[CFF ’23] ‘The Bigfoot Trap’ review: Tense and surprising thriller

The Bigfoot Trap is a thriller screening at the Chattanooga Film Festival that is a story about Sasquatch hunters that plays out differently than audiences will expect. Josh (Tyler Weisnauer) is a video journalist whose latest assignment involves a man who has built the titular trap. After an encounter ends in bloodshed, Josh finds himself caught in the trap.

The movie constantly keeps audiences guessing what will happen next. For the majority of The Bigfoot Trap, the cryptid is not the main focus. Josh may be there to find Bigfoot, but the film is mainly about the two main characters. Red (Zach Lazar Hoffman) is the highlight of The Bigfoot Trap. As the plot progresses, he becomes more fleshed out and nuanced. He starts out as just another “Bigfoot nut” and evolves into someone concerned with how others perceive him. It is a surprising layer of depth. 

Writer-director Aaron Mirtes attempts to do the same for Josh are not as successful. He covers stories that are more about mocking his subjects than actual news. He is torn about what he does – especially his latest assignment –  but he is not as empathetic as Red. That being said, the ending is very well done.

The Bigfoot Trap loses a lot when it pivots from tense thriller to a monster movie. Aside from the opening, nothing has been done to make the mythical creature frightening. Thankfully, it is a short scene that does have major implications to the rest of the film. The final moments underscore the emotional current that runs through the script.

The Chattanooga Film Festival takes place June 23 – 29