Movie spotlight
Encounter with the Unknown
Three eerie tales based on actual events are enacted in this film. First, three college students play a prank on a geeky classmate, who is accidentally shot and killed. His vengeful mother forecasts the deaths of the three young men she holds responsible, on 7, 14, and 21 days hence. And, one by one, her grim predictions come true. Next, a ghoulish sound emanates from a mist-shrouded hole in the Earth near where a Missouri boy has lost his dog. The boy's father is lowered into the hole and lets out an agonizing scream! Finally, a senator returning home from a party finds a lost girl on a bridge and learns from her father that she died years earlier
Insights
Plot Summary
A group of young people on a camping trip in the woods encounter a terrifying, ape-like creature that stalks them through the night. As they desperately try to escape, they uncover strange occurrences and unsettling local legends that hint at the creature's unnatural origins. The situation escalates into a fight for survival against an unknown, primal force.
Critical Reception
Encounter with the Unknown is a low-budget, B-movie horror film from the early 1970s. It is largely considered a cult classic among fans of obscure horror and creature features due to its earnest, albeit amateurish, execution and its unique premise. While critically panned upon release for its production values and pacing, it has gained a niche following for its campy charm and historical significance in the Bigfoot/creature subgenre.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its ambitious creature design given the budget.
Criticized for its slow pacing and uneven acting.
Seen as a fascinating artifact of 1970s low-budget horror cinema.
Google audience: Audience reception is scarce due to the film's obscurity, but available comments often highlight its cult appeal as a 'so bad it's good' creature feature.
Fun Fact
Despite the billing, Tommy Lee Jones's role in this film was uncredited.
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