Sundance review: Jesse Eisenberg’s SASQUATCH SUNSET is a bizarre and absurd cinematic experiment

Sasquatch Sunsetdirected by the adventurous duo David AND Nathan Zellner, offers an extremely unique, absurd and polarizing cinematic experience. This is an experimental film that takes us on a year-long journey into the life of a unique Sasquatch family, capturing their mundane daily routines that make for a very long, boring and bizarre viewing experience.

The Zellner brothers, known for their contributions to the Sundance catalog, including films such as Bridesmaid AND Kumiko, the treasure huntermade a noteworthy film that saw audiences leaving the theater en masse while the film was being shown.

I decided to look Sasquatch Sunset with pure curiosity, driven by the hype he was generating at the Sundance Film Festival. However, my experience with the film left me…well, baffled. Watching this movie was a waste of time, but I stayed to watch it just to see how this ridiculous story ended.

Sasquatch Sunset is one of the most baffling and aimless films I have ever witnessed. Despite the obvious hard work that went into its creation, it seemed like a pointless exercise. The film delves into explicit themes, including Bigfoot sex, lots of defecation, and the birth of a Bigfoot baby. As he attempted to capture something, he failed to resonate with me, leaving me with the feeling of… what the hell am I looking at? In the first ten minutes of the film I asked myself: what the hell have I gotten myself into?

The film is the protagonist Jesse Eisenberg AND Riley Keough and they’re both covered in Bigfoot makeup from head to toe, and you can’t even tell it’s them. One might question the decision to cast famous actors in such roles when their talent remains hidden behind makeup. The filmmakers could have kicked a few mediocre Joes off the streets and you would never have noticed the difference.

There is also no dialogue in the film. Every interaction is conveyed through grunts, shouts and hand gestures. One might question the decision to cast famous actors in such roles when their talent remains hidden behind masks. It is undeniable that this film did not fully utilize their acting skills. Throwing unknowns could have achieved the same result.

Throughout the film, the remaining people loudly expressed their disdain for the film, questioning its purpose and wondering why it was made in the first place.

I may not have all the answers, but one thing is clear: Sasquatch Sunset is a controversial and seemingly pointless film. However, it may find a niche audience among those who might enjoy watching a Sasquatch family roaming the wilderness. This film is undoubtedly an acquired taste and it remains to be seen whether it will find some sort of cult following. But there were people at the festival who seemed to like it, which was equally disconcerting to me.