Frogman (2024)
Writer: Anthony Cousins, John Karsko
Stars: Nathan Tymoshuk, Benny Barrett, Ali Daniels
Genre: Horror, Creature Feature, Mockumentary
How to Watch: VOD
Synopsis: Three friends in search of the Loveland Frogman find out that he is more than just a local legend.
Thoughts: This mockumentary screened at our very own 28th Annual H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival at the Hollywood Theatre last October. The buzz was loud and positive and I’d been looking forward to its arrival on VOD for months. And it’s not that the hype wasn’t warranted. The last thirty plus minutes are bonkers and gross and completely original. I just wish it wasn’t an absolute slog getting there. With most mockumentary horror you encounter a fair amount of moments “secretly” caught on camera, and those moments reveal drama between characters in the form of serious conversations and/or fights. It’s a feature practically baked into the mockumentary subgenre. And while I enjoy the character development, it has to be done right in order for it to stay as riveting as the rest of the film. Unfortunately the execution here is fraught with long pauses, lingering stares, and uninspired conversations. Not to mention that the actress, while completely cute and charming, overacts her ass off and can’t stop touching her hair. I admit, I almost turned it off thirty minutes in, but instead I just got another beer and buckled down and it turns out, I’m extremely glad I did. While the beginning and the ending feel almost disjointed in tone, it still turns out to be one super weird creature feature. The lack of tension and suspense getting to that crazy climax, however, is almost enough to squash this one dead, but if you have the patience, the payoff is unforgettable.
3 out of 5 đź’€s
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