From Outkast Paranormal and 1091 Pictures comes a chilling new found-footage series, The Skunk Ape Experiments. Billed as a ‘docuseries’ (though fans of the found-footage subgenre will know what that really means), the series follows cryptid hunters Stacy Brown Jr. and James Brost in their journey to track down the ‘Florida Bigfoot’, aka the Skunk Ape.
Horror fans are in for a real treat with this new series; despite the usual found-footage trappings such as constant shaky-cam clips and plenty of high-contrast night vision, the series has an impressive production value, featuring an animated title intro that’s reminiscent of something you might see Netflix’s Dark or HBO’s True Detective.
After an alleged siting and failed capture in 2013, Brown and Co. arrive in Myakka State Park, Florida, to attempt to capture the titular Skunk Ape once and for all. The episode does an amazing job at building tension early on; throughout the night-drenched natural environment lit only by headlamps, the scenery is underscored by a suspenseful soundtrack and peppered with almost-cheesy reenactments of the 2013 sighting.
It’s all atmosphere and exposition in the early scenes, but it does a great job of selling the viewer on the fact that this is a spooky environment where a mythological creature could very well be running amok. At least, it’s clear that this is the reality in which the characters exist.
In addition to the atmosphere, The Skunk Ape Experiments smartly employs 3D animated models to depict how the team plans to lure this cryptid from its normal territory in the park into the area where they’ve set up a trap. This, plus constant mention of the ‘gator threat’ (complete with a hypothetical and highly stylized alligator attack) do an excellent job of establishing the stakes: They’re hunting a monster, though that’s not the only threat.
Without getting into spoiler territory, the episode goes to places you might not expect. A late-episode Satanic ritual opens things up in a way that, in equal measures, astounds and terrifies. Your mileage with this series may vary depending on how much you enjoy found footage, but anyone obsessed with cryptids, ‘real-life mysteries’, or the search for the unknown will have a blast with The Skunk Ape Experiments, and any media library featuring this series will be better for it.
Would this film be suitable for an outdoor screening?
Absolutely, though it may be significantly more terrifying to screen outdoors.
What subjects or college majors would benefit from the content covered in this film?
Film students and those interested in media arts will glean a lot from this program.
What type of library programming could use this title?
A horror/found footage film festival would be a great opportunity to screen this program, especially during Halloween time. Libraries located in an area where cryptids are of interest should also consider purchasing this title.