Directors: David Zellner, Nathan Zellner
Writer: David Zellner
Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Riley Keough, Christophe Zajac-Denek
Synopsis: A year in the life of a unique family. It captures the daily life of the Sasquatch with a level of detail and rigor that is simply unforgettable.
Sasquatch Sunset is a deeply unconventional movie, so it only feels right that this review is equally unconventional. The fifth feature film from brothers Nathan and David Zellner, this is a film that features zero humans and approximately four sasquatches. Yes, it is as insane as it sounds. Yet, for something that began as a joke short film among two brothers, the final product is something truly beautiful. Upon the opening moments of the film, I started realizing that I’ve never really given much thought to the existence of Sasquatch throughout my life. But with this film, it makes you wonder: wouldn’t it be lovely if they really did exist?
Completely dialogue free and devoid of on-screen humans, Sasquatch Sunset revels in the beauty of nature. Through these immensely quiet shots of the Sasquatch family observing and interacting with nature, the Zellner brothers remind their audience to be a bit more gentle to the world around us. In one of the most belly-laugh-out-loud sequences of the film, the family begins relieving themselves upon the discovery of a roadway. It tears directly through their beautiful natural habitat, so rightfully so they deface it however they seem fit! It’s also important to note that the Zellner brothers DID in fact confirm to the audience everything in the film is “100% authenticated” and “confirmed with a variety of scientists.” With such a commitment to the sheer lunacy of their cinematic idea, the Zellner brothers go above and beyond in justifying their choice for making this into a full 89-minute feature. And it does feel like they achieve it, even if it feels like two disparate achievements at times.
The main issue this film seems to have is whether or not it wants to be a moving humanist drama or flat-out comedy. Of course, a film can be both, and there are countless examples throughout cinema. Yet, with Sasquatch Sunset, it feels like the funniest moments undercut the more genuinely heartbreaking moments. Mind you, both elements of the film do work wonderfully, but it just feels as if the glue hasn’t entirely solidified at times. Even so, I found myself deeply captivated by the entirety of the runtime, mainly by the sheer fact of how committed all parties involved seem to be. For starters, the makeup and costume work looks Oscar-worthy. From close-ups to wide shots, the sasquatches are always the star of the show. Shot like a nature documentary, and looking just as gorgeous, the comical awe of the sasquatches existing casually within the woods is funny every single time. But what is so particularly funny about this film? Sure, there’s plenty of fart, piss, and poop jokes. The toilet humor of Sasquatch Sunset seems to know no bounds. Yet, in my opinion, I’d say that for the most part, those gross-out comedy bits are arguably what weighs the film down a bit. Becoming so deeply engrossed in this film, I really did find myself wondering how lovely it would be if this sasquatch family actually did exist somewhere out there in the wild.
What’s so different between humans and the sasquatches of Sasquatch Sunset? Sure, they’re a bit less hygienic. But we all know at least one person who does some of the same things these sasquatches do and sees nothing wrong with it. This sasquatch family tries new foods whenever they come across it. They travel often and for no apparent reason, perhaps if only to see different sights. They’re clearly curious creatures. Always seeking out new experiences, or playing with and loving animals, these sasquatch are deeply human-like. Of course it helps that the performers in the film (Jesse Eisenberg, Riley Keough, Christophe Zajac-Denek, and Nathan Zellner) are wholly committed to bringing to life these mythical creatures as “accurately” as possible. But most importantly, it’s clear these sasquatches are just looking for companionship. They have developed a ritual in the hopes of discovering more creatures like them. These creatures show great intelligence and even deeper emotional wells when they aren’t displaying purely animalistic behavior. At least they have the excuse of being mythical creatures, what excuse do humans who do the same have?
With Sasquatch Sunset, the Zellner brothers have crafted an absolute joke of a film that also serves as a poignant piece of cinema. It’s unconventional and audacious, but it’s also so beautiful. This is the type of film that, if you love it, you’ll have to defend its brilliance for the rest of your life; and for good reason, too. After all, we turn to cinema in the hopes that we can see a reflection of the world around us, and hopefully change our ways to become like the characters we adore, or avoid the pitfalls of the characters we despise. So with this family of ridiculous sasquatches, perhaps we should all remember to live life a bit on the wild side. It seems like there’s far more adventures to be had that way.
Sasquatch Sunset celebrated its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in the Premieres section, and will be released by Bleecker Street later this year.
