ABOMINABLE

Preston Rogers, a man who lost his wife and was forced to stay in a wheelchair following an accident, returns after twelve months to the mountain chalet where he lived with his wife before the tragic accident. Bound to the wheelchair, Preston spends his days watching with binoculars everything that happens around his house; but something is about to change Mr. Rogers' life when he notices that a huge and monstrous being is lurking around the chalet. Meanwhile, in the chalet opposite Preston Rogers' house, five girls have decided to spend a few days having fun. Released in 2006 and distributed in Italy only for the home video market, "Abominable" is a lively and fresh horror film that enjoys, without any shame, being a pure B-movie product. We don't often see horror films that involve the feared and "abominable" Bigfoot, so when a film comes along that decides to tackle such a theme, we can't help but be pleased. From the plot, one might think it's a horror remake of the far more famous "Rear Window" by master Alfred Hitchcock, and indeed, the film in question cannot deny being inspired by the film directed by the father of "Psycho". Here too we have a man who, after an accident, finds himself forced to live subjugated to a squalid wheelchair and, to pass the time, spies on the neighborhood armed with his infallible binoculars but, unlike Hitchcock's film, here the protagonist does not uncover a dangerous "human" killer but rather a fierce and hungry monster ready to feast on the tender flesh of five reckless and defenseless girls. Although the plot, as can be deduced, is not the height of originality as it is too indebted to Hitchcock's film, it still proves to be one of the film's strong points, being suitable for a work of this kind, and it is decisively evident that the references to the film "Rear Window" are entirely voluntary and dedicated to honoring a classic of the thrilling genre. The non-original but damn spot-on story is accompanied by a screenplay that, although it stumbles in some aspects, is overall gripping and capable of capturing the viewer's attention; the direction, entrusted to the young and inexperienced Ryan Schifrin, is quite compact and effective. The cast also proves to be quite notable: in the role of the protagonist, Preston Rogers, there is a convincing Matt McCoy who delivers a good performance, while in the role of the girl in danger appears a young and not very convincing Haley Joel; but the icing on the cake is provided by the supporting characters, including veteran horror cinema actors like Jeffrey Combs (the unforgettable Herbert West of the "Re-animator" series), Lance Henriksen (seen in "Aliens scontro finale", "AvP - Alien vs Predator", "Pumpkinhead"), and Dee Wallace (protagonist of the beautiful "The Howling" by Joe Dante and interpreter of another classic of the genre like "The Hills Have Eyes" by Wes Craven)... in short, a cast that cannot fail to appeal to the most die-hard horror fan. A small mention should also be made of the effective rendering of the monster, which, although it is evident at first glance that under that furry suit there is a man in costume who was probably dying of heat (it's the clumsy movements rather than the aesthetics that make you wrinkle your nose a bit), proves to be convincing in the long run and, why not, even scary. And then, better a man in costume in perfect old style than the modern and intrusive CGI effects. It's a shame about the almost total absence of bloody scenes that would certainly have improved the final result, earning it a few extra points. In conclusion, "Abominable" remains a delightful film whose viewing is recommended on a warm summer evening in the company of friends and a cold beer in hand.