

I was among the lucky ones who got to see this on a big screen with a full audience and was treated to the many screams of women in the crowd, and even a few men. As a life long horror fan that has become increasingly disillusioned with the recent fare it was a pleasure to sit through a film and feel that fear rising in the pit of my stomach. One such moment came when Preston once again dared to peer through the window, which was maddening by the way, but this time the monster was right outside. Just the memory of that makes me scream inside. Abominable delivers plenty of genuine scares from start to finish; this could quite possible be the greatest big foot movie of all time.