Main cast: Jewel Staite (Katharine Grant), Connor Fox (Derek Carpenter), Susie Abromeit (Mindy), Michael Aills (Jared), Matty Ferraro (Casey), Jerry Leggio (Frank Waverly), TW Leshner (Richard), and Jessica Erin Sylvia (Sally)
Director: Sheldon Wilson
Syfy movies are the cinematic equivalent of gas station sushi. You know it’s awful, they know it’s awful, but with rock-bottom expectations and a dash of masochism, you’re in for a wild ride. Enter Mothman, a 2010 masterpiece that boldly asks, “What if we took I Know What You Did Last Summer, sprinkled in some cryptid lore, and deep-fried the whole thing in pure, unfiltered cheese?”
We open on a scene so idyllic that it could only mean impending doom: gorgeous “teenagers” (read: 30-year-olds with great skincare routines) frolicking by a river. Meet our leads, Katharine Grant and Derek Carpenter–proud owners of full names and therefore guaranteed to survive longer than a red shirt on Star Trek. The rest? Let’s just say their parents saved money on personalized Christmas stockings.
In a shocking turn of events (shocking if you’ve never seen a horror movie, that is), these Einstein-level geniuses accidentally drown their friend Jamie in a prank gone wrong. Their solution to this mess is the old “he hit his head on some rocks” chestnut. Nothing says friendship like a cover-up!
Fast forward to Katharine, now a hard-hitting journalist tasked with the Pulitzer-worthy assignment of covering Point Pleasant’s annual Mothman festival. She reunites with ex-flame Derek, but before they can reignite their passion, their friends start dropping like flies. Who could the killer be? *glances at movie title, poster, and literally any promotional material* It’s a real head-scratcher, folks!
Now, let’s be clear: this movie is about as polished as a mud wrestler’s shoes. The acting ranges from “high school play understudy” to “local car dealership commercial”, but that’s part of its charm! It pairs beautifully with CGI that would make Windows 95 screensavers blush and a plot held together by spit and prayers.
Special shoutout to Jerry Leggio, who plays the local crackpot with all the subtlety of a foghorn in a library. He clearly got the memo that if you’re going to be in a bad movie, you might as well have fun with it.
But oh boy, that final act. It’s like they wrote three endings, couldn’t decide which one to use, so they just mashed them all together like a toddler making “soup” in the sandbox. Characters die! No, wait, they’re alive! Now they’re possessed? Can the Mothman even do that? Who knows! Who cares! Logic is for losers!
Despite its flaws (or perhaps because of them), Mothman is a guilty pleasure of the highest order. And let’s not forget Connor Fox, our leading man. While his acting chops might not set the world on fire, his abs certainly could. It’s a crying shame he vanished from the acting world faster than the plot coherence in this movie. Hollywood, if you’re listening, please bring this man back for more B-grade action flicks. Shirt optional, of course.
In conclusion, Mothman is the perfect movie for when you want to give your brain cells a vacation. Pour yourself a strong drink and prepare to laugh, groan, and question your life choices. It’s not good, but by god, it’s entertaining.
