In the initial screenings of Sasquatch Sunset, the audience witnessed a spectacle that provoked extreme reactions, with numerous attendees fleeing the theater during scenes featuring explicit bodily functions. These moments, occurring relentlessly throughout the film’s 90-minute duration, grabbed headlines for their audacious portrayal.
Jesse Eisenberg, both a star and a producer of the movie, shared with Yahoo Entertainment that despite such polarizing responses, the majority of viewers found the film to be a profound and transformative visual encounter. Eisenberg acknowledged that unconventional projects like Sasquatch Sunset might not appeal to everyone, but emphasized the importance of creating outside the bounds of typical cinema.
Within Sasquatch Sunset, Eisenberg portrays one of four members of a nomadic cryptid family, alongside Riley Keough, Christophe Zajac-Denek, and Nathan Zellner, who also co-directs with his brother David Zellner. The film follows their daily activities with unfiltered honesty, including hunting, gathering, mating, and yes, bodily functions, offering a unique and raw perspective. Its national theatrical release is scheduled for April 19.
Eisenberg addressed the surprise some may feel regarding the involvement of established actors like himself and Keough in such an unconventional project. However, he emphasized that the allure of the story was irresistible to those involved, despite the financial risks associated with its uniqueness.
The script, Eisenberg noted, is unconventional in itself, relying heavily on non-verbal communication such as hooting and grunting, rather than traditional dialogue or narration. This departure from the norm extends to the film’s cinematography, which eschews typical documentary-style footage in favor of a more intimate and sometimes shocking portrayal of the Sasquatch family’s existence.
The production of Sasquatch Sunset was a labor of love for all involved, from the directors to the actors to the investors, evidenced by the extensive list of producers credited on IMDb. For the actors, embodying their Sasquatch characters required literal labor, undergoing hours of makeup and prosthetics application, transforming them into living works of art.
Filming took place amidst the towering redwoods of California, with the cast immersing themselves in the lore of Sasquatch and even attending a specialized “Sasquatch boot camp” to refine their movements and communication. Nathan Zellner, in particular, took on various roles, sometimes directing scenes from within his Sasquatch costume.
Despite its unconventional approach, Eisenberg believes Sasquatch Sunset achieves a remarkable balance between humor and empathy, as exemplified by one particularly memorable scene involving the family’s encounter with a man-made road. This scene, while absurd, prompts both laughter and empathy for the characters, showcasing the film’s unique ability to provoke varied emotional responses.
Ultimately, Sasquatch Sunset stands as a singular artistic endeavor, defying categorization and inviting audiences to experience storytelling in a wholly unconventional manner.