The Windigo review.
The Windigo mines Native American folklore to unleash traditional justice on modern times.
New movie reviews will not contain spoilers.
The Windigo
Directed by Gabe Torres
Written by Brent Jordan
Starring Marco Fuller, Fivel Stewart, Tonantzin Carmelo, Casey Camp-Horinek, Troy James, Brian Krause and Adam Shalzi
The Windigo Review
Even if you are unfamiliar with the legend of the Windigo (or Wendigo) …you’ve no doubt seen the imagery associated with it. That’s how it is with folklore. They weave their way into our stories whether they are the focus of them or not. The Windigo, with its distinctive bone mask and antlers, has woven its way into literature, film and even video games. It takes center stage in The Windigo. A movie that unleashes the mythological horror figure into a story with distinctly modern sensibilities.
Ry (Marco Fuller) is no stranger to getting picked on. He is bullied at school. His own sister has no trouble taking him down. When he runs afoul of local drug dealers, he winds up with more to worry about than he can handle. The matriarch of the family (Casey Camp-Horinek) offers an unexpected means of protection. They unleash an uncontrollable bloodthirsty legend. A legend linked directly to Ry.
That plot summary might make The Windigo sound more modern than it appears on the surface. But that’s kind of the point. Ry and, to a lesser extent, his sister Bree (Fivel Stewart) are our eyes in the world of the film. They aren’t steeped in the customs or traditions of their ancestors. They’re forced into it by their mother Claire (Tonantzin Carmelo) after she receives a call from “Grandma”. These are contemporary teens in every way. They know nothing about their family history or the culture of their lineage. Everything is new…and strange to them. It positions them as the perfect avatars for viewers.
Grandma is an interesting character in her own right. She’s not Claire’s mother. She isn’t even her grandmother. No one actually knows how old she is. Claire quips (or perhaps states honestly) that Claire’s own grandmother called her grandma. Given what we see of her character in flashback scenes…it’s safe to say that she has been around a bit longer than your average senior citizen.
Grandma is plagued by nightmares of the Windigo. She believes it is coming for her. Or, given what we learn over the course of the story, coming back for her. Little does she know that she will play a major role in the return of this folk monster. Grandma is our go to for lore on the creature. Her personal intimate knowledge of the monster should contradict her choice in the film. The story paints her into enough of a corner, and finds a resolution, to justify the decision. Protecting her family is the most important thing. A conversation had early in the film explains her choices. The family looks through a photo album of people long lost. Living a long life has its drawback.
The Windigo itself is a great creature. Its connection is to Ry. It sets out to punish the evil that threatens him. Ry can see through his eyes (as do we with some POV Windigo vision). Early creature scenes are shown through this viewpoint. The movie fully unleashes the creature for some face eating, car door ripping fun before too long. The monster has a great design and strikes a formidable form. Actor Troy James does an excellent job bringing the creature to life. Its connection to Ry separates it from the familiar story of creature features. The strength and power that Ry gets from the bond comes with great warning. When you’ve been kicked around your whole life…warnings are hard to heed.
Bringing forth the Windigo is only necessary because the modern ways fail the family. Sherrif Elkins (Brian Krause) proves unhelpful in the wake of Ry’s encounter with the local thugs. We should guess right away that Elkins isn’t going to be of any help. When we meet him, he has one of the drug dealers already under arrest…and immediately afterwards he’s right back at work in the drug trade. Had there been an appropriate response from law enforcement after the violent confrontation…Ry may not have needed to turn to a entity he doesn’t fully understand…and can’t fully control.
The biggest miss in The Windigo involves the brother-sister relationship between Ry and Bree. They carry the early parts of the story. Bree is placed on the backburner when it becomes more about Ry. Fivel Stewart’s charismatic performance stands out in a field of good ones. It’s tough to see her character pushed aside for stretches. Narratively, it makes sense. But we could have used a bit more of Bree’s energy in the second half of the story. The story briefly loses some steam before picking up for the climax.
Grandma’s warnings provide a ticking clock on the rampage of the Windigo. What’s going to happen when Ry’s revenge tour ends? Is the strength he gains from its connection something he can stop using? The Windigo may not choose a surprising path, but it takes the correct one. A dangerous mythological creature called upon. A story passed down through generations. It doesn’t just end because you want it to.
Scare Value
When modern society fails to protect you…it’s good to have a murderous mythological creature at your beck and call. For a while. The Windigo places its folklore in the hands of a contemporary protagonist who doesn’t fully understand it. More importantly…can’t fully control it. Great creature effects highlight a good-looking film full of fine performances and a strong understanding of how to deliver its folklore.
3.5/5
The Windigo Links
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