“This is a story about a monster.”
Fifteen years ago, two teenage girls were murdered at Merrymaker Campgrounds. The killer was never found because the case was labeled as an animal attack and the camp was closed. Of course, this tale made the perfect inspiration for Roland Baumgarner who wrote a book about it.
Fast forward to the present day when the camp is about to reopen and, surprisingly, Baumgarner is invited to attend. The woods are safe though, right? What could possibly go wrong?
It is really hard to go into detail about what I liked about Animal Among Us without giving out spoilers. At an hour and a half, the slow pacing sometimes makes it feel too long. There is just enough action and the story is compelling to keep things moving and make you want to know what happens next. There were also times when I thought that maybe there was too much going on, but it was all explained and tied together well eventually.
This film seems to be a mix of everything: horror, thriller, minor erotica, Sasquatch, jump scares, and found footage. There is blood, of course, but it’s not overly gory.
Directed by John Woodruff who also co-produced with writer Johnathan Murphy, Animal Among Us runs at about an hour and a half. It stars Larisa Oleynik (10 Things I Hate About You) and Christian Oliver (Speed Racer). If you haven’t already seen the trailer, here it is:
Animal Among Us is available on DVD and video on demand today. So what are you waiting for? Go watch it so I can discuss it with someone!