The Wild Man of the Navidad (2009 Independent Film on DVD)

I’m a believer in Bigfoot.  I haven’t seen or heard (or smelled) one, personally, but the belief is still there, nonetheless.  One reason for my belief is something that happened to my grandparents.  They were driving in their motorhome when they saw one run across the road in front of them.  Now, my grandfather was one of the most skeptical people you’d meet, so when he told you he saw something, you can take it to the bank.

So, it was with great excitement that I accepted the chance to review the film The Wild Man of the Navidad.  With the cover emblazoned with ‘Based on True Events’, it got me even more interested.  The synopsis, as well, made me think of The Legend of Boggy Creek, which told of a creature like Bigfoot wandering the swamplands near Boggy Creek in Arkansas.  This film takes place in Texas, in the town of Sublime, near the Navidad River.

The film’s main character is Dale, who is also the person who wrote the journal that the film’s creators are said to have found that inspired them to make it.  Dale has a wife, Jean, who has all but gone into a catatonic state due to both a car accident and a stroke.  He also has a Hispanic man, Mario, to help him take care of her (though Mario also seems to enjoy molesting her, as well).  Dale also has a secret: there’s a wild creature that lives on his land that he keeps satiated by feeding rabbits every night at 9.  At the start of the movie, Dale gets fired from his job as a welder, so has to take drastic measures to keep afloat.  For the first time in years, Dale opens up his family’s land to hunters.  Unfortunately, the first person he lets on his land (for a payment of moonshine) sees and shoots at a fur-draped figure wandering through the woods.  He gets the hell out of Dodge as he hears what he shot at roaring.  That night, as Dale and Mario do they’re nightly feeding ritual, they hear the creature isn’t just mad, he’s furious.  When it leaves, they step outside to find the porch a wreck: everything busted or out of place, the sheet the rabbit was left on upside down.  The Wild Man is not happy…

The acting in the film was somewhat hit or miss.  At the beginning of the film, it explained that alot of the people who lived through it were playing themselves, so that could explain the acting somewhat.  Playing Dale S. Rogers was the film’s writer, director, and just about everything else in the back, Justin Meeks.  He played the part really well.

All in all, I give the film a 4 out of 5.  I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t the best film I’ve seen on the subject.  I have to say, it was even more entertaining than the original Boggy Creek!  At any rate, thanks for your patience with my delays on the site.  I’ll be back later with a couple more items that were sent me, a couple of lower-rated reviews (you’ll see me go below the 2 level, finally!), and then we’ll head into the final three days with our annual look at the three big legendary series.  Take care, everybody, and this is Red Hawk signing out!