On August 7th, 1999, a family was on vacation, making several stops. During their travels, they ended up in a town called Loveland and discovered something strange near some bushes. Thanks to a family video recorder, the family’s youngest member, ten-year-old Dallas (Liam Hage), was able to film a giant frog-like creature the size of a man. Fast forward to the present day, and a show called Monster Soup decides to revisit the old legendary tale of the Frogman. Some people claim to have seen the Frogman holding a wand, which is possibly alien technology, while others believe the Frogman is just a river legend with telepathic abilities.
The host of Monster Soup also discusses the old footage recorded approximately twenty years ago and reveals what happened to Dallas, the one who made the recording of what is supposed to be a huge discovery. Dallas (Nathan Tymoshuk) has become an enthusiastic filmmaker despite only making a few short films. But as old stories about him begin to resurface following Monster Soup’s program, the media continually labels him as a liar. Dallas decides now is the time to act. He is determined to hunt down the Frogman and gather evidence to prove he’s telling the truth. Knowing he can’t do it alone, Dallas enlists the help of his best friend Scott (Benny Barrett), a cameraman, and Amy (Chelsey Grant), an upcoming actress who has shared a past romance with Dallas. Together, the trio plan to document their journey on video camera as they travel to Loveland, where they will interview locals and search for new leads to uncover the truth about the mysterious creature.
Frogman is best described as a horror film in the “found footage” style. If you’ve ever seen a movie like The Blair Witch Project, you’ll know what to expect. It is directed by Anthony Cousins, who has previously worked on Scare Package (2019) and Scare Package II: Chad’s Revenge (2022). Cousins is also well known for his past short films, which once again follow the horror genre. Frogman marks Anthony’s solo debut in a feature-length film.
I really liked the film’s initial idea and concept. The Frogman creature’s appearance and costume design were impressive. The found footage style was well done, although it didn’t feel original or new, especially if you’ve seen similar styles in movies like The Blair Witch Project or short films from the popular V/H/S franchise. The pace felt familiar as the story went through assembling the crew, travelling to their destination, and their interactions with town locals. Most of the film focuses on the characters’ investigations and their dealing with various obstacles, so those expecting a lot of Frogman presence or action may need patience.
I generally found the performances were below average, with cliché line deliveries and forced subplots, including the past romance between Dallas and Amy. This is typical for the found footage genre, and some of the character outcomes felt predictable. However, the film’s climax was intense and advanced the plot with more information. After some big reveals and interactions with the creature, the film wrapped up confidently.
Overall, Frogman introduces an exciting concept, which is certainly different from the typical mysterious creature movies. The film’s pace is quite familiar and is reminiscent of films like The Blair Witch Project or a short feature within the popular V/H/S franchise. While the creature design and costume of Frogman were impressive, the film requires patience from viewers. The story, in my opinion, is dull and uninteresting for the most part. The more redeemable elements are saved for the climax, the most exciting part of the entire feature. While somewhat creative with its idea, the results are disappointing and less than ‘ribbiting’ as a horror film.
Frogman (2023) hops onto SCREAMBOX exclusively on June 7th.
3.5/10
8th June 2024
Written by Peter Walkden
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