Written and directed by Gene Gallerano and William Pisciotta, Merriell Sunday Sr. and Hollis Bannister vanished in Alaska. Ellie and Merriell Jr. mount a search, but an ancient threat stalks their expedition into the wilderness, hunting them as they seek the truth behind the disappearances. Starring: Brittany Allen, Eric Nelsen, Corbin Bernsen, Jim Cummings, Christina Bennett Lind and William Sadler.
Trying to capture the feel of classic B-movies, tapping into that highly theatrical, slightly camp tone of the 1940s, is not an easy thing to do successfully but The Yeti takes a great swing at it. It feels part parody and part genuine which is a really interesting mix. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it also tries to bring through a touch of sincerity. It’s an incredibly difficult thing to do with that very stage-like delivery, everything is purposeful and overt, but it works. Gene Gallerano and William Pisciotta create a homage to that era of cinema and Americana.
Granted, it’s not going to be appreciated by everyone, some may not enjoy its melodrama, but for those who have a love of low-budget horror and thriller flicks of the 1950s and 1960s, this will likely work. Gallerano and Pisciotta balance out that homely, wholesome tone with some great touches of violence. They also cleverly make the choice to keep the monster offscreen until its key moment finally arrives. It’s always great to see filmmakers go more old school and ignore the instant gratification so many viewers want these days, and keep the anticipation and curiosity going.
That violence is also delivered with some really nice effects work, and just enough gore. The visual is an element of The Yeti which is strong throughout, the cinematography from Joel Froome and the colouring have a good richness to them. The aesthetic leans into that theatrical nature which really complements the costuming and makeup work. The direction also adds a lot of nostalgic touches which are satisfying to watch.
Its nicely old-fashioned tone is something that’s supported really strongly by the performances, with Brittany Allen leading the way with an Amelia Earhart type heroine. She’s strong yet vulnerable, smart as a whip and has a lot of daddy issues, it’s a classic archetype and Allen sells it well. Outside of Allen, it feels like the rest of the ensemble put together almost a Suicide Squad type crew, they’re a ragtag bunch, each with their specialities and weaknesses.
The Yeti is an enjoyable piece of nostalgic horror. It’s a true throwback to the golden era of Hollywood, but with more blood and guts. It’s nicely over the top but never truly feels disingenuous, which is in no small part thanks to the cast really committing to creating the feel of the era, with its overt patriotism and hero-complex. It’s a great cast, it’s shot well and while it may be let down by its story not quite reaching the levels of thrill or excitement you might hope for, it’s still a solid outing.
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