Movie: Exists (2015)

I randomly chose Exists from the Found Footage menu on Tubi without realizing that it’s a Bigfoot movie. It came out in 2015. It’s no award-winner, but I actually liked it! Therefore I was surprised to find it so thoroughly panned online (Rotten Tomators, IMDB). The consensus seems to be dumb, annoying characters badly acted, question about why it was even done as FF (no reason for a camera in the hands a character), and poor writing and directing. My reaction to finding out that that’s what people think of Exists was “Huh.” I guess I didn’t really notice any of that, and here’s my retort: it was FF because one of the characters wants to make documentaries, which he explains, plus later on when everything goes sideways he confesses that he and his brother knew there were Bigfoot rumors all along, which is why he kept shooting. No wonder he had so many GoPro and trail cameras and infrared! And I didn’t think the acting was bad, or the characters particularly annoying—certainly not as annoying as the three knuckleheads in Blair Witch. As for directorial style, yeah I agree the camera is swinging crazily and lands on the ground at an advantageous angle…isn’t that ALL Found Footage? All told, I’m not sure why Exists gets such a bad rap out there in the Blogosphere. I found it entertaining, with good makeup—you actually get a GOOD look at the creatures by the end, unlike Willow Creek, another Bigfoot-hunting FF that only suggests a creature. Worth a viewing, and let me know your thoughts!