The found footage sub-genre often prides itself on its low budget when paired with effective scares.
Tahoe Joe, from directors Dillon Brown and Michael Rock, was filmed for just $800, so it would be shooting fish in a barrel to point out any production flaws; alas nothing to report.
This film is contained and quite effective, with flashes that will have you making the ‘did you just see that face’ at the screen before it ramps up to a pulsating finale.
Tahoe Joe is as much about the relationship between filmmakers Dillon and Michael, who set off into the Tahoe forests to try to capture footage of the mythical sasquatch ‘Joe’, who is believed to be responsible for a handful of attacks.
Because they are in uncharted waters, mistakes are made, much in the same way the Blair Witch Project crew makes mistakes that could lead to their downfall. There is an emotional weight and realism injected into proceedings as we meet the son of a man who was believed to have been killed by Tahoe Joe. After flying out to join the crew, he finds the experience overwhelming and sits this one out, which in itself is a very human response. We all get scared, and in an isolated location, with minimal phone signal and a killer sasquatch on the loose, I may take the high road too.
Like many found footage films you do have a bit of padding, but it feels like Brown and Rock leave enough breadcrumbs, to often pay off later. The finale also opens up a wider plot strand which looks to be the driving force behind the recently released sequel.
The story is open-ended, so it looks like we will be venturing back into the Tahoe forests very soon.
Tahoe Joe is an essential found footage watch.
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